Medal of Honor: Jackson Charles Pharris – World War II – December 7, 1941

Name: Jackson Charles Pharris
Rank: Lieutenant (then Gunner)
Organization: U.S. Navy
Unit: USS California (BB-44) 
Place and Date: Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii – 7 December 1941
Entered Service At: California
Born: June 26, 1912 – Columbus, Georgia
Departed: October 17, 1966
Accredited To: California

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Summary of Action

When the first Japanese torpedo slammed into USS California on the morning of December 7, 1941, Lieutenant Jackson C. Pharris — then serving as a Gunner — was in charge of an ordnance repair party on the third deck. The explosion violently hurled him against the overhead and back to the deck, injuring him severely.

Despite the concussion and pain, Pharris immediately began improvising a hand-supply ammunition train for the antiaircraft batteries, ensuring the ship could continue defending herself even as power failed. Water and oil surged into the shattered compartments around him, filling the air with choking fumes that repeatedly rendered men unconscious.

When California absorbed a second torpedo and took on an even heavier list, Pharris ordered counterflooding to stabilize the ship. Twice he was knocked unconscious by the overpowering fumes, but each time he revived and forced himself back into the fight — crawling into flooding, oil-soaked spaces to rescue shipmates who were being slowly submerged.

His determination, presence of mind, and refusal to quit helped keep California firing during the attack, saving numerous crewmen and preventing the battleship from sinking more rapidly.

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Medal of Honor Citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while attached to the U.S.S. California during the surprise enemy Japanese aerial attack on Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, 7 December 1941. In charge of the ordnance repair party on the third deck when the first Japanese torpedo struck almost directly under his station, Lt. (then Gunner) Pharris was stunned and severely injured by the concussion which hurled him to the overhead and back to the deck. Quickly recovering, he acted on his own initiative to set up a hand-supply ammunition train for the antiaircraft guns.

With water and oil rushing in where the port bulkhead had been torn up from the deck, with many of the remaining crewmembers overcome by oil fumes, and the ship without power and listing heavily to port as a result of a second torpedo hit, Lt. Pharris ordered the shipfitters to counterflood. Twice rendered unconscious by the nauseous fumes and handicapped by his painful injuries, he persisted in his desperate efforts to speed up the supply of ammunition and at the same time repeatedly risked his life to enter flooding compartments and drag to safety unconscious shipmates who were gradually being submerged in oil.

By his inspiring leadership, his valiant efforts, and his extreme loyalty to his ship and her crew, he saved many of his shipmates from death and was largely responsible for keeping the California in action during the attack. His heroic conduct throughout this first eventful engagement of World War II reflects the highest credit upon Lt. Pharris and enhances the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.