Question

what position did doris miller hold in the u.s. navy during world war ii?

second-class lieutenant
first-class general
third-class cook

Explanation:

🆕 New Concept Discovered: Racial Segregation in the U.S. Military
African Americans were restricted to service roles.

Step 1: Identify Doris Miller's role

During World War II, the United States military was racially segregated. African Americans serving in the U.S. Navy were generally restricted to non-combat rating specialties, primarily serving in the Messman Branch.

Doris "Dorie" Miller enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1939 as a Mess Attendant. By the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, he served aboard the battleship USS West Virginia as a Mess Attendant Third Class (often referred to historically and in simplified terms as a third-class cook).

Step 2: Match with the given options

• second-class Lieutenant: This is not a valid naval rank, and Miller was not a commissioned officer.
• first-class General: "General" is an Army, Marine Corps, or Air Force rank, not a Navy rank, and Miller was not an officer.
• third-class cook: This corresponds to his rating in the Messman Branch (Mess Attendant Third Class), where his duties included preparing and serving food.

Answer:

third-class cook