By Associated Press - Tuesday, March 18, 2014

WACO, Texas (AP) - An effort is underway to name the Waco Veterans Affairs Medical Center for local World War II hero Doris Miller.

The Waco Tribune-Herald (https://bit.ly/1diMwUs ) reports U.S. Rep. Bill Flores, a Republican from Bryan, introduced a bill last week that, if approved, will name the facility the Doris Miller Veterans Affairs Medical Center. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn also introduced a related bill in the Senate co-sponsored by fellow Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.

Miller was a cook aboard the USS West Virginia when the ship was attacked at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. He initially helped carry wounded sailors and his captain to safety, then took command of a machine gun, shooting at Japanese aircraft.

He became the first black person to receive the Navy Cross, the second-highest U.S. Navy honor.

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Information from: Waco Tribune-Herald, https://www.wacotrib.com

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