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The Navy is proud of

[[image - black and white photograph of Robert Smalls]]

Robert Smalls with three of his crew (Deceased)

Many slaves attempted to flee the South during the early days of the war.  While thousands succeeded, few escapes were more daring than that of Robert Smalls, a coastal pilot on the new Confederate steamer CSS PLANTER.

At 4 a.m. on May 13, 1862, when the officers were ashore, Smalls and an escape party of 15 slaves got the PLANTER underway, the 313-ton ship pulled slowly from the wharf near the Confederate headquarters in Charleston Harbor. 

Getting out of the harbor was no easy job because several rebel forts guarded the harbor entrance.  As he passed each outpost, Smalls gave the correct sign with the ship's whistle.  Everything was made to appear as though the PLANTER was on routine mission.

Finally, the ship came abreast of the huge guns of Fort Sumter, and since everything appeared normal, she was allowed to pass.  As soon as he was out of range of the formt's cannon, Smalls heisted a white flag and sailed the ship into the hands of the Union fleet blockading the harbor.

[[image - black and white photograph of Doris Miller]]

SC3 Doris "Dorie" Miller (deceased)

Born in Waco, Texas, on October 12, 1919, Doris (Dorie) Miller entered the Navy as Mess Attendant Third Class at Dallas, Texas on September 18, 1939.  In his brief career, he advanced to the rate of Ship's Cook, Third Class.

Miller served heroically on the battleship USS West Virginia (88-48) during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.  Historians have recorded that he was collecting laundry in the battleship when general quarters (GQ) sounded as the raiders struck Hawaii.

Dorie raced tohis GQ station, the anti-aircraft battery magazine amidships, only to find that torpedo damage had already taken its toll.  He hurried topside where he braved the bombing, strafing and flaming decks to help the ship's mortally wounded commanding officer to a safer place.  Miller then manned a machine gun and opened fire on the attackers, relating later that he beileved he got one of them before being ordered to leave the bridge after some 15 minutes of continuous firing. 

For his selfless risk in trying to save the commanding officer and his extraordinary display of courage in the face of death, the 22-year-old sailor was awarded the Navy Cross.

Following his tour aboard West Virginia, Miller spent 17 months in the cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA-35).  He then spent a brief time at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, before joining the crew of a newly constructed aircraft carrier USS Liscombe Bay (UVE-56) in the spring of 1943.

Shortly afterward, Miller was promoted to ship's cook third class.  Then, barely more than two months later, having completed drill and exercise periods off the California coast, Dorie and the new flattop departed San Diego on October 21.  Their destination was Hawaii and subsequently the invasion of the Gilbert Islands. 

The battle of Tarawa commenced November 20, ending in U.S. victory some 76 hours later.  The young Texan sailor had had his second taste of battle and came out unscathed.

The following day, just after reveille--on her 99th day as a Navy ship--Liscombe Bay became the target of a Japanese submarine torpedo.  In 23 minutes she sank, carrying the task force admiral, commanding officer and 644 crewmen with her.  Petty Officer Miller was not among the 242 survivors.