World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Dory Miller
Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Waco, Texas
Honored By
Nicholas W. Lucona
Relationship
War Buddy
He was a seaman on the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor. Within the the first hour of war after the Japanese started bombing, the gunner's mate on the ship was killed and other seaman refused to get in the gunner's chair. At that time, Dory was a seaman from the mess hall and took it upon himself to take charge. He shot down 4 Japanese planes with no training whatsoever. For duties such as this, he received the Navy Cross from Admiral Chester Nimitz. He was killed when his ship was sunk in the Pacific in 1943.