Trump under fire as Navy weighs replacing Black war hero's name with his own
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "Trump under fire as Navy weighs replacing Black war hero's name with his own")
US President Donald Trump. Photograph: (AFP)
The Trump administration faces backlash over reports that a US Navy carrier named after Black war hero Doris Miller could be renamed to honour Donald Trump.
The Trump administration is facing criticism after reports that a US Navy aircraft carrier originally named after Black war hero Doris Miller could be renamed to honour President Donald Trump.
The Navy had earlier announced that the carrier under construction would be named USS Doris Miller, recognising Miller for his actions during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour in the Second World War.
However, CNN reported, citing three sources familiar with internal discussions, that the Navy is now considering a change to the name. Two sources told the network that discussions have taken place about naming the carrier after Trump.
“This is a slap in the face to every war hero and every service member who has worn the uniform,” Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP civil rights group quoted as saying by the Guardian. “Doris Miller earned his place in American history through courage, sacrifice, and service,” added Johnson. “Donald Trump only wants to serve himself.”
Doris Miller's Pearl Harbour heroics
Trending Stories
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
)
)
)
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
)
)
)
)
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
)
)
)
)
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
)
)
Miller served as a Navy cook and reportedly shot down four to six Japanese bombers during the Pearl Harbour attack in 1941, despite having no formal training with the weapon he used.
He died in 1943 after a Japanese torpedo struck the USS Liscome Bay, killing about two-thirds of its crew. Actor Cuba Gooding Jr portrayed Miller in the 2001 film Pearl Harbour.
Miller received the Navy Cross for his actions during the attack. The citation said: “While at the side of his Captain on the bridge of the battleship U.S.S. WEST VIRGINIA, Mess Attendant First Class Doris 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.”
Miller's family has continued to seek an upgrade of his award to the Medal of Honour.
No US Navy aircraft carrier has previously been named after a sitting president. Reports that the vessel could instead carry Trump's name have therefore triggered strong criticism.
