Charles French managed to load fifteen injured crew members onto a life raft and then tied a rope to the raft and secured the other end to his waist, after which he swam for eight hours through shark-infested water until they were rescued, but received no recommendation for the Medal of Honor. The story of Charles Jackson French is little known and marred by the inevitable racism that permeates our history in America. In time it was learned that Charles Jackson French stood 5'8" tall and weighed 195 pounds. 2022 State Convention | NAACP: The Urgency of Now, 2023 Virginia NAACP Legislative Priorities, Copyright 2023 German prisoners of war were allowed to ride with White soldiers while the Black fighters were relegated to open, drafty, smelly cattle cars. French, who moved to Omaha as a teen, first enlisted in the US Navy in 1937. BZ PO1 French! The Color of Water: A Black Mans Tribute to His White Mother. Charles Jackson French was a Navy Mess Specialist 1st Class Petty Officer the night the USS Gregory (APD 3) was sunk by Japanese destroyers during the Battle of Guadalcanal. Little is known of his earliest days. The mess attendant died in 1956 at only 37 years of age. A letter of commendation? Its a story of the best of who we are.. 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Frenchs story was soon told by the War Gum Trading Card Company. Maybe they can stop naming warships after politicians and go back to naming them after actual heroes? French like so many Black men believed that if they showed they were willing to fight for the country that the country would show them and people of their race some gratitude and equality only to return to the same situation they were fighting against. To see these posts, click this link, For Womens History Month 2022 we featured 31 amazing Black women we should all know. Despite the fact that the Medal of Honor is extremely rare, it can be received twice. Now many feel that a letter of commendation for a heroic eight hour swim through sharks and enemy shell fire is not enough. Inaction has been a great injustice to the goodly Sergeants bravery and sacrifice, for him and his Troops. After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men were adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. This request was also forwarded to the National NAACP office asking for a resolution to be adopted. French was hailed as the hero of the Solomons and the Human Tugboat for his daring rescue of the Pacific during World War II. We know of this story because of the courage demonstrated by Ensign Robert N Adrian, the only officer from the bridge of the Gregory to survive. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Will you do the same? French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroic actions in 1942. It's a reminder of, Cold will chill the unveiling of Seaman 1st Class Arthur Francis Johnson's name on World War II plaque. Social media posts over the weekend began highlighting the story of Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French of Foreman, Arkansas, who became a national hero after the destroyer Gregory was sunk Sept. 5, 1942, by Japanese warships near Guadalcanal. After the death of his parents, he lived with his older sister, Viola, in Omaha, Nebraska. Brown noted that, with Frenchs name and photo attached to the Navy pool, his story will be told well into the future. In 1945, when Congress began reviewing the record of the most conspicuous acts of courage by American soldiers during World War II, they recommended awarding the Medal of Honor to 432 recipients. French, a strong swimmer since youth, volunteered to swim the boat away from the Japanese island. During his youth, he would often swim in the Red River and became quite adept at it. The International Swimming Hall of Fame had this painting created of French, one of the most famous Black heroes of World War II. U . This meant that if there were family members they had to live in ghettos like the general public. No medal. Her husband, Floyd, has served on the Caroline Board of Supervisors for. French may have been denied the medal because a Silver Star was awarded to one of his superiors and it was unprecedented to award a higher medal to a subordinate. Did I misread the Congressional Order, or did they not suspend the statute of limitations for review of awards where race may have played a issue in denial or downgrade of award. The gunfire hit two of the ships boilers and the Gregory was set ablaze by the fire. To comment or make suggestions on future posts, use Contact Us. Linda Thomas of Bowling Green, Virginia, wants President Joe Biden to award the Medal of Honor to Black World War II Navy heroes Doris Miller and Charles Jackson French. A BILL TO NAME A U.S. POST OFCEFI JUST PAST THE U.S. SENATE. Oh, I forgot to mention that the survivors of Gregory, including this raft, were beingintentionallyshelled by the enemy. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. charles jackson french swam 6-8 hours in 1942nd a saved 15 of his crewmates and died in 1956. For Black History Month 2022 we focused on Health and Wellness in the Black Community. On January 11, 1945, French was serving aboard the USS Bunker Hill, an aircraft carrier that was involved in the Battle of Okinawa. To see the posts, click here. The inaugural Hero of the Heartland event, hosted by UNOs Office of Multicultural Affairs and UNOs Military-Connected Resource Center, honored a World War II hero whose acts have been largely forgotten for decades. Messman Charles French became a hero to his shipmates after their destroyer USS Gregory (DD-82) was sunk by Imperial Japanese Navy ships on 5 September 1942. I say MOH. Charles Jackson French was an incredible pioneer in the field of civil engineering. Charles Jackson French died in 1956 and is buried in Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California. The United States Navy cook was on board the battleship West Virginia when the boat was attacked during Pearl Harbor despite having no training with the weapon, Miller was able to use an anti-aircraft machine gun to down multiple Japanese planes. French volunteered to tow the raft to another island that was safer, however, these were shark infested waters and those on board the raft attempted to talk French out of the mission, but he believed that death by shark would at least be quick and merciful. He served two stints in the Navy. If the latter, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal might have been the most apropos award. A Black sailor swam against sharks to save his White shipmates. French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. The night that propelled Charles Jackson French into the role of hero was September 5, 1942, when enemy bombs sank the U.S.S. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has continued its advocacy work in the Commonwealth of Virginia since 1935 through the Virginia State Conference. He was also featured in a 1943 comic book and was honored at halftime during a Creighton University football game. The publication for writers and readers to create and read amazing content, Actress, Stage playwright, Author, Motivational Speaker, Teacher Fitness Coach. Despite the fact that more than one million African Americans served, not a single Black soldier received the Medal of Honor. Now, 80 years later, the Navy is finally catching up. French enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1937 and served four years. Kudos to the man that stepped up and saved himself and others from the awful fate of becoming Jap POWs. . It only took 3 minutes for the ship to sink. Use our links to Amazon anytime you shop Amazon. Or even going back to the 90s when a lot of this (blacks finally getting the awards they deserve) started to happen. It seems a travesty that he never received a medal after such a courageous single-handed act of bravery saving 15 men. The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) launched a new series to recognize the courage and heroic deeds of the heroes who call the Omaha area home. This post office renaming is important to his family, the community of Omaha, and the state of Nebraska. Apparently part of the reason that he did not receive an award was that the Navy was reluctant to give him a medal equal or higher to what his ships commander received, and he was killed in the action. Navy Chief of Information Rear Adm. Charles Brown retweeted the post, thanking Nance for highlighting Frenchs heroic story and promising to work with Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday to see whether the service could do anything more to recognize the sailor. French was a swimmer who performed a heroic act that gave others another chance at life. His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service. You can read more about the Virginia NAACPs work and our six Game Changer issue areas by visiting NAACPVA.org. Phone: 402-444-1186. Instead, the Navy only issued a letter of commendation. Still, a letter of commendation is completely inadequate for what French did and I dont buy that this cant be considered combat. After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men was adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. On September 5, 1942, U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French navigated through shark-infested waters with a rope around his waist, towing 15 wounded sailors to safety from. French was memorialized on War gum trading cards and in a comic strip. French was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal in recognition of his bravery and combat action. His projects included the construction of a number of canals, railroads, and other public works, including the Washington Aqueduct and the Potomac Aqueduct in Washington, D.C. Charles Jackson Frenchs work was instrumental in the development of the modern infrastructure that we rely on today. Note: when French was in the Navy, it was not permitted for there to be Blacks and Whites in the water at the same time. Japanese destroyers sank the ship he was on, the USS Gregory, in the South Pacific in September 1942. Todd Neikirk is a New Jersey-based politics, entertainment and history writer. Teachers are pumped. The above summary gives a view of Charles Jackson French, a man who deserves a place in history, but like many Blacks have been excluded. Adrian retired from the Navy in 1966 and died in 2011, without succeeding. His own father served in the war, too. The omission remained on the record for more than four decades. There is no way a man with a set of brass balls the size of what PO1 French possessed could float, let alone tow a raft. French would go on to earn the name "The Human Tugboat" and garner immense respect from his fellow military peers. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Charles Jackson French, a Black Navy swimmer and petty officer finally gets recognition for his courage to save his White teammates during World War II. Mrs. Thomas requests the Medal of Honor for the following Black Veterans: More than 3500 Medals of Honor have been given out to date, according to the National Medal of Honor Museum, however, less than 100 of those recipients are African-American. During his service, he received a letter of commendation from the commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet, Adm. William F. Halsey, Jr. Weeks later, he told the story of a heroic mess attendant named "French" who towed a raft full of about 15 wounded sailors including Adrian all night through shark-filled waters until they were rescued. 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Charles Jackson French (on stage, not pictured) led a crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance at the Omaha Auditorium on Nov. 11, 1942, during the city's largest Armistice Day observance since the end of World War I 24 years earlier. His heroism was recognized in popular culture, though. Charles Jackson French, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully at the age of 77 on June 17th, 2020. UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, speaks to the bravery and courage of Charles Jackson French at the Hero of the Heartland event. The injustices of 1940s Jim Crow America are brought to life in this extraordinary blend of military and social history, an account that pays tribute to the valor of an all-black battalion whose crucial contributions at D-day have gone unrecognized to this day. A man who served and re-enlisted again when we entered World War II. Adrian also recommended him for a Navy Cross, the Navys second-highest award for valor, but he received only a letter of commendation. Lets get this HERO the Medal of Honor, Forgotten: The Untold Story of D-days Black Heroes, at Home and at War. "The country did . Ive always felt glad to be a proud American, Harris said. Bill to honor World War II hero Charles Jackson French at Omaha post office signed into law Updated: 6:46 PM CDT Jun 15, 2022 Infinite Scroll Enabled KETV Staff Report Show Transcript. Charles Jackson French with his sister, Viola, at a Creighton University football game on Oct. 31, 1942, at which he was honored. S. House of Representatives: Demand a Congressional Medal of Honor for Petty Officer Charles Jackson French - Sign the Petition! He was 37 years old when he died on November 7, 1956, in San Diego, California. In the end, there were fifteen additional sailors on the raft with the mess attendant. Charles Jackson French, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully at the age of 77 on June 17th, 2020. A man discriminated against by the country that he loved, was willing to put his life on the line for. He was celebrated in the Black press and was even the subject of a syndicated comic strip. Generations of Sailors will train [at the pool] and never forget the values and legacy of such a brave American hero.. Charles Jackson French with his sister, Viola, at a Creighton University football game on Oct. 31, 1942, at which he was honored. For this heroic action, in saving the lives of 15 US Sailors, Petty Officer French, an African American, recieved little more than a simple letter of commendation in his file. Sergeant Major Ernest August Janson (August 17, 1878 - May 14, 1930) was a United States Marine who was highly decorated for his heroic actions in World War I. Hundreds of Blacks were slaughtered and 10,000 left homeless in this largely unknown event. During World War I he served under the name Charles F. Hoffman. Charles Jackson French is another unsung Black veteran who demonstrated extreme heroism after his ship was attacked in the early morning of September 5, 1942. Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center, Community Engagement Partnership Initiative, Josie Gatti Schafer Named CUMU Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Research Fellow, #NUforNE: Keeping Nebraska Communities Healthy, Social Mobility, Experiential Learning Focus of Interview with UNO Chancellor Li, University of Nebraska Omaha, towing a boat of wounded survivors by himself i.imgur.com/P1mQDe. . Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French swam through shark-infested waters for hours while towing a raft loaded with 15 of his wounded USS Gregory shipmates. Social media posts over the weekend began highlighting the story of Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French of Foreman, Arkansas, who became a national hero after the destroyer Gregory was sunk Sept. 5, 1942, by Japanese warships near Guadalcanal. He re-enlisted after Pearl Harbor where he was assigned to be a mess attendant. They were spotted and rescued by friendly forces when racism reared its ugly head. Gregory near the Solomon Islands. Days later, he went down to his local recruitment office and reenlisted. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. Will definitely agree that he earned a higher award than was given. Charles will be remembered fondly for his generous spirit, his kind and gentle nature, and the lasting impact he left on those he loved. The ship sailed on the Pacific Ocean heading towards Guadalcanal. Bonus- The Story of Charles Jackson French. French had been hailed as the hero of the Solomon Islands after the sinking of his ship, the USS Gregory, on Sept. 5, 1942, near Guadalcanal. ** The rescued men angrily reacted to this decision, threatening a fight if it wasnt reversed. His work has been featured in psfk.com, foxsports.com, politicususa.com and hillreporter.com. He remembers meeting his uncle during World War II just after the famous rescue and being inspired to learn to swim. Darn guys a stud. The story of Charles Jackson French's valor was told in newspapers, on radio dramas, in comics, on a bubble gum card and on this World War II calendar. I like TOWs suggestion too. As one of the survivors, French found himself in the water on a life raft. The event, held Feb. 9, 2023 in UNO's Milo Bail Student Center, honored Petty Officer 1 st Class Charles Jackson French for his tremendous bravery and efforts in World War II. C harles Jackson French, a Black Navy swimmer and petty officer finally gets recognition for his courage to save his White teammates during World War II. He deserves a higher award, and a destroyer named in his honor. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, he noted that part of his job is to make sure that our veterans receive the recognition they deserve for their courage and dedication to our country. French was a swimmer who performed a heroic act that gave others another chance at life. He disrobed and with assistance tied the tow rope around his waist and swam what is estimated to be six to eight hours. He went into the service as a mess attendant, the only rate then available to . Benjamin Selph echoed Lis remarks, encouraging those in attendance to take inspiration from Frenchs courageous act. This might be the first time I agree with Malcolm Nance. We remember Charles Jackson French, winner of the Navy medal, who swam through the Pacific after his vessel sunk in WWII. He was born in Foreman, Arkansas on September 25, 1919. He died in 1956, at age 37, of depression and alcoholism from untreated post-traumatic stress, family members say. www.epmcknight.wixsite.epfitspiration Follow me: Tiktok, imdb.me/epmcknight. The nation's hierarchy denied French the Medal of Honor and did not consider him for a Silver Star, two of the highest honors bestowed for such self-sacrificing bravery. This activity includes urging President Biden to posthumously confer the Medals of Honor on Doris Miller and Charles French.. On January 11, 1945, French was serving aboard the USS Bunker Hill, an aircraft carrier . When bombs sank the. You must know this HERO Charles Jackson French, Charles Jackson French survived the destruction of the USS Gregory and then swam for hours dragging a life raft full of his shipmates through Shark infested waters. French was also the only African American to appear on World War II patriotic trading cards issued by GUM, Inc. While it is great to receive these honors think how much better it would have been to the generations who were denied knowledge and inspiration from a true hero! Charles French was born on September 25, 1919, in Foreman, Arkansas. Charles Jackson French (September 25, 1919 - November 7, 1956) was a United States Navy sailor. Charles Jackson French, a Black Navy swimmer and petty officer finally gets recognition for his courage to save his White teammates during World War II. After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men were adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. I was elated, said Chester French Jr. of Omaha, Charles nephew, who attended along with several other French family members. He quickly went to work pulling other sailors aboard with him. Miller wasnt the only African-American hero of World War II, though. To see the full listing of over 250 posts, click on our Blog listWe post weekly, so check often, For Black History Month 2020, we posted daily. It is not necessary to purchase the item in the link. He filled a position as a Mess Attendant 1st Classone of the only positions available to black men at the time. In June 2022, the President Joe Biden, signed into law (H.R.4168) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6223 Maple Street, in Omaha, Nebraska, as the Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French Post Office. A self-declared light-skinned woman evasive about her ethnicity, yet steadfast in her love for her 12 Black children. A pool and a letter of commendation dont seem like enough for this true American hero. . This was one of the few assignments available to Black troops and included stevedores, stewards. Despite the fact that he did not receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, French was awarded the second highest honor, just below the Congressional Medal of Honor, which had been given to Doris Miller. Rear Adm. Charles Brown presented eight of Frenchs relatives with a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal on May 21 in San Diego. In San Diego in 2022, French's family was presented with his posthumous Navy and Marine Corps medal. Enter your email address below to receive updates each time we publish new content. sliewer@owh.com; twitter.com/Steve Liewer. On May 21, 2022, a dedication ceremony for the bases rescue swimmer training pool in Frenchs honor was held at Naval Base San Diego, during which the award was presented. Did Charles Jackson French receive the Medal of Honor? The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its education programs or activities, including admissions and employment. We see many examples of prisoners of war being treated with greater dignity than soldiers wearing American uniforms after suffering injuries, physical, emotional, mental, and even watched death. Willie was only 11 years old when he received the Medal of Honor during the Civil War, and he was awarded it shortly after his 13th birthday. When Adrian told him that the swim would be arduous and the water was full of sharks, French responded that he was more afraid of the Japanese than he was of the sharks. 80 years later, Omaha hero who swam in shark-infested waters receives Navy honor. This button displays the currently selected search type. Soon after, a bill passed the Nebraska legislature to name an Omaha post office for him. Took the thoughts right outa my head SFC D. And if the shark had of tried to bite this Hero in those big brass ones, the shark woulda broke off a few teeth. Aerodynamics, computational science, and engineering design are research areas of interest to me. Virginia NAACP President Robert Barnette was pleased to have his Executive Committee give its unanimous support to Mrs. Thomas effort. This is the story of Charles Jackson French, who rescued several soldiers during the Battle of Guadalcanal. He was a powerful swimmer and towed the raft for somewhere between six and eight hours throughout the night, until a landing craft discovered and rescued them. Charles Denver Barger (June 3, 1892 - November 25, 1936) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in World War I.He earned the medal while serving as a Chauchat automatic rifle gunner during the Meuse-Argonne offensive, when he and another soldier, Jesse N. Funk, entered no man's land despite . The ensign told French the plan was crazy, that they were surrounded by sharks and he would only get himself killed. The Southern.Life is a publication of Emerson Parker Press, which is owned and operated by Jim Harris and his wife, Marian. After Pearl Harbor where he was on, the Navy only issued letter. With assistance tied the tow rope around his waist and swam what is estimated to be adopted by,! 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