World War II Hero Doris Miller Get Some Belated Recognition From His Hometown

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By Becky FogelDecember 8, 2017 1:00 pm

The Standard’s news roundup gives you a quick hit of interesting, sometimes irreverent, and breaking news stories from all over the state.

U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold of Corpus Christi is one of several congressmen facing allegations of sexual misconduct. But Farenthold does not appear to be facing the same pressure to resign as his Democratic counterparts, including Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota, who resigned Thursday.

House Speaker Paul Ryan said he would not call on Farenthold to resign after news broke about a taxpayer-funded, $84,000 settlement with a former staffer.  Sen. John Cornyn, who is the second-ranking Republican in the Senate, told reporters Wednesday he believes every case should turn on its own facts.

“And what Senator Franken decides to under pressure from his Democratic colleagues shouldn’t necessarily dictate what happens in another case,” Cornyn said. He added, “I’ll leave the Farenthold case to Congressman Farenthold to explain since I’m not acquainted with all the facts, other than what I’ve read and heard in the news.”

Cornyn added that a hostile work environment, sexual harassment, and assault are serious matters. He said that he, like the rest of the Senate, will be undergoing additional sexual harassment training.




Doris, or Dorie, Miller is one of Waco’s World War II heroes. He was an African-American mess man on the USS West Virginia during Pearl Harbor. And on the 76th anniversary of the attack, Miller is getting a memorial in his hometown.

From KWBU in Waco, Will Burney has more.

During the attack on Pearl Harbor, Doris Miller commandeered a machine gun and helped save the crew of his ship.

“One of the comments we have had actually is why there isn’t more about Doris Miller in Waco.” said Doreen Ravencroft, who is with the Waco Cultural Arts Organization.

Ravencroft’s organization has spearheaded the project to honor Miller since 2011. At a ceremony, they’ll unveil the first stage of his memorial: a bronze statue. The statue’s home is temporary. A permanent monument on the Brazos River is still under construction. Organizers hope the statue will help generate more more funding to complete the project.

At least six crew members of the USS. Miller will be in attendance for the unveiling. Ravencroft says meeting them was illuminating

“It kind of took us back. We didn’t really realize the impact we were making out of Waco,” Ravencroft said.

Much of the story of Doris Miller is lost in Waco. The school he went to was demolished, and the plaque dedicated to him can’t be found. The site of his original home is now beneath lake Waco. Ravenscroft says that’s why this memorial is so important to her and the Waco Cultural Arts Organization.

“I think we’re building on what was done and retrieving what was lost. “

The ceremony will include music, speakers, and remembrance of WWII. In Waco, I’m Will Burney,” Ravencroft said.




First Lady Melania Trump and Second Lady Karen Pence were in Texas Wednesday. They visited Corpus Christi and Rockport to meet with first responders and survey recovery efforts more than three months after Hurricane Harvey.

But before leaving the state, they made a very Texas pit-stop. They grabbed lunch at Whataburger. Gov. Greg Abbott’s wife Cecilia was also with the pair and he tweeted that FLOTUS was “Texas savvy” for choosing the favored fast food chain.