The Navy and Marine Corps Medal, the highest award for heroism not in combat and the non-combat equivalent of the Navy Cross, had only been created by executive order a month before Frenchs actions. www.epmcknight.wixsite.epfitspiration Follow me: Tiktok, imdb.me/epmcknight. French successfully brought the men to safety on the shores of the Solomon Islands. Yet, history has overlooked him. Charles Jackson French is what makes America great. 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. Kind of sounds like it. It will inspire generations of sailors, he said. Dismiss. Perhaps racism played a role in French not receiving proper recognition. French made public appearances after the rescue, including attending a Creighton University football game with his sister in 1942. He was 37 years old when he died on November 7, 1956, in San Diego, California. The night that propelled Charles Jackson French into the role of hero was September 5, 1942, when enemy bombs sank the U.S.S. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. But his story will be told during a ga, A Virginia woman is trying an unconventional approach to secure the Medal of Honor for two WWII heroes, including Charles Jackson French, who , The University of Nebraska at Omaha honored a long-unsung World War II hero once lauded as a human tugboat during a Black History Month even, Metropolitan Community College is seeking to take over a Marine Corps facility next to its Fort Omaha campus for future expansion. Ted Carlson, commander of Naval Base San Diego. The son of a Black minister and a woman who would not admit she was White, James McBride grew up in orchestrated chaos with his 11 siblings in the poor, all-Black projects of Red Hook, Brooklyn. Schomburg dedicated his life to proving that teacher wrong and Schomburg did an amazing job with his collection. Organizations such as the National Coalition of Black Veteran Organizations have also shown their support. Her husband, Floyd, has served on the Caroline Board of Supervisors for. Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French was an American hero who gave his life in service of his country. 80 years later, Omaha hero who swam in shark-infested waters receives Navy honor. He was responsible for the development and construction of hundreds of public works projects during his career. His story was largely forgotten until Bruce Wigo, a former director of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, unearthed it several years ago. Use our links to Amazon anytime you shop Amazon. His family was presented with a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal, and a swimming pool used for training at the Naval Base San Diego was dedicated in his honor in May 2022. Ensign Adrian fought for French to receive the Medal of Honor for his heroic rescue. I [just] froze and tried to surface and float, [get] my feet outta the water.. This to the scientific notationed! Perhaps it was that he wasnt considered to be in combat. . 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. 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. Darn guys a stud. 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. Either wouldeasilybe warranted in my opinion. He was a talented carpenter, a skilled handyman, and a master of DIY projects. 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. A Black sailor swam against sharks to save his White shipmates. 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. From left are Navy public affairs officer Krishna Jackson, Samuel Harris, Chester French Jr., Michael Harris, Linda French, Christopher Harris, Roscoe Harris, Christopher Harris Jr., Mark Harris and Capt. He was recognized locally in September 2022 with the renaming of a Benson post office in his honor. But after his parents died, he moved to. Rear Adm. Charles Brown presents a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Chester French Jr. of Omaha, nephew of Mess Attendant 1st Class Charles Jackson French, and Chesters wife, Linda, on May 21 in San Diego. French had only been out of the Navy for a couple of months when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. The wording of the letter follows. We're doing our best to get things working smoothly! sliewer@owh.com; twitter.com/Steve Liewer. UNOs Hero of the Heartland event continued the long overdue recognition of Frenchs heroism. 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. 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. His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service.. 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. To see the posts, click here. Charles Jackson French died in 1956 and is buried in Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California. 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. Charles Jackson French's draft registration card. Willie Johnson, the youngest person to receive the Medal of Honor, is also the youngest person to receive the medal. Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French was an American hero who gave his life in service of his country. 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. French towed a raft loaded with his wounded shipmates. Author and Navy veteran Malcolm Nance got the services attention Sunday when he tagged several official accounts in a Twitter post about French. The ships first class is the Petty Officer 1st Class. 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). Category: Historical, Navy, Valor, War Stories, We Remember. 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. Story\Experience 43 comments 100% Upvoted This thread is archived New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast Sort by: best 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. 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. 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. On January 11, 1945, French was serving aboard the USS Bunker Hill, an aircraft carrier that was involved in the Battle of Okinawa. A man who served and re-enlisted again when we entered World War II. 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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. UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, speaks to the bravery and courage of Charles Jackson French at the Hero of the Heartland event. 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. 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. Days later, he went down to his local recruitment office and reenlisted. "The country did . When the sailors were rescued, the Master at Arms attempted to separate French from the men he had just saved. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. 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. 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No medal. 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. It is time to honor those who deserve honor! Both Miller and French have been highly decorated for their service, but Thomas wants to see them awarded the top honor. Teachers are pumped. Aboard a lift raft with several other sailors and drifting towards enemy-held islands, French volunteered to tow the raft himself by swimming. Charles Jackson French was born in 1919 and grew up in Foreman, Arkansas. 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. You can use a link to tennis shoes to buy a refrigerator or anything else. Aside: f*ck sharks. French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroic actions in 1942. . This is the story of the Stewards, Cooks and Messboys who manned that branch of naval service. French was a swimmer who performed a heroic act that gave others another chance at life. 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. French, who moved to Omaha as a teen, first enlisted in the US Navy in 1937. Now many feel that a letter of commendation for a heroic eight hour swim through sharks and enemy shell fire is not enough. Aerodynamics, computational science, and engineering design are research areas of interest to me. This whole story violates the laws of physics. This might be the first time I agree with Malcolm Nance. Charles Jackson French, an African American orphan and champion-caliber swimmer, navigated shark-infested waters for about eight hours during World War II on a frigid September 1942 night to pull to safety a raft of 15 sailors. Rear Adm. Charles Brown presented eight of Frenchs relatives with a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal on May 21 in San Diego. Tucked away from Asheville, North Carolina's busy [Read More] about The Little Mountain Escape-The Biltmore House, As a youngster studying American History, we [Read More] about A Hero, Virtually Unknown to History, Was a Vital Part of Our Nations Independence, Copyright 2023 TheSouthern.Life Site design by: weblotech.com, about The Little Mountain Escape-The Biltmore House, about A Hero, Virtually Unknown to History, Was a Vital Part of Our Nations Independence, Read the story of Paul Bolden, Medal of Honor recipient from Alabama, Read the story of John Pruitt, WWI recipient of two Medals of Honor, The Little Mountain Escape-The Biltmore House, A Hero, Virtually Unknown to History, Was a Vital Part of Our Nations Independence. Charles Jackson French with his sister, Viola, at a Creighton football game on Oct. 31, 1942, at which he was honored. 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. He told the story to the Associated Press which he also did on NBC radio program It Happened in the Service., Ensign Robert N. Adrian was awarded the Purple Heart and the man who rescued him got a letter meritorious conduct in action. Todd Neikirk is a New Jersey-based politics, entertainment and history writer. We also did a mini-series on the Schomburg Center for Research a most amazing collection of Black history and culture. Lets get this HERO the Medal of Honor, Forgotten: The Untold Story of D-days Black Heroes, at Home and at War. Bloomsbury presents Immortal Valor by Robert Child, read by Vaughn Johseph. He enlisted in the Navy in 1937 and became a mess attendant, one of the few military jobs open to African Americans in the segregated U.S. armed forces of that era. 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. Jobs People Learning Dismiss Dismiss. 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. Continue scrolling down for more amazing information, videos, books and value items. Charles Jackson French saved 15 men from the USS Gregory in September of 1942. Little is known of his earliest days. In this story can be found the heretofore-unwritten chapters of one phase of the Negroes march toward freedom in America, written by a man who participated in it. James McBride, journalist, musician, and son, explores his mothers past, as well as his own upbringing and heritage, in a poignant and powerful debut, The Color of Water: A Black Mans Tribute to His White Mother. 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. Charles Jackson French was an American war hero from Foreman, Arkansas. This is the story of Charles Jackson French, who rescued several soldiers during the Battle of Guadalcanal. (H.R. He served two stints in the Navy. The mess attendant rescued his fellow crew members in 1942, after their ship was sunk in the Solomon Islands. The Omaha World-Herald reported that Frenchs story was brought back to prominence through a social media post by the International Swimming Hall of Fame. The mess attendant died in 1956 at only 37 years of age. Ensign Robert Adrian was fresh out of the Naval Academy and a junior officer on the Navy destroyer USS Gregory when it was sunk near Guadalcanal on Sept. 5, 1942. Dismiss. After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men was adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. 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. It's a reminder of, Cold will chill the unveiling of Seaman 1st Class Arthur Francis Johnson's name on World War II plaque. For Black History Month 2022 we focused on Health and Wellness in the Black Community. The event was held as part of events hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs in observance of Black History Month. The University prohibits any form of retaliation taken against anyone for reporting discrimination, harassment, or retaliation for otherwise engaging in protected activity. 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. 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. Steve is the military affairs reporter for The World-Herald. He was particularly noted for his work on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in Maryland, a major engineering feat of its time. He died in 1956, at age 37, of depression and alcoholism from untreated post-traumatic stress, family members say. If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it. 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 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. The ensign told French the plan was crazy, that they were surrounded by sharks and he would only get himself killed. 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. A Black sailor swam against sharks to save his White shipmates. 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. That inquiry helped bring about last weeks award ceremony. During his youth, he would often swim in the Red River and became quite adept at it. Correction: This story has been corrected to state that the bill passed by the Senate was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Don Bacon. The mess attended tied a rope around his waist and the boat and began the journey. In San Diego in 2022, French's family was presented with his posthumous Navy and Marine Corps medal. I read about this on Facebook some time ago. Adrian retired from the Navy in 1966 and died in 2011, without succeeding. Continue to scroll for fascinating Videos and Books to enhance your learning experience. If the latter, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal might have been the most apropos award. The Hero of the Heartland event will honor additional local heroes in the coming years. French enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1937 and served four years. The story of men who served their country when to do so was to endure, or to appear to accept the humiliating admission of ones own inferiority. Omaha, NE, 68182. U.S. Navy Capt. The information that we present to everyone is extremely important, and a small donation can help us keep it that way. French was hailed as the hero of the Solomons and the Human Tugboat for his daring rescue of the Pacific during 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. 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 heroism was recognized in popular culture, though. French was an African American serving at a time when prejudice and discrimination were ever-present in our Armed Forces and society, said Capt. Despite the fact that more than one million African Americans served, not a single Black soldier received the Medal of Honor. German prisoners of war were allowed to ride with White soldiers while the Black fighters were relegated to open, drafty, smelly cattle cars. The waters were shark-infested. It only took 3 minutes for the ship to sink. 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. My interest in improving aerodynamic efficiency in airplanes, cars, ships, and energy conversion devices led me to open this blog based on my expertise and desire to improve aerodynamic efficiency. 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. Award of a Medal of Honor would require congressional intervention, but award of a Navy Cross or a Navy and Marine Corps Medal would not. Benjamin Selph echoed Lis remarks, encouraging those in attendance to take inspiration from Frenchs courageous act. 18 February 2022 SAN DIEGO - The Navy announced plans today to dedicate a rescue swimming training pool at Naval Base San Diego to Mess Attendant First Class Charles Jackson French in honor. The actions of the French will never be forgotten, as will their ultimate sacrifice. French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroic actions in 1942. 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. charles jackson french swam 6-8 hours in 1942nd a saved 15 of his crewmates and died in 1956. Name a warship after this Hero. Please subscribe to keep reading. 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. 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. French was also the only African American to appear on World War II patriotic trading cards issued by GUM, Inc. Charles Jackson French, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully at the age of 77 on June 17th, 2020. A little more than a week after Thomas first called the Senators office, Kaine wrote letters to President Joe Biden concerning Miller and French. 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 event, held Feb. 9, 2023 in UNOs Milo Bail Student Center, honored Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French for his tremendous bravery and efforts in World War II. towing a boat of wounded survivors by himself i.imgur.com/P1mQDe. Charles Jackson French (September 25, 1919 - November 7, 1956) was a United States Navy sailor. Change.org Uh oh. This is his jaw-dropping story. You can cancel at any time. After the death of his parents, he lived with an older sister, Viola, in Omaha, Nebraska. 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While the sailors in the life raft were off the burning ship, they were still in deep trouble. Phone: 402-444-1186. According to the U.S. Navy Press Office, French had moved to Omaha from Arkansas, but re-enlisted in the Navy days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Maybe they can stop naming warships after politicians and go back to naming them after actual heroes? These are the least desired jobs possible and beneath the White troops. 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. Your email address will not be published. Charles Jackson French with his sister, Viola, at a Creighton University football game on Oct. 31, 1942, at which he was honored. 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. 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