The future aircraft carrier intended to carry the name of Doris “Dorie” Miller, the Texas-born Black sailor whose heroism at Pearl Harbor made him one of the most celebrated African American servicemen of World War II, could receive a different name as Navy officials reconsider how the vessel will be designated.
Multiple news organizations reported this week that Navy leaders are discussing a possible name change for the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier currently known as CVN-81. President Donald Trump’s name has been raised during internal discussions as a possible replacement, according to reporting based on people familiar with the deliberations.
However, no final decision has been announced, and the Department of Defense has said it has nothing to announce at this time.
The discussion places renewed attention on Miller, a Waco native whose military career unfolded at a time when Black sailors served in a segregated Navy and were largely restricted to service positions.
A Historic Honor for a Texas Sailor
The Navy announced in January 2020 that CVN-81 would be named the USS Doris Miller.
The announcement was made during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day ceremony at Pearl Harbor and represented two historic firsts: the ship was set to become the first U.S. aircraft carrier named for an African American and the first carrier named in honor of a sailor recognized for actions performed while serving in the enlisted ranks.
Miller was born in Waco, Texas, on Oct. 12, 1919, and enlisted in the Navy in Dallas in 1939. He entered the service as a mess attendant, one of the limited assignments available to Black sailors during that period.
His name would become nationally known less than three years later.
Heroism at Pearl Harbor
On Dec. 7, 1941, Miller was serving aboard the battleship USS West Virginia when Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor.
After his normal battle station became inaccessible because of damage to the ship, Miller helped move wounded sailors, including the ship’s mortally wounded commanding officer. He later took control of a .50-caliber anti-aircraft machine gun even though he had not been formally trained to operate it.
He continued firing at attacking aircraft until he ran out of ammunition and later assisted other sailors as the damaged battleship was abandoned.
For his actions, Miller received the Navy Cross, becoming the first African American sailor to receive the award. Adm. Chester W. Nimitz personally presented the medal to Miller in May 1942 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise.
At a time when the U.S. military itself remained segregated, Miller’s recognition carried significance far beyond the Navy. His courage became a source of pride for Black Americans during World War II and helped draw national attention to the contradiction of African Americans fighting for freedom abroad while facing discrimination at home.
Navy Reportedly Considering a Change
CNN reported that three people familiar with internal Navy discussions said officials have been working toward changing the carrier’s name. Two of those sources said Trump’s name has been discussed as a potential replacement. NBC News also reported that Navy leaders have discussed renaming the carrier in Trump’s honor.
The Navy has increasingly referred to the vessel by its hull designation, CVN-81, rather than USS Doris Miller during some internal discussions, according to CNN.
The carrier remains under construction and is not expected to be delivered until the next decade. Its upcoming construction milestones could increase pressure on Navy leadership to resolve the naming question.
The reported discussions would not necessarily end Navy recognition of Miller.
CNN reported that officials have considered naming another warship after him and renewing efforts to award Miller the Medal of Honor, an honor members of his family and supporters have pursued for years. Miller’s great-nephew, Thomas Bledsoe, told CNN that the family had not been informed about the possible carrier name change.
A Name With Symbolic Meaning
Aircraft carrier names have long carried symbolic weight.
Several active U.S. carriers are named for presidents, including Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Others recognize prominent military figures or public officials, including Fleet Adm. Chester Nimitz and former U.S. Rep. Carl Vinson.
But the selection of Doris Miller was intentionally different.
When the Navy announced the name in 2020, then-Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said Miller represented generations of Americans who served their country even while being denied equal treatment at home.
The Navy described the naming as an opportunity to honor both Miller’s individual bravery and the contributions of African Americans to the nation’s military history.
For Texas, that history has an additional connection.
Miller grew up in Waco, attended school there and worked on his family’s farm before joining the Navy. His story became one of the most recognizable examples of Black military service during World War II.
Miller Never Returned Home
Miller continued serving after Pearl Harbor.
He eventually joined the crew of the escort carrier USS Liscome Bay. On Nov. 24, 1943, the ship was struck by a Japanese submarine torpedo during operations in the Pacific.
Miller was among those lost when the ship sank. He was 24 years old.
Decades later, the decision to place his name on one of the Navy’s newest aircraft carriers was viewed as a permanent acknowledgment of a sailor who displayed extraordinary courage despite serving in a military that limited his opportunities because of his race.
Whether that name will remain on CVN-81 is now uncertain.
For now, the Navy has made no public announcement formally changing the carrier’s name, and reports that Trump could become its namesake remain based on internal discussions rather than a final decision.
What happens next will determine not only the name painted on one of America’s newest warships, but also how the Navy chooses to preserve the legacy of a Black Texas sailor whose actions at Pearl Harbor became part of American military history.
