USS Pharris (DE:FF-1094)

• Namesake: USS Pharris (DE/FF-1094) was named after Lieutenant Commander Jackson Charles Pharris, a Medal of Honor recipient for his heroism during the attack on Pearl Harbor aboard USS California (BB-44). • Class and Commission: Pharris was a Knox-class frigate, originally classified as a destroyer escort (DE-1094), and was commissioned on 19 May 1974. • Reclassification: In 1975, she was reclassified from a destroyer escort (DE) to a frigate (FF), becoming FF-1094, following the new U.S. Navy ship designation system. • Cold War Service: Pharris participated in numerous Cold War operations, including anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercises and NATO deployments in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. • Lebanon Crisis (1983): USS Pharris was part of the U.S. naval forces off the coast of Lebanon during the Lebanese Civil War, supporting peacekeeping operations in the region. • Collision Incident: In 1984, Pharris was involved in a minor collision with another U.S. naval vessel off the U.S. East Coast, resulting in no serious damage or injuries. • Operation Earnest Will: She served in the Persian Gulf during Operation Earnest Will in the late 1980s, escorting reflagged Kuwaiti oil tankers amidst the Iran-Iraq War. • Technological Upgrades: Throughout her service, Pharris received several upgrades, including improved sonar and anti-submarine warfare systems to keep pace with evolving Soviet submarine threats. • Decommissioning and Fate: USS Pharris was decommissioned on 15 September 1992 and transferred to the Mexican Navy, where she was renamed ARM Nicolás Bravo (E40). • Legacy: The ship’s crest and memorabilia are preserved by veterans’ groups and museums, commemorating her Cold War service and the heroism of her namesake.