Sherri Miller and her great‑nephew, Thomas Bledsoe, both residents of North Texas, voiced disappointment after hearing that the Navy might replace the name of the future Gerald R. Ford‑class carrier CVN‑81, currently slated to be USS Doris Miller. The family had celebrated the historic decision in 2020, which would have marked the first aircraft carrier named for a Black American and the first for an enlisted sailor.
Family’s reaction
“We were all overjoyed for them to be giving him that honor,” Sherri Miller told NBC 5. “So it was very disheartening to think that the Navy might go back on their word about that.” The Miller family has not received any formal notice from the Navy about a name change. “We have not gotten anything formally to say that it is changing,” Bledsoe said.
What the Navy says
When asked for comment, the Navy replied that it has “no announcement to share at this time.” The White House referred further questions back to the Navy, indicating no official decision has been made.
Why the name matters
Doris Miller, a native of Waco, earned the Navy Cross for his heroic actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Serving aboard the USS West Virginia, he tended to wounded sailors and, despite no training, took control of an anti‑aircraft gun and fired on Japanese aircraft. He later became the first Black sailor to receive the Navy Cross and was killed in 1943 when the USS Liscome Bay was torpedoed.
“He was an average man who did something extraordinary because he knew he could,” Sherri Miller said. The family has long sought to upgrade Miller’s Navy Cross to the Medal of Honor, a goal they say remains separate from the carrier‑naming issue.
Potential Trump honor
Recent reporting, including from NBC News, indicates that Navy officials have discussed the possibility of renaming CVN‑81 to honor President Donald Trump. No official change has been announced, but the speculation has added urgency to the Miller family’s efforts.
Family’s hopes
Bledsoe expressed concern that if the carrier’s name is changed, another ship might eventually bear Miller’s name, but that could take another generation. “Timing is of importance,” he said. “Maintaining the CVN‑81’s name to Doris Miller is important to our family.”
When asked when their advocacy would be complete, Sherri Miller replied, “When he receives the medal. And his legacy is confirmed beyond any shadow of a doubt.”
Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
