Early Life
Miller was born in Waco, Texas, on October 12, 1919, to Henrietta and Connery Miller. He was the third of four sons and was taught to help around the house, cook meals and do laundry, as well how to work the family farm. Miller was a good student and a fullback on the football team at Waco′s A.J. Moore Academy (5 ft 9 in (1.75 m), over 200 lb (91 kg)). They called him the "Raging Bull" because of his emotions. He was a large boy for his age. He was kicked out of high school because he would get into fights with other students about his race. He struggled in school, and on January 25, 1937 at age 17 he began attending the 8th grade. When he was forced to repeat the 8th grade again the next year, he dropped out of school on May 30, 1938. He filled his time squirrel hunting with a .22 rifle and completed a correspondence course in taxidermy. He applied to join the Civilian Conservation Corps, but was not accepted. By age 17, Miller was 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) tall and weighed more than 200 pounds (91 kg).
He worked on his father′s farm until just before his 20th birthday, when on September 16, 1939 he enlisted in the United States Navy, where he became a Mess Attendant, Third Class, one of the few ratings open to black men at the time. Following training at the Naval Training Station, Norfolk, Virginia, Miller was assigned to the ammunition ship Pyro where he served as a Mess Attendant, and on January 2, 1940 was transferred to the battleship West Virginia, where he became the ship′s main cook. In July of that year, he had temporary duty aboard Nevada at Secondary Battery Gunnery School. He returned to West Virginia on August 3, 1940 and was promoted to Ship's Cook, Third Class.
His nickname "Dorie" apparently originated in a typographical error. After Miller was nominated for recognition for his action on December 7, 1941, the Pittsburgh Courier released a story on March 14, 1942, that gave his name as "Dorie" Miller. Various writers have attributed "Dorie" to other suggestions such as a "nickname to shipmates and friends"...or "the Navy thought he should go by the more masculine-sounding Dorie."
Read more about this topic: Doris Miller
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