[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 94 (Tuesday, June 17, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H5383-H5384]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       DORIS MILLER DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER

  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4199) to name the Department of Veterans Affairs medical 
center in Waco, Texas, as the ``Doris Miller Department of Veterans 
Affairs Medical Center''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4199

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) On October 12, 1919, Doris Miller was born in Waco, 
     Texas.
       (2) On September 16, 1939, Miller enlisted in the United 
     States Navy as mess attendant, third class at Naval 
     Recruiting Station, Dallas, Texas, to serve for a period of 
     six years.
       (3) On February 16, 1941, Miller received a change of 
     rating to mess attendant, second class.
       (4) On June 1, 1942, Miller received a change of rating to 
     mess attendant, first class.
       (5) On June 1, 1943, Miller received a change of rating, to 
     cook, third class.
       (6) On November 25, 1944, Miller was presumed dead by the 
     Secretary of the Navy a year and a day after being carried as 
     missing in action since November 24, 1943, while serving 
     aboard USS Liscome Bay when that vessel was torpedoed and 
     sunk in the Pacific Ocean.
       (7) Miller was awarded the Navy Cross Medal, Purple Heart 
     Medal, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific 
     Campaign Medal, and World War II Victory Medal.
       (8) Miller's citation for the Navy Cross said ``for 
     distinguished devotion to duty, extraordinary courage and 
     disregard for his own personal safety during the attack on 
     the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, by Japanese 
     forces on December 7, 1941. While at the side of his Captain 
     on the bridge, Miller, despite enemy strafing and bombing and 
     in the face of a serious fire, assisted in moving his 
     Captain, who had been mortally wounded, to a place of greater 
     safety, and later manned and operated a machine gun directed 
     at enemy Japanese attacking aircraft until ordered to leave 
     the bridge.''.
       (9) On June 20, 1973, the USS Miller (FF-1091), a Knox-
     class frigate, was named in honor of Doris Miller.

     SEC. 2. NAME OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL 
                   CENTER, WACO, TEXAS.

       The Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Waco, 
     Texas, shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be 
     known and designated as the ``Doris Miller Department of 
     Veterans Affairs Medical Center''. Any reference to such 
     medical center in any law, regulation, map, document, record, 
     or other paper of the United States shall be considered to be 
     a reference to the Doris Miller Department of Veterans 
     Affairs Medical Center.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Colorado (Mr. Lamborn) and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. 
Clyburn) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on 
H.R. 4199.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Colorado?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4199, which is sponsored by my 
good friend and colleague and fellow committee member, Representative 
Bill Flores of Texas, who serves as the chairman of the Economic 
Opportunity Subcommittee.
  H.R. 4199 would name the VA medical center in Waco, Texas, the Doris 
Miller Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Petty Officer 
Doris--or ``Dorie''--Miller served in the U.S. Navy from 1939 to 1943.
  During the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Dorie's heroic 
actions in the heat of battle helped to save the lives of many of his 
fellow servicemembers. For his actions, he received the Purple Heart 
Medal, the American Defense Service Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign 
Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Navy Cross, making him 
the first African American in our Nation's history to receive that 
honor. It is only appropriate that the VA Medical Center in Waco, 
Texas, bear Dorie's name.
  I am grateful to Representative Flores for sponsoring this 
legislation and urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 
4199. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of the great heroes 
of World War II. H.R. 4199 would name the veterans medical center in 
Waco, Texas, after a decorated sailor who displayed tremendous courage 
during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
  Doris ``Dorie'' Miller was the first African American hero of World 
War II. After enlisting in the United States Navy at the Dallas 
recruiting station and attending basic training in Norfolk, Virginia, 
Dorie arrived on the USS West Virginia stationed in Pearl Harbor.
  At the time, there were few options for Black sailors in the Navy. 
Dorie was assigned as a mess attendant. At 6 a.m. on December 7, Dorie 
was awake conducting his duties as room steward for the officers when 
the alarm for general quarters rang out. Throughout the fighting, Dorie 
assisted in transporting wounded to the first aid station, helped load 
ammunition, and manned an unattended antiaircraft deck gun. While under 
bombardment from the Japanese, Dorie continued firing at the attacking 
planes, possibly bringing down one of the aircraft.
  For his extraordinary courage, Dorie was awarded the Navy Cross by 
Admiral Chester Nimitz. He was the first African American to receive 
that honor in the Pacific Fleet. Nearly 2 years after Pearl Harbor, 
Dorie gave the ultimate sacrifice, going down with the ship during the 
Battle of Tarawa in the South Pacific.
  Dorie has been immortalized in movies as well as with commemoration 
on a United States postal stamp. He also had the honor of having a 
United States Navy frigate named after him in 1973.
  Dorie was born in Waco and played fullback at Waco's A.J. Moore High 
School. He also worked as a cook in Waco, supplementing the family 
income during the Great Depression.
  We have a proud tradition of honoring our heroes by dedicating our 
flagship VA facilities to those who epitomize the selfless service and 
sacrifice of all veterans. So it is fitting that the Waco medical 
center proudly takes the name of its famous son.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Texas, Representative Bill Flores, the sponsor of 
the bill.
  Mr. FLORES. Mr. Speaker, I also thank the gentlemen from Colorado and 
South Carolina for their support of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my legislation, H.R. 4199, 
which would name the Waco VA medical center after Petty Officer First 
Class Doris Miller. Petty Officer Miller was the first African American 
to be awarded the Navy Cross.
  Petty Officer Miller--better known by his nickname ``Dorie''--of 
Waco, Texas, bravely served in the United States Navy from 1939 to 1943 
and was most renowned for his heroic acts during the Japanese attack on 
Pearl Harbor. On that day, Miller was serving as

[[Page H5384]]

a mess attendant on the battleship West Virginia when the attack 
started.

  During the attack and under heavy enemy fire, Miller bravely rose 
above and beyond the call of duty by aiding mortally wounded Captain 
Mervyn Bennion and then manning a .50-caliber antiaircraft machine gun. 
He returned fire upon the enemy until he was out of ammunition, 
reportedly shooting down one to three enemy planes.
  In the final moments before the USS West Virginia sank, Miller 
continued his heroism by carrying many of his wounded shipmates to 
safety and saving the lives of several sailors in the process.
  The story of Petty Officer Miller's bravery is a testament to his 
outstanding courage and commitment to serving his country. In May of 
1942, in recognition of his heroism at Pearl Harbor, Secretary of the 
Navy Frank Knox and Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz commended and 
awarded Miller the Navy Cross, the second-highest military decoration 
for valor.
  Admiral Nimitz commented that Miller's bravery ``marks the first time 
in this conflict that such high tribute has been made in the Pacific 
Fleet to a member of his race, and I am sure in the future we will see 
others similarly honored for brave acts.''
  Miller continued his naval service in the Pacific war theater. During 
the spring of 1943, he was assigned to the USS Liscome Bay, an escort 
carrier involved in Operation Galvanic. During the ship's mission, on 
November 24, 1943, a Japanese submarine torpedoed the escort carrier, 
and within minutes the vessel sank. Petty Officer Miller was one of the 
646 brave sailors that gave the ultimate sacrifice aboard the Liscome 
Bay that day.

                              {time}  1600

  In addition to being awarded the Navy Cross, Miller was decorated 
with the Purple Heart Medal, the American Defense Service Medal, the 
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.
  Petty Officer Miller's actions at Pearl Harbor led him to be 
recognized as one of the heroes of World War II, and in doing so, he 
distinguished himself as a great African American hero in U.S. history.
  Miller's story has become iconic as one of the heroic tales of 
bravery during World War II. Most notably, the portrayal of Miller by 
actor Cuba Gooding, Jr., in the 2001 movie ``Pearl Harbor,'' paid great 
tribute to Miller's heroics aboard the West Virginia that day.
  Each year, the Waco VA medical center assists thousands of central 
Texas veterans with their health care needs. By naming the center after 
Miller, we not only pay honor to his service and his sacrifice, but to 
that of all veterans.
  The tremendous courage and bravery Miller showed during the attack on 
Pearl Harbor is worthy of such an honor. In naming the center after a 
local hero, we will preserve the memory of Miller's outstanding valor 
and duty for generations to come.
  Finally, I want to thank all of those who made this legislation 
possible. I want to thank Chairman Miller and the House Veterans' 
Affairs Committee for their assistance. I would also like to thank the 
House Members of the Texas delegation for their 100 percent 
cosponsorship of this legislation. In addition, I want to thank Texas 
Senator Cornyn and Texas Senator Cruz for introducing identical 
legislation in the Senate.
  Additionally, I want to thank Waco Mayor Malcolm Duncan, McLennan 
County Commissioner Lester Gibson, and McLennan County Judge Scott 
Felton for their local support.
  Last, but not least, I would like to thank the Texas chapters of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Disabled American 
Veterans, Military Officers Association of America, the Texas Veterans 
Commission, and the Texas Coalition of Veterans Organizations for 
lending their support to this recognition of a Texas hero.
  Again, I urge and support the passage of H.R. 4199.
  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to add my thanks to Mr. Flores and the 
entire Texas delegation for bringing this legislation.
  I grew up studying about Dorie Miller. He was one of those who we 
knew should be honored, but there were many on that day. Among them was 
Joseph Henry Washington, who was serving on the USS Arizona on December 
7 at the time of this attack. He survived, and I recently wrote about 
him.
  There were many great men and women serving during this time who have 
gone unattended to, and I thank you so much for recognizing this one. I 
hope, as we continue our service here, that we will continue to look 
into the backgrounds and experiences of those others who have not yet 
been recognized and do the appropriate recognition at the proper time.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from South Carolina 
for his words and for his constructive and inspiring thoughts. I thank 
the sponsor for bringing this excellent piece of legislation forward. I 
encourage all Members to support H.R. 4199.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 4199.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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