As it celebrates its namesake’s birthday this week, an American Legion post in Arlington View is working for more visibility across Arlington and the region.
At almost 80 years old, American Legion Dorie Miller Post 194 & Auxiliary Unit is one of several American Legion posts named to honor Doris “Dorie” Miller, who was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
“We’re trying to get our young people involved, so our chapter won’t fade away,” said Marjorie Strother, secretary of Post 194 Auxiliary, during an Oct. 9 presentation to the Arlington Historical Society.
“We’re out there — we’re trying to blossom,” said Strother, the widow of a U.S. Marine. “I keep beating the drum. Reach out to us and you will get a response back.”
Chartered in February 1946, the post and auxiliary first met at the one-time Carver Recreation Center at 13th Street S. and S. Queen Street. The organization continues to meet in the Arlington View neighborhood today, at Carver Community Center adjacent to Hoffman-Boston Elementary School.
“The men meet in the front and the women meet in the back … some things never change,” Strother said with a chuckle.
Established during an era of rigid segregation, including in the U.S. military, the post welcomes all members but has particularly catered to Arlington’s African-American community.
“I’m proud to be a member,” said Kenneth Powell, a former commander of Post 194 who now serves as chaplain.
He laments that, with the passage of time, the story of the post’s namesake has faded.
“There’s a lot of grown folk and young folk who don’t know about Dorie Miller. I think that’s sad,” said Powell, who served 22 years in the U.S. Army. Two of his daughters are currently active-duty military personnel.
Post 194 is one of a few American Legion posts in the county. Others include Arlington Post 139 and Gen. Billy Mitchell Post 85.
Like many service and fraternal organizations, Post 194 and Auxiliary face an aging membership. The most senior member of each is more than 95 years old, and a “young” member is one around 50 years old, Strother said.
The post remains active, however — financially supporting student attendance at Virginia Girls State and Boys State leadership programs, sponsoring oratorical contests, supporting Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals, hosting a booth at the Arlington County Fair, holding fundraising dances, conducting poppy drives for Veterans Day and participating in Alexandria’s George Washington Birthday Parade.
“We enjoy what we do,” Strother said.
The historical society program occurred three days before the 106th anniversary of Miller’s birth on Oct. 12.
“It was a fabulous opportunity” to learn about him and promote the post, said Annette Benbow, events manager for the historical society.
The event was held at Aurora Hills Community Center, which over the coming year will be one of several rotating sites hosting historical society programs.
After eight years of Marymount University hosting its monthly programs, “we’re trying something a little new,” Benbow said.
Who was Doris ‘Dorie’ Miller?
Born in Texas in 1919, Miller in 1939 enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was assigned duties as a mess attendant, one of the few positions open to Black service members at the time.
The options were “either be a cook or wash laundry or you mopped the floor — that was it,” Powell said. “It was really sad.”
During the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Miller was serving on the battleship USS West Virginia. After the attack began at 7:57 a.m., he emerged from the depths of the ship, where he had been serving meals, to move injured sailors and officers out of harm’s way.
As the attack progressed, Miller took command of one of the ship’s anti-aircraft guns and, despite no formal training, fired at the Japanese aircraft until running out of ammunition. While officially credited with shooting down one plane, he is believed responsible for eliminating several others.
Miller’s actions won praise from then-Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox, even though Knox was no fan of an integrated military. But despite lobbying from members of Congress and the African-American press, Miller did not receive the Medal of Honor for his actions.
He was instead awarded the Navy Cross, the second highest award for valor, presented by Adm. Chester Nimitz.
The slight was a symptom of something more widespread. In 1941-45, no African-American serving in the U.S. military was awarded the Medal of Honor.
In 1997, seven U.S. Army personnel were retroactively awarded the honor for their World War II service. Six had been killed in action but the seventh, Vernon Baker, survived the war and received the award from President Bill Clinton.
No Navy personnel saw such upgrades. At a 2024 Arlington commemoration of Miller’s life and legacy, local American Legion leaders said they would continue to press his case at the federal level.
Miller was promoted to cook petty officer third class in June 1943. In November of that year, he was among more than 700 Navy officers and enlisted personnel killed when USS Liscome Bay, an escort carrier, was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine during battle off the Gilbert Islands in the central Pacific.
To honor him, the U.S. Navy will name its next Gerald Ford-class aircraft carrier “USS Doris Miller,” using his birth name rather than the nickname. The $12.5 billion ship is expected to be launched in 2029 and commissioned in 2032 following construction at Newport News Shipbuilding.
