Who was the first black man to win the Navy Cross?

Question

He was later killed in the war

Answer 1

Probably Doris "Dorie" Miller

Answer 2

Dorie Miller, but skin color means nothing in military uniform. We are all the same color - Green, Blue, or some Camo pattern.

Answer 3

Doris Miller

Answer 4

denzel washington

Answer 5

Doris "Dorie" Miller

YOU don't "WIN" the Navy Cross!

it's not a contest!

YOU are awarded medals, citations, commendations in the military!

therefore, YOU are a recipient!

Answer 6

Doris "Dorie" Miller, Pearl Harbor. In 2001 he was portrayed by Cuba Gooding Jr. in the film "Pearl Harbor".

Answer 7

I believe that it was Dorie Miller

7 December 1941 Japan attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor. During the assault, U.S. Navy messman Doris (Dorie) Miller helped move his mortally wounded commander to shelter, then manned a machine gun on the USS Arizona and shot down about six of the Japanese aircraft. This was a particularly notable accomplishment, since combat positions were not open to black sailors and Miller had no formal training on this kind of weapon. After a lengthy press campaign, the Navy awarded Miller the Navy Cross, which Admiral Chester W. Nimitz presented in a ceremony held on 27 May 1942.

Miller was one of the more than 600 crewmen killed in November 1943 when the Japanese torpedoed the USS Liscombe Bay.

In recognition of Miller's valor, the Navy commissioned the destroyer escort USS Miller on 30 June 1973.

One of my childhood heroes alongside Chesty Puller.  I didn't really understand the significance of him being Black and winning the Navy Cross for that time period.  I just knew that he was one helluva troop!

(Biographes of War heroes were required reading in my house not unlike the required video games of today!)