The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
PHARRIS, JACKSON CHARLES
Rank and Organization: Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, U.S.S.
California. Place and Date Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, 7 December 1941. Entered
Service at: California. Born: 26 June 1912, Columbus, Ga.
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 11 reflects the highest credit upon Lt. Pharris and
enhances the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
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