Military

Doris "Dorie" Miller: (October 12, 1919 – November 24, 1943) was a cook in the United States Navy noted for his bravery during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He was the first African American to be awarded the Navy Cross, the third highest honor awarded by the U.S. Navy at the time, after the Medal of Honor and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. The Navy Cross now precedes the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. Miller's acts were heavily publicized in the black press, making him the iconic emblem of the war for African Americans--their "Number One Hero" Already Featured in Exhibit 

Additional information/pictures may be found in the Naval Historical collection, Dept. of Navy [information found in "Texas and the Nation" curatorial notes 

Audie Murphy:  (June 20, 1925 – May 28, 1971) was one of the most famous and decorated American combat soldiers of World War II. He was awarded every U.S. military combat award for valor available from the U.S. Army, and was also decorated by France and Belgium. Already Featured in Exhibit 

Additional information/pictures may be found in the National Archives GR 3.4.249 [found in Texas and the Nation Curatorial notes]  

Oveta Culp Hobby : Oveta Culp Hobby was the first secretary of the US Department of Health, Education and Welfare, first commanding officer of the Women's Army Corps, and chairperson of the board of the Houston Post Already Featured in exhibit 

Additional information may be found in "Texas Women: Pictorial History" by Ruthe Winegarten. U.S. Army. Information found in the Texas and the Nation Curatorial Notes   

Felix Longoria Jr.: Mexican-American soldier, who served in the United States Army during World War II and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. His death instigated the Felix Longorai affair. The Felix Longoria affair became an early example of a unifying event in the Mexican American civil rights movement. The intervention of Dr. Hector García and the American GI Forum in the matter led to an increased interest around the country in opening local chapters of the organization. Among Mexican Americans and Hispanics across the country, the incident became a rallying point and a recruiting tool for the GI Forum that soon had chapters across the US