Doris Miller manned a machine gun, without training, during the attack on Pearl Harbor, to defend the USS West Virginia. He was a mess attendant — a role he was assigned because he was Black. But he still shot down several Japanese planes, even after the West Virginia was hit by Japanese torpedoes.
He was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions on December 7, the first African American to receive the medal. He was a real hero. He was killed in action in 1943.
If carriers can be named after a Congressman, Carl Vinson, and a Senator, John Stennis, why not name a carrier after a real sailor and warrior, Doris Miller?