French enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1937 and served four years. Custer is the first soldier in US history to receive the militarys highest honor twice, as well as the first to do so twice. Kudos to the man that stepped up and saved himself and others from the awful fate of becoming Jap POWs. Information from ISHOF, military.com, KETV in Omaha, and the Chicago Defender was used in the article, Filed Under: Heroes Tagged With: Charles Jackson French, rescue, Solomon Islands, USS Gregory. French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. Since they were taking direct fire, Id feel the Navy Cross the more appropriate of the two. 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. Miller received the Navy Cross (the second-highest award for combat valor) and Bell received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal (the highest award for noncombat heroism). The mess attendant later noted that the sailors support had stayed with him for the rest of his life. Several San Diego Navy leaders spoke. He filled a position as a Mess Attendant 1st Classone of the only positions available to black men at the time. The link to these posts is here. Im proud we could come together to recognize his legacy of service and sacrifice.. Omaha hailed hometown hero Charles Jackson French back in 1942, when the African American mess steward saved the lives of his shipmates after their destroyer was sunk in the World War II battle of the Solomon Islands. He was a talented carpenter, a skilled handyman, and a master of DIY projects. During this time, the military followed the segregation laws that were prevalent in the nation. Please subscribe to keep reading. French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroic actions in 1942. It is not necessary to purchase the item in the link. That inquiry helped bring about last weeks award ceremony. Continue for more information on the site and posts that may be of interest. Brown noted that, with Frenchs name and photo attached to the Navy pool, his story will be told well into the future. Calls to recognize black WWII hero shed light on feat of heroism, Omaha-native Charles Jackson French is credited with saving his entire crew while serving in the U.S. Navy. He was born in Foreman, Arkansas on September 25, 1919. It read: For meritorious conduct in action while serving on board of a destroyer transport which was badly damaged during the engagement with Japanese forces in the British Solomon Islands on September 5, 1942. Charles Jackson French and his sister, Viola, were honored at a Creighton football game in Omaha on Oct. 31, 1942. Rep. Don Bacon Honors Navy Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French, Immortal Valor: The Black Medal of Honor Winners of World War II. It is time to honor those who deserve honor! 2022 State Convention | NAACP: The Urgency of Now, 2023 Virginia NAACP Legislative Priorities, Copyright 2023 Thomas has also been in communication with other senators and members of Congress asking them to support this effort. . As promising as that sounded, that was the most dangerous place to be for fear that they would be captured and executed. 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's draft registration card. One member of the 320th would be nominated for the Medal of Honor, an award he would never receive because the nations highest decoration was not given to black soldiers in World War II. 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. Enter your email address below to receive updates each time we publish new content. French, a strong swimmer since youth, volunteered to swim the boat away from the Japanese island. He re-enlisted after Pearl Harbor where he was assigned to be a mess attendant. French had only been out of the Navy for a couple of months when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. For his bravery, Navy Messman Charles Jackson French was provided a letter of commendation from Adm. William F. "Bull" Halsey, the Commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet, and the Navy Cross, the second-highest award available. Their orders were to man a curtain of armed balloons meant to deter enemy aircraft. French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroic actions in 1942. The bravery that he demonstrated serves as a reminder of the sacrifices that can be made at any age. His heroism was recognized in popular culture, though. While the sailors in the life raft were off the burning ship, they were still in deep trouble. While the ship attempted to fight back, the enemy fire was too much. Maybe they can stop naming warships after politicians and go back to naming them after actual heroes? After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men was adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. 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. 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. This post office renaming is important to his family, the community of Omaha, and the state of Nebraska. He quickly went to work pulling other sailors aboard with him. The omission remained on the record for more than four decades. Organizations such as the National Coalition of Black Veteran Organizations have also shown their support. The Arkansas native had moved to Omaha to live with his sister as a youth after his parents died, and he became one of the most famous Black war heroes of the 1940s. You have permission to edit this article. The information that we present to everyone is extremely important, and a small donation can help us keep it that way. 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. Frenchs story was soon told by the War Gum Trading Card Company. It would seem to me well past the point to review Frenchs case. The mess attended tied a rope around his waist and the boat and began the journey. This sounds horrendous and it was, but it is just one example of the horrors of war that greeted Black soldiers who had risked their lives for their country with the goal of making it an equitable society for all. He died in 1956, at age 37, of depression and alcoholism from untreated post-traumatic stress, family members say. He certainly earned a much higher award than he was given. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. 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. 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 award was presented during a ceremony in which a pool used for training Navy rescue swimmers at Naval Base San Diego was renamed in Frenchs honor. Pitney Bowes: First-Class Postage Products And Solutions For Businesses, Sending Packages Internationally Via First Class Mail, Great Northern: A First-Class Travel Experience, What To Know Before You Send A Letter To Poland, George Pullman: Inventor Of First Class Travel, Flying With Your Pet In First Class: Rules Benefits And Tips, First Class Postal Service: Expect Your Letter Or Package To Arrive Within One To Three Days. A world class collection of Black History inspired by a 5th grade teacher who told Arturo Schomburg that there was NO African history. Will you do the same? He enjoys sports, politics, comic books, and anything that has to do with history. Yet, history has overlooked him. Little is known of his earliest days. 1 of 5. Category: Historical, Navy, Valor, War Stories, We Remember. French, who was manning the anti-aircraft guns, was killed in the ensuing explosion, making him one of the first casualties of the battle. Its a story of the best of who we are.. 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. 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. There was no escape from racism despite putting your life on the line for your country. 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. Charles French was born on September 25, 1919, in Foreman, Arkansas. It has been reported that Charles Jackson French simply asked his injured crewmates, Just tell me if Im going the right way. Frenchs example shows that everyone has within themselves the capacity for great bravery. U.S. Navy Capt. In Omaha, French was honored at a Creighton University football game and was selected to lead a crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance at an Armistice Day (now called Veterans Day) event. Name a warship after this Hero. Change.org Uh oh. The Navy mess attendant was credited with swimming for several hours through shark-infested waters while towing a lifeboat filled with wounded shipmates, all of whom were White, until they could be rescued. He was particularly noted for his work on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in Maryland, a major engineering feat of its time. The publication for writers and readers to create and read amazing content, Actress, Stage playwright, Author, Motivational Speaker, Teacher Fitness Coach. 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. This is a close as you can get to a system of slavery as it is forced on the service member. Charles Jackson French (September 25, 1919 - November 7, 1956) was a United States Navy sailor. This was one of the few assignments available to Black troops and included stevedores, stewards. Teachers are pumped. Born in a small town in California, Charles was a man of many talents. You can cancel at any time. Ive always felt glad to be a proud American, Harris said. Still, a letter of commendation is completely inadequate for what French did and I dont buy that this cant be considered combat. Charles Jackson French: Hero Without a Medal. Charles Jackson (MEng, DIS, MINCOSE) Expand search. The ensign told French the plan was crazy, that they were surrounded by sharks and he would only get himself killed. Willie Johnson, the youngest person to receive the Medal of Honor, is also the youngest person to receive the medal. Your email address will not be published. Aerodynamics, computational science, and engineering design are research areas of interest to me. The VSC NAACP is in full support of Thomass campaign. 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. After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men were adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. You can try refreshing the page, and if you're still having problems, just try again later. 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! The remarkable story of the seven African American soldiers ultimately awarded the World War II Medal of Honor, and the 50-year campaign to deny them their recognition. Charles Jackson French saved 15 men from the USS Gregory in September of 1942. Of the many acts of bravery among the men of Gregory during its final battle (including the mortally wounded skipper ordering his crew to abandon him and help other wounded, never to be seen again) was Charles French. 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. To comment or make suggestions on future posts, use Contact Us. 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. Charles Jackson French is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California. Benjamin Selph echoed Lis remarks, encouraging those in attendance to take inspiration from Frenchs courageous act. . For Black History Month 2022 we focused on Health and Wellness in the Black Community. French towed a raft loaded with his wounded shipmates. A man discriminated against by the country that he loved, was willing to put his life on the line for. His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service. Roughly 15 survivors of the Gregory, some injured, were gathered in a life raft. After the death of his parents, he lived with an older sister, Viola, in Omaha, Nebraska. "The country did . Chester French, nephew of Charles Jackson French, shares remarks at the Hero of the Heartland event. I say MOH. This meant that if there were family members they had to live in ghettos like the general public. Rear Adm. Charles Brown presented eight of French's relatives with a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal on May 21 in San Diego. French finished a four-year Navy tour in November 1941 and was visiting family in Omaha when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, speaks to the bravery and courage of Charles Jackson French at the Hero of the Heartland event. 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. U.S. Navy Capt. A man who served and re-enlisted again when we entered World War II. Navy officials escorted members of Frenchs family to his gravesite at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, on San Diegos Point Loma peninsula. We depend on your support and thank you for it! He was a talented carpenter, a skilled handyman, and a master of DIY projects. Dismiss. The ultimate insult! This whole story violates the laws of physics. Aboard a lift raft with several other sailors and drifting towards enemy-held islands, French volunteered to tow the raft himself by swimming. Her husband, Floyd, has served on the Caroline Board of Supervisors for. Additionally, it has continued to pursue advocacy objectives that are in line with policies and plans pertaining to veterans of African heritage. According to VSC President Robert Barnette, black veterans have made important contributions over the years to the military might of this country. Retroactive to 7 December 1941, the criteria and procedure for award of the medal were likely not yet formalized when word of Frenchs heroics came in. He told the story frequently to family and tried for the rest of his life to get Charles Jackson French, the mess attendant, who was from Omaha, the valor award he was denied during the war. He was a mess steward, one of the few positions Black sailors were then allowed to fill in the military. To see this mini-series, click here. charles jackson french swam 6-8 hours in 1942nd a saved 15 of his crewmates and died in 1956. In time it was learned that Charles Jackson French stood 5'8" tall and weighed 195 pounds. French saved. To see the posts, click here. In March of 1942, French was assigned to the USS Gregory (APD-3). Although he demonstrated extreme bravery, instead of the Medal of Honor, all French received was a nice letter from the U. S. Navy. During World War II Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French swam 68 hours in shark-infested waters near Guadalcanal while towing a life raft with 15 USS Gregory survivors of an attack by the Japanese Imperial Navy. Schomburg dedicated his life to proving that teacher wrong and Schomburg did an amazing job with his collection. 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. If the latter, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal might have been the most apropos award. Racism preventing awarding a medal? During World War I he served under the name Charles F. Hoffman. USA Swimming presented him with a gold medal for winning the gold medal in the mens 8 meter swimming event at the Olympic swimming trials in Omaha in June 2021. Darn guys a stud. Bonus- The Story of Charles Jackson French. Charles Jackson French, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully at the age of 77 on June 17th, 2020. 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. The story of Charles Jackson French is little known and marred by the inevitable racism that permeates our history in America. 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. In May 2022, the Navy finally presented French'srelatives with a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal in recognition of his heroics. 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