HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Resolutions (RESOLUTION R-15-3899)-08/18/2015 RESOLUTION R-15-3899
A RESOLUTION ON BEHALF OF THE UNITEDS STATES CONFERENCE
OF MAYORS SUPPORTING THE MEDAL OF HONOR AWARD FOR
DORIS "DORIE" MILLER, UNITED STATES NAVY
WHEREAS, Dorie Miller served as an honorable member of the United
States Navy beginning in 1939; and
WHEREAS, Dorie Miller served as a Messman Third Class on the USS
West Virginia; a n d
WHEREAS, Dorie Miller reported that he was prepared for duty when the
USS West Virginia was attacked by Japanese submarines and
airplanes in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941; and
WHEREAS, Dorie Miller carried the ship's captain, Mervyn Bennion, who
had been mortally wounded, to a sheltered location on the
ship; and
WHEREAS, Dorie Miller began to load unmanned anti-aircraft machine
guns after getting orders from his superior, Lieutenant
Frederic H. White, to man the gun; and
WHEREAS, Dorie Miller shot down a number of Japanese planes that
were attacking the USS West Virginia and its crew; and
WHEREAS, Dorie Miller continued firing at Japanese planes until his
supply of ammunition was depleted; and
WHEREAS, Dorie Miller was ordered to carry officers and sailors from the
line of fire through oil and water to a safer part of the harbor
where the USS West Virginia was anchored; and
WHEREAS, a number of sailors on the USS West Virginia were rescued
by Dorie Miller; and
WHEREAS, Dorie Miller was recognized as one of the "first U.S. heroes of
World War II; and
WHEREAS, in March of 1942, Senator James N. Mead from New York
introduced legislation in the United States Senate to award
Dorie Miller the Medal of Honor; and
Resolution R-15-3899
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WHEREAS, in May of 1942, Dorie Miller received the Navy Cross, the
second highest honor given by the U.S. Navy; and
WHEREAS, numerous groups of citizens immediately began to petition
the Congress and the White House to have Dorie Miller
awarded the Medal of Honor; and
WHEREAS, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, a native of Waco,
Texas, where Dorie Miller was born, has made repeated
attempts to have Dorie Miller awarded the Medal of Honor,
and has solicited the support of interest groups across the
country.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF COLLEYVILLE, TEXAS:
Sec. 1. THAT the City of Colleyville City Council supports the United
States Conference of Mayors petition to Congress, the
Secretary of the Navy, and President Barack Obama, to take
action that would lead to the Medal of Honor being awarded
posthumously to an American hero, Dorie Miller, for services
rendered to his country during time of great peril.
Sec. 2. THAT a copy of this resolution be provided to
Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson to advise her of the
City of Colleyville City Council support.
AND IT IS SO RESOLVED.
APPROVED BY A VOTE OF - AYES, O NAYS, AND 0 ABSTENTIONS
THIS THE 18TH DAY OF AUGUST 2015.
ATTEST: CITY OF COLLEYVILLE
Ii ' 1 ' h, /CO "
=Am helley, ' MC David Kelly
-City Secretary Mayor