John C . England Ensign John Charles England ( December 11 , 1920 – December 7 , 1941 ) was an officer in the United States Navy . Biography . John Charles England was born in Harris , Missouri , on December 11 , 1920 . His family then moved to Alhambra , California . He attended Alhambra High School , as did his sister Lennie England ( Bemiss ) . He was president of his graduating class in 1938 , acted in the senior play , was a member of the Light and Shadow drama club and Senior Hi - Y . He was voted Yell King of his senior class according to his sister Lennie . He later attended Pasadena City College , Pasadena , California graduating in 1940 . He was a Yell King on the Pep Commission , a member of the Players Guild , where he was in the cast of their annual fall presentation of , " Bachelor Born " . He was also a member of Delta Psi Omega , a national honorary dramatics fraternity performing in their annual spring production , " Outward Bound " . J . C . graduated in spring , 1940 . He enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve as an Apprentice Seaman at Los Angeles on September 6 , 1940 . After active duty training on board the USS " New York " from November 25 , to December 21 , 1940 he attended Naval Reserve Midshipman ' s School , New York , N . Y . and was appointed Midshipman , USNR , March 6 , 1941 . He completed his training on June 5 and was commissioned Ensign , USNR , June 6 , 1941 . He was next assigned duty under instruction at the Naval Radio School , Norton Heights , Connecticut , reporting June 20 , 1941 . Upon detachment from school , he reported on September 3 , 1941 to the USS " Oklahoma " at Pearl Harbor . During this period he had also married and in early December he was eagerly awaiting the arrival of his wife and three week old daughter ( Victoria Louise England ) who were due to arrive in a few days . He had never seen his daughter . On the morning of December 7 , 1941 , just four days from his 21st birthday John C . England volunteered to work in the ship ' s radio room for a friend so that he might have more time with his family when they arrived . That morning the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and the USS " Oklahoma " was one of their first targets . " Oklahoma " was moored at Battleship Row 7 , outboard alongside Maryland . USS " Oklahoma " took 3 torpedo hits almost immediately after the first Japanese bombs fell . As she began to capsize , 2 more torpedoes struck home , and her men were strafed as they abandoned ship . Within 20 minutes after the attack began , she had swung over until halted by her masts touching bottom , her starboard side above water , and a part of her keel clear . Ensign England survived the initial attack and escaped topside as the ship was capsizing . He remembered the men still in the radio room . He returned three times to the radio room , each time guiding a man to safety . He left to go back below decks for the fourth time and was never seen again . He was one of twenty officers and 395 enlisted men who were killed on board USS " Oklahoma " that morning . Ensign England ' s gallant effort saved three men , but cost him his life . His family would hear of his death by Postal Telegram sent by Rear Admiral Nimitz on December 16 , 1941 . Namesakes and honors . Two ships have been named USS " England " for him . In 1943 , the USS " England " ( DE - 635 ) was named to honor John Charles England and his heroism . His mother Thelma cracked the ceremonial bottle of champagne on " England " ' s bow in San Francisco Harbor on September 26 , 1943 . Lennie England served as maid of honor and kept the ribbon wrapped bottle until her death in 1995 . Alhambra High School continues to award the John C . England award to their most outstanding senior each year . BEQ 836 at NSTC Great LAkes is also named in honor of England .