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For Immediate Release |
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Contact: John B. Townsend II, Communications Director |
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Phone: (202) 225-8885 |
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Friday, May 28, 2004 |
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CONGRESSWOMAN JOHNSON TO SALUTE
AFRICAN AMERICAN VETERANS AND WAR DEAD
DURING MEMORIAL DAY EVENT |
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TEXAS LAWMAKER JUMPSTARTS EFFORTS TO HONOR HOMETOWN HERO |
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Washington, D.C. - This weekend America will honor the noble veterans who have fought to preserve our freedom and remember the fallen who sacrificed their lives in wars past and present. In honor of the veterans of World War II the nation will also dedicate the World War II Memorial with great fanfare in the nation’s capital this weekend.
As the nation pauses to observe Memorial Day, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson will address the Black Patriots Foundation during its “Salute to Courage” event honoring the nation’s black veterans. This is the only celebration of black World War II veterans taking place in Washington D. C. over Memorial Day weekend. It coincides with the dedication of the World War II Memorial, which kick-offs the 100-day summer tribute, America Celebrates the Greatest Generation.
“From the Revolutionary War of 1775 to our current operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, African American men and women have unselfishly served this country with valor and great distinction,” said Congresswoman Johnson. Accordingly, the event will honor the Buffalo Soldiers, the Tuskegee Airmen and the seven African American recipients of the Medal of Honor.
The Black Patriots Foundation “Salute to Courage” will be held at the headquarters of the Reserve Officers Association, located at 1 Constitution Avenue, NE, in Washington, D.C. The “The Salute to Courage” is slated to begin at 4:00 p.m., Saturday, May 29, 2004
In the days leading up to Memorial Day, Congresswoman Johnson introduced legislation designed to honor Doris Miller, one of the famous African American heroes of World War II. Since she was a child Congresswoman Johnson has embraced the effort to honor her hometown hero with the Medal of Honor for his heroism at Pearl Harbor. Like Miller, Johnson is a native of Waco, Texas. She recalls her father taking her to meet Miller when he briefly returned to his hometown during a furlough following the fateful events at Pearl Harbor.
Six decades have passed since Doris (pronounced Dorie) Miller’s daring exploits aboard the battleship USS West Virginia, which was docked at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, catapulted him from a lowly Mess Attendant to the lofty status of a national hero and an icon to generations of African Americans.
Yet Miller never received the nation’s highest honor, the Congressional Medal of Honor. Congresswoman Johnson’s bill would waive the time limitation specified in current law for the awarding of military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Congressional Medal of Honor to Dories Miller for his heroic actions during World War II.-
“In fact, no African American who served in World War II received the Congressional Medal of Honor until seven Army veterans were given the award in 1997,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “I am requesting the Armed Services Committee to expedite its passage of the bill honoring Doris Miller, who is quintessential great American hero.”
The Texas farmhand from Waco enlisted with the Navy in 1939 at the age of 20. Within four months, Miller was assigned to the battleship USS West Virginia, which was stationed at Pearl Harbor. On the day now officially known today as “Pearl Harbor Day,” Miller was collecting laundry when Japanese aircrafts attacked unawares. Miller pulled the ship’s wounded commanding officer out of harm’s way and propelled himself into the history books. Springing into action, Miller manned a machine gun on the ship’s deck and shot down at least two of the 29 Japanese planes that attacked America on that fateful day.
A year after Pearl Harbor, Miller was first nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor by the father of Congressman John Dingell. The following year, 1943, Miller perished at sea in the line of duty when the Japanese sank his aircraft carrier. As the nation celebrates the opening of the National World War II Memorial, efforts are also underway to request the U.S. Postal Service to issue a stamp in honor of Doris Miller. |
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