Famous Texans: Doris Miller

Doris “Dorie” Miller was born in segregated Texas on Oct. 12, 1919 in Waco, to Connery and Henrietta Miller. He was the third of four sons, he worked on his father’s farm, but his mother taught him to cook. He was a fair student and played full back for the A. J. Moore Academy Bulldogs in Waco. He dropped out of school at age 17, but did complete a correspondence course in taxidermy. A er dropping out, he worked on his father’s farm and became an excellent shot squirrel hunting to supplement the family dinner table. Shortly before turning 20, he enlisted in the United States Navy in Dallas, where he became a Mess Attendant, ird Class, one of the few ratings then open to African Americans. At this time, he was 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighed more than 200 pounds. Working on a farm and playing football, Doris was in excellent shape. He trained at the Norfolk training station and upon completion was sent to his rst duty station on the ammunition ship the USS Pyro (AE-1).

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