American Legion Dorie Miller Post 194 and its auxiliary will celebrate their namesake during a special event in Arlington on Friday, Oct. 11.
The second annual “Dorie Miller Day” commemoration ceremony will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. at the county government’s headquarters at 2100 Clarendon Blvd.
The community is invited.
U.S. Navy sailor Doris “Dorie” Miller earned the Navy Cross for his exceptional service aboard the USS West Virginia during the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.
The event’s featured speaker will be retired U.S. Army Col. W. Glenn Yarborough Jr. State Del. Patrick Hope (D-Arlington) will present a General Assembly resolution honoring Miller, a mess attendant who during the attack took over an anti-aircraft gun and shot down one or more Japanese planes despite having no training on the equipment.
In 1942, Miller was awarded the Navy Cross by Adm. Chester Nimitz for his heroism.
Miller died aged 24 in 1943 during the Battle of Makin when his ship, the USS Liscome Bay, was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. Most of his more than 900 shipmates also were killed.
