1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to strongly oppose any effort to rename the future aircraft carrier USS Doris Miller (CVN-81), following recent reporting by CNN indicating that the Navy is considering redesignating the warship. Doris Miller’s heroic actions under fire at Pearl Harbor earned him the Navy Cross, and naming CVN-81 in his honor was a historic milestone recognizing the courage of enlisted sailors and African American servicemembers. Replacing a combat hero who gave his life for this country with Donald Trump who avoided military service through multiple draft deferments to satisfy another political vanity project dishonors the military and insults the millions of veterans who actually answered the call to serve. Our armed forces and their highest honors should never be co-opted for personal self-aggrandizement. I respectfully ask that you publicly voice your objection to this proposed redesignation, engage directly with leadership at the Department of the Navy and Department of Defense, and support congressional measures to ensure the USS Doris Miller retains the name it rightfully earned.