French, who moved to Omaha as a teen, first enlisted in the US Navy in 1937. Yeah, I know, not with this illegitimate regime in place. He told Adrian, Just keep telling me if Im going the right way. Once daylight broke, the raft was spotted by a scout plane, and a landing crew was sent out to rescue them. Since they were taking direct fire, Id feel the Navy Cross the more appropriate of the two. 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. French was honored at the U.S. Olympic swim trials in 2021. We, the undersigned, call upon Congress and the President of the United States to correct this travesty and give Petty Officer French the recognition he deserved for his selfless act of bravery. His wife, Linda, called the event just awesome., It makes you want to cry, she said. Born in a small town in California, Charles was a man of many talents. This to the scientific notationed! A 1943 "True Comics" account of the valor of Charles Jackson French after his ship was sunk at Guadalcanal. Adrian also recommended him for a Navy Cross, the Navys second-highest award for valor, but he received only a letter of commendation. UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, speaks to the bravery and courage of Charles Jackson French at the Hero of the Heartland event. 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. After his military service, French developed alcoholism and depression. On September 5, 1942, United States Navy Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French, swam through the night for 6 8 hours pulling a raft of 15 wounded sailors with a rope around his stomach through shark infested waters after the ship on which he was serving, the USS Gregory, was hit by Japanese naval fire near Guadalcanal. Summary of H.R.1251 - 118th Congress (2023-2024): To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller posthumously for acts of valor while a member of the Navy during World War II. To see the posts, click here. French enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1937 and served four years. The ship sailed on the Pacific Ocean heading towards Guadalcanal. Its wonderful news that legislation to recognize Charles Jackson Frenchs incredible heroism is headed to the presidents desk, Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer, who had introduced companion legislation in the Senate, said in a statement. That led to recognition during the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials held in Omaha in 2021. Charles Jackson French, an African American orphan, and championship-caliber swimmer navigated shark infested waters for about eight hours during. He was only referred to as French on the card, though. 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. French was born in Arkansas in 1919, but moved to Omaha as a youth to live with his married older sister, Viola. Charles Jackson French and his sister, Viola, were honored at a Creighton football game in Omaha on Oct. 31, 1942. "The country did . His story was largely forgotten until Bruce Wigo, a former director of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, unearthed it several years ago. As a result, he is an inspiring example of the bravery and commitment of our youth. It is not necessary to purchase the item in the link. There are some that estimated the time at two hours but in any case, it was a tremendous physical act of courage, keeping in mind that the enemy was still searching for them with the intent of killing them. The mess attendant died in 1956 at only 37 years of age. 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. French was the first black swimmer to earn the Navy Medal for his heroism in 1943. After the death of his parents, he lived with his older sister, Viola, in Omaha, Nebraska. [2] On November 7, 1956, in San Diego, California, Charles Jackson French, 37 at the time, died. A man who served and re-enlisted again when we entered World War II. During this time, the military followed the segregation laws that were prevalent in the nation. Required fields are marked *. Hundreds of Blacks were slaughtered and 10,000 left homeless in this largely unknown event. Charles Jackson French died in 1956 and is buried in Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California. BZ PO1 French! sliewer@owh.com; twitter.com/Steve Liewer. Charles will be remembered fondly for his generous spirit, his kind and gentle nature, and the lasting impact he left on those he loved. Bonus- The Story of Charles Jackson French. When Is The Best Time To Buy First Class Airline Tickets? The bravery that he demonstrated serves as a reminder of the sacrifices that can be made at any age. Charles Jackson French's draft registration card. In March of 1942, French was assigned to the USS Gregory (APD-3). Charles Jackson French, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully at the age of 77 on June 17th, 2020. If the latter, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal might have been the most apropos award. Category: Historical, Navy, Valor, War Stories, We Remember. French saved. His bravery and selfless devotion to duty will always be remembered and serve as an example to all who serve in the United States military. Who is Ruth McBride Jordan? After the death of his parents, he lived with an older sister, Viola, in Omaha, Nebraska. The Virginia NAACP is focused on being the preeminent voice of Black Virginians and advocating for policies and programs to benefit Blacks and people of color. To see the posts, click here. If the Navy and Marine Corps Medal is appropriate for Frenchs action, and by any objective measure it would be, then he ought to get the Navy Cross of MOH. For Black History Month 2022 we focused on Health and Wellness in the Black Community. French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroic actions in 1942. After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men were adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. Thomas has also been in communication with other senators and members of Congress asking them to support this effort. If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it. French received no medal, only a letter of commendation. In his interview with Wright, French described the intense racism he encountered, even after he helped save his shipmates. UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, spoke at the event, pointing to how his actions can inspire us all to be heroes in our own way. 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. Did Charles Jackson French receive the Medal of Honor? 6001 Dodge Street, You gotta be kidding me. www.epmcknight.wixsite.epfitspiration Follow me: Tiktok, imdb.me/epmcknight. 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. Inaction has been a great injustice to the goodly Sergeants bravery and sacrifice, for him and his Troops. 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. After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men were adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. 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. Another of Frenchs nephews, 89-year-old Roscoe Harris of Omaha, also attended, along with two of his own sons and three of his grandsons. Continue to scroll for fascinating Videos and Books to enhance your learning experience. He was recognized locally in September 2022 with the renaming of a Benson post office in his honor. 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. Schomburg dedicated his life to proving that teacher wrong and Schomburg did an amazing job with his collection. 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. For Black History Month 2021, we focused on Black Medical Achievements, Inventors and Scientists.To see those posts, click here. The New York Times best-selling story from the author of The Good Lord Bird, winner of the 2013 National Book Award for Fiction. I read about this on Facebook some time ago. USA Swimming honored him at the finals of the 2021 Swim Trials in June. This man did as much if not more than a medic often does to save 15 of his comrades from capture, while being actively shelled, in shark infested waters. His story was retold in comic strips and trading cards, and he traveled the country to help sell war bonds before enthusiastic crowds. Rear Adm. Charles Brown presented eight of French's relatives with a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal on May 21 in San Diego. His own father served in the war, too. Thomas is also requesting support from the citizens as well as other groups and veterans organizations to ensure that Mr. Miller and Mr. French are properly recognized for their contributions to this country by making phone calls or sending letters to members of congress and the senate. He had been born on Sept. 25, 1919, in Foreman, Arkansas. 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. Soon after, a bill passed the Nebraska legislature to name an Omaha post office for him. In the early hours of June 6, 1944, the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, a unit of African American soldiers, landed on the beaches of France. 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. This button displays the currently selected search type. Teachers are pumped. French, who was manning the anti-aircraft guns, was killed in the ensuing explosion, making him one of the first casualties of the battle. On September 4th of 1942, the USS Gregory found itself under attack from Japanese destroyers. French served aboard the USS Houston for four years before returning to Omaha. This cartoon by Black artist Charles Alston for the U.S. Office of War Information celebrates the wartime valor of Charles Jackson French and two other Black sailors, Doris "Dorrie" Miller and Ervin Bell. . This is the story of the Stewards, Cooks and Messboys who manned that branch of naval service. Follow him on Twitter @SteveLiewer. Virginia State Conference NAACP, Doris (Dorie) Miller, is a Black veteran, who demonstrated such dedication to his duty on December 7, 1941, when his ship was attacked in Pearl Harbor, Doris Miller showed little regard for his safety when he dragged his wounded captain and several shipmates to safety before manning an anti-aircraft gun that he had never been trained to use, and brought down several Japanese planes, but was not recommended for the Medal of Honor. He was a talented carpenter, a skilled handyman, and a master of DIY projects. charles jackson french swam 6-8 hours in 1942nd a saved 15 of his crewmates and died in 1956. During his youth, he would often swim in the Red River and became quite adept at it. It is the service's highest award for noncombat heroism . In her pitch, Thomas said, to politicians: If ever youve needed a moment that says, I can look past party and politics and everything else going on in the world, this is it. A Change.org petition also was started Monday, urging Congress and President Joe Biden to posthumously award French the Medal of Honor. We receive a small royalty without cost to you. Ive always felt glad to be a proud American, Harris said. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. French's story first came to light when Robert N. Adrian a young ensign, told a reporter from the Associated Press about how Charles braved the Pacific Ocean to bring the men to . Charles Jackson French was discharged from the Navy on Nov. 13, 1941, but reenlisted a month later after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The International Swimming Hall of Fame had this painting created of French, one of the most famous Black heroes of World War II. Willie Johnson, the youngest person to receive the Medal of Honor, is also the youngest person to receive the medal. The living quarters were strictly segregated as was housing for family members. His heroism was recognized in popular culture, though. I was elated, said Chester French Jr. of Omaha, Charles nephew, who attended along with several other French family members. French was an African American serving at a time when prejudice and discrimination were ever-present in our Armed Forces and society, said Capt. 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. Brown noted that, with Frenchs name and photo attached to the Navy pool, his story will be told well into the future. The night that propelled Charles Jackson French into the role of hero was September 5, 1942, when enemy bombs sank the U.S.S. ABOUT THE VIRGINIA NAACPFounded in 1935, the Virginia State Conference of NAACP Branches (Virginia NAACP) is the oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization in the Commonwealth, overseeing over 100 NAACP branches, youth councils, and college chapters. 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. Name a warship after this Hero. Itwould ef. Chester French, nephew of Charles Jackson French, shares remarks 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. 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. More at the source. During World War II, he served as a U.S. sailor. The waters were shark-infested. The mess attended tied a rope around his waist and the boat and began the journey. Gregory near the Solomon Islands. Ensign Adrian fought for French to receive the Medal of Honor for his heroic rescue. His work has been featured in psfk.com, foxsports.com, politicususa.com and hillreporter.com. 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. ** 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. We're doing our best to get things working smoothly! 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). 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. 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. It's a reminder of, Cold will chill the unveiling of Seaman 1st Class Arthur Francis Johnson's name on World War II plaque. 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. He remembers meeting his uncle during World War II just after the famous rescue and being inspired to learn to swim. Use our links to Amazon anytime you shop Amazon. 80 years later, Omaha hero who swam in shark-infested waters receives Navy honor. I was happy to see that, as an American Black man, (French) got recognized.. Charles Jackson French with his sister, Viola, at a Creighton football game on Oct. 31, 1942, at which he was honored. French, a Black man from Foreman, Arkansas, worked as a mess attendant on a destroyer transport ship named the USS Gregory, according to a 1943 Associated Press article. We also posted a 5 part mini-series on the 100th anniversary of one of the most horrific massacres in the history of America. Aside: f*ck sharks. 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. During his service, he received a letter of commendation from the commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet, Adm. William F. Halsey, Jr. Interspersed in these are items from partners with Amazing Black History that allow you to support our work without cost to you as we are paid a small royalty by the partner. 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. He was born in Foreman, Arkansas on September 25, 1919. It would seem to me well past the point to review Frenchs case. 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