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: African American Military Contributions in WWII
African Americans served in segregated roles, often restricted to service ratings.

Step 1: Identify Doris Miller's role in the U.S. Navy

During World War II, the United States military was racially segregated. African Americans enlisting in the U.S. Navy were generally restricted to the Messman Branch, where they served in support roles such as preparing and serving food to officers.

Doris "Dorie" Miller enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1939 and was rated as a Mess Attendant, Third Class. At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, he was serving aboard the battleship USS West Virginia as a Mess Attendant, Third Class (often referred to in historical contexts and multiple-choice questions 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, Air Force, or Marine Corps rank, not a Navy rank.
• third-class cook: This matches his rating in the Messman Branch (Mess Attendant, Third Class, later promoted to Cook, Third Class).

Answer:

third-class cook