Jackson C . Pharris Jackson Charles Pharris ( June 26 , 1912 – October 17 , 1966 ) was an officer in the United States Navy who received the Medal of Honor for heroism during the attack on Pearl Harbor . Early life . Jackson C . Pharris grew up in Columbus , GA , the oldest of five children . He joined the United States Navy on April 25 , 1933 . In September 1933 , he reported aboard the as a gunner . He was assigned to the USS Mississippi until December 1940 . Pharris reported aboard the USS California in January 1941 . The ship reached Pearl Harbor on November 8 , 1941 . Events at Pearl Harbor . For his actions on board the USS California during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor , he was awarded the Navy Cross , which was later upgraded to the Medal of Honor . Due to the injuries he received , Pharris was hospitalized at Naval Hospital , Pearl Harbor until March 1942 . After being released from the hospital , he returned to the USS California . On July 17 , 1942 , Pharris earned his commission . In January 1943 he was admitted again to the US Naval Hospital after collapsing because of lack of oxygen due to oil still in his lungs . He returned to duty in June . In October 1944 Pharris moved to Boston , Massachusetts where he reported aboard the , a newly commissioned heavy cruiser . The ship left for Japan to participate in bombardments of the Japanese mainland . In September 1945 , just five days after the surrender proclamation , LT Pharris was on deck when a Japanese kamikaze dove at the ship . He ordered the crew to take cover and he directed the firing of the guns and shot it down . His back was broken from the impact of the guns . LT Pharris was transported to US Naval Hospital Oakland , California . In October 1945 he was transferred to US Naval Hospital Long Beach , California . After discharge from the hospital in April 1946 he was temporarily assigned to Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach , Terminal Island , Long Beach Naval Shipyard and Port Hueneme . He was medically retired in May 1948 as a Lieutenant Commander . His Congressional Medal of Honor was presented by President Harry S . Truman on June 25 , 1948 . Personal life . In November 1942 , Pharris met Elizabeth Potter at a social in the USS California Officers ' Mess while the ship was in Bremerton , Washington . While attending school in Washington , D . C . , he finally proposed , and they were married August 24 , 1943 . Following his Navy retirement , the Pharris family settled in Rolling Hills Estates in Los Angeles county . Pharris attended Long Beach City College and USC . On June 9 , 1956 he graduated from USC with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce . On October 16 , 1966 , while attending a Congressional Medal of Honor activity , Pharris collapsed and was taken to the VA Hospital in Los Angeles where he died the next day of a heart attack . He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery . His wife , Elizabeth L . Pharris , died on February 14 , 2002 , and is also buried in Arlington National Cemetery . Namesake . In 1972 , the destroyer escort was named in his honor . In 1975 , the commanding officer of USS Pharris received a letter from one of J . C . Pharris ' shipmates who had served with him on USS California . The writer called Pharris the bravest man he had ever known .