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TAPS
Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky,
Gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, From the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.
Then good night, Peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn
Shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, good night. |
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BORN:
June 26, 1912 at Columbus, GA
Entered Service in the US
Navy from California
Earned the Medal of Honor during World War II For heroism on
December 07, 1941 at Pearl Harbor, HI
DIED: October
17, 1966 at the age of 54
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Lieutenant
Pharris was attached to the U.S.S. California during the
surprise Japanese aerial attack on Pearl Harbor, on December 7,
1941. In charge of the ordnance repair party on the third deck
when the first Japanese torpedo struck almost directly under his
station, Lieutenant Pharris was stunned and severely injured by
the concussion which hurled him to overhead and back to the
deck. Quickly recovering, he 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, he ordered the shipfitters to counterflood.
Twice rendered unconscious by the nauseous fumes he persisted in
his efforts to speed up the supply of ammunition and 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.
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