The US Navy is reportedly considering renaming an aircraft carrier originally designated to honour Doris “Dorie” Miller, the Black sailor who became a symbol of heroism during the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.
According to CNN, cited by News18, the Navy has stopped referring to the vessel as the USS Doris Miller in some internal communications and is instead using its hull number, CVN-81.
The possibility of renaming the carrier has attracted attention because one of the names reportedly being discussed is that of President Donald Trump. If approved, naming an aircraft carrier after a sitting president would be an extraordinary and historically unusual move.
Why was the carrier originally named after Doris Miller?
The Ford-class aircraft carrier was named USS Doris Miller in 2020 during Trump’s first presidential term.
Miller was serving aboard the USS West Virginia during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
At the time, Black sailors in the US Navy were largely restricted to roles such as mess attendants. Despite having no formal training in operating anti-aircraft weapons, Miller took control of a machine gun during the attack after helping an injured commanding officer.
According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, Miller continued firing until his ammunition ran out and the ship began sinking. He then helped other sailors reach safety.
His actions made him one of the most recognised African-American heroes of the Pearl Harbor attack.
Why is the Navy considering a name change?
The exact reason for the reported review has not been publicly established.
The Navy is reportedly examining the naming of the carrier and reviewing existing guidelines governing how US Navy vessels receive their names.
The development has also become time-sensitive because the carrier’s keel-laying ceremony is expected later in 2026.
The vessel is currently under construction and is not expected to enter active service until approximately 2034.
Could the aircraft carrier be named after Donald Trump?
Trump’s name has reportedly emerged as one possibility during discussions over the carrier’s future name.
However, there is no indication in the supplied report that a final decision has been made.
If the Navy ultimately named the carrier after Trump while he was still president, it would represent a highly unusual precedent.
US Navy ships have historically been named after presidents and other prominent figures, but naming such a major warship after a sitting president would carry considerable political and historical significance.
Doris Miller’s family was reportedly not informed
Miller’s family was apparently not consulted about the potential change before the reports emerged.
His great-nephew, Thomas Bledsoe, said the family had been pursuing recognition for Miller for years.
Interestingly, the Navy is reportedly considering another way of honouring Miller: naming a different warship after him and recommending him for the Medal of Honor, the US military’s highest award for valor.
Bledsoe described the renewed Medal of Honor recommendation as a positive development.
However, awarding the Medal of Honor would require the necessary congressional authorization and presidential approval.
Who was Doris “Dorie” Miller?
Doris Miller was born in Texas and joined the US Navy in 1939.
At a time when opportunities for Black sailors were severely restricted, he initially served as a mess attendant.
His actions during Pearl Harbor dramatically changed how he was viewed.
When the Japanese attack began, Miller helped move the wounded commander of the USS West Virginia to safety. He subsequently took control of an anti-aircraft machine gun and fired at Japanese aircraft despite having no prior training with the weapon.
He continued assisting wounded sailors even after the ship was badly damaged.
Miller was later awarded the Navy Cross for his bravery.
He was killed in action in 1943 when the aircraft carrier USS Liscome Bay was sunk during the Battle of Makin.
Why the potential change is controversial
The issue is not simply about changing the name of a ship.
Miller’s name carries historical significance because his story represents both individual courage and the discrimination faced by Black personnel in the US military during the Second World War.
For many, removing his name from a carrier could therefore be seen as diminishing the significance of his contribution.
At the same time, the Navy’s reported consideration of a separate warship named after Miller and a possible Medal of Honor recommendation could provide another form of recognition.
The controversy is likely to intensify if Trump’s name is formally proposed.
What happens next?
For now, the USS Doris Miller remains the vessel’s publicly established name, while the Navy’s reported internal discussions appear to be ongoing.
The key developments to watch are:
- Whether the Navy formally announces a name change.
- Whether Trump’s name is officially considered or proposed.
- Whether another warship will be named after Doris Miller.
- Whether Miller receives a posthumous Medal of Honor.
- What changes, if any, are made to Navy ship-naming guidelines.
- Whether the carrier’s upcoming keel-laying ceremony is conducted under the Doris Miller name or a new designation.
The carrier is still years away from entering service, giving the Navy considerable time to resolve the naming issue.
