Doris Miller wearing his Navy Cross in May 1942, National Archive
Modern Times Lecture Series
From Mess Attendant to American Hero: The Story of Doris Miller
Stephen Sloan, Ph.D.
SUnday, March 29, 2026 | 2:30pm - 4:00pm
**Doors at 2:00pm; Lecture at 2:30PM
In Person and online!
TICKETS
$10 General Admission | $5 Student | $0 NCHM Member
Doris Miller (1919 - 1943) was a U.S. Navy sailor who was the first Black recipient of the Navy Cross and a nominee for the Medal of Honor. As a mess attendant second class aboard the battleship USS West Virginia, Miller helped carry wounded sailors to safety during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He then manned an anti-aircraft gun and, despite no prior training in gunnery, officially shot down one plane (according to Navy Department records), but Miller and other eyewitnesses claimed a range of four to six.
In this lecture, author and professor Stephen Sloan, Ph.D. explores the life and legacy of Doris Miller, an African American sailor whose extraordinary bravery during the attack on Pearl Harbor challenged racial barriers in the U.S. Navy. He traces Miller’s upbringing in Texas, his actions aboard the USS West Virginia on December 7, 1941, and how his heroism helped catalyze change in military policy and public perceptions of service, citizenship, and sacrifice.
To attend online, register and receive the Zoom meeting link by email ahead of the lecture. Free parking is available in the lot behind the Museum for in person attendees.
Stephen M. Sloan is a Professor of History and Director of the Institute for Oral History at Baylor University. He also currently serves as the Executive Director of the Oral History Association. He is also a past president of the OHA and has chaired and served on a host of association committees. Stephen has won numerous awards for his projects, publications, and preservation efforts using oral history. His most recent publications are the co-edited anthology Oral History and the Environment: Global Perspectives on Climate, Connection, and Catastrophe and a co-authored book on remote oral history practice, Oral History at a Distance. In 2024, Dr. Sloan was named the Cornelia Marschall Smith Professor of the Year at Baylor University and a Big XII Faculty of the Year. His program, the Institute for Oral History, recently received the Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation, the highest honor in Texas in the field of historic preservation.
Sponsors
Become a sponsor for this event? Contact Cristina Feldott at (512) 478-2335 or cfeldott@nchmuseum.org.