When the sailors were rescued, the Master at Arms attempted to separate French from the men he had just saved. Dismiss. The bravery that he demonstrated serves as a reminder of the sacrifices that can be made at any age. He re-enlisted after Pearl Harbor where he was assigned to be a mess attendant. Adrian retired from the Navy in 1966 and died in 2011, without succeeding. 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. The ship sailed on the Pacific Ocean heading towards Guadalcanal. The story of the men who fought and served under trying circumstances. UNOs Hero of the Heartland event continued the long overdue recognition of Frenchs heroism. Will definitely agree that he earned a higher award than was given. Charles Jackson French was an incredible pioneer in the field of civil engineering. When bombs sank the. French, who was manning the anti-aircraft guns, was killed in the ensuing explosion, making him one of the first casualties of the battle. And while were at it can we please award Alwyn Cashes family his much deserved MOH.please. . During his service, he received a letter of commendation from the commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet, Adm. William F. Halsey, Jr. . Charles Jackson French, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully at the age of 77 on June 17th, 2020. The award was presented on May 21, 2022, at Naval Base San Diego, at a ceremony in which the bases rescue swimmer training pool was dedicated in his honor. 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. Notably, the letter reduced the hours French spent swimming from six-eight to two. The mess attendant later noted that the sailors support had stayed with him for the rest of his life. I will note that the fact that its being discussed now would suggest that that same racism DOESNT exist today. During his youth, he would often swim in the Red River and became quite adept at it. These are the least desired jobs possible and beneath the White troops. He was celebrated in the Black press and was even the subject of a syndicated comic strip. That inquiry helped bring about last weeks award ceremony. To see the posts, click here. 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. 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. On January 11, 1945, French was serving aboard the USS Bunker Hill, an aircraft carrier that was involved in the Battle of Okinawa. https://chng.it/F8y8w5n2 via @Change In cases where you shop at Amazon for example you are encouraged to use our links anytime you shop there. A BILL TO NAME A U.S. POST OFCEFI JUST PAST THE U.S. SENATE. Category: Historical, Navy, Valor, War Stories, We Remember. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 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. 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. 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 . 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. In the end, there were fifteen additional sailors on the raft with the mess attendant. Ted Carlson, commander of Naval Base San Diego, which makes this recognition of Charles (Jackson) Frenchs heroic actions even more significant.. 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Teachers are pumped. We receive a small royalty without cost to you. I read about this on Facebook some time ago. He had been born on Sept. 25, 1919, in Foreman, Arkansas. Charles Jackson French with his sister, Viola, at a Creighton University football game on Oct. 31, 1942, at which he was honored. Kind of sounds like it. They were spotted and rescued by friendly forces when racism reared its ugly head. I nearly peed on myself when one of them sharks [touched] my feet. During World War I he served under the name Charles F. Hoffman. 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. Rear Adm. Charles Brown presented eight of French's relatives with a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal on May 21 in San Diego. A letter of commendation? 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. 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. 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. 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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. As the 10th State Command Chief Master Sergeant of the Virginia Air National Guard, I take great personal pride in supporting French and Millers application for the Medal of Honor. Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French was an American hero who gave his life in service of his country. During this time, the military followed the segregation laws that were prevalent in the nation. Former Virginia State Conference (Virginia NAACP) President Linda Thomas put forth a resolution for two Black Veterans who should be awarded the Medal of Honor for their committed acts of extreme valor and heroism but were denied consideration solely because of their race. French towed a raft loaded with his wounded shipmates. Charles Jackson French was an American war hero from Foreman, Arkansas. It will inspire generations of sailors, he said. 80 years later, Omaha hero who swam in shark-infested waters receives Navy honor. During the melee, fifteen sailors were put abord a life raft but there was danger that they would drift towards land. Instead, the Navy only issued a letter of commendation. 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. All DragonDen media is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. Little is known of his earliest days. The Color of Water: A Black Mans Tribute to His White Mother. Ensign Adrian fought for French to receive the Medal of Honor for his heroic rescue. 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. Or even going back to the 90s when a lot of this (blacks finally getting the awards they deserve) started to happen. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. U.S. Navy sailor Charles Jackson French saved 15 shipmates by dragging a life raft through shark-infested waters after the Japanese sank the USS Gregory in 1942. . 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. When Is The Best Time To Buy First Class Airline Tickets? 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. 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. Im proud we could come together to recognize his legacy of service and sacrifice.. His story was retold in comic strips and trading cards, and he traveled the country to help sell war bonds before enthusiastic crowds. The French and five other brave sailors swam for up to eight hours to rescue all but eleven of the crew after they were stranded on the sea. After the death of his parents, he lived with his older sister, Viola, in Omaha, Nebraska. 2023 A Month of Tribute to 31 Women We Should All Know, Rosewood A Typical Race Riot in America. The ensign told French the plan was crazy, that they were surrounded by sharks and he would only get himself killed. For Black History Month 2022 we focused on Health and Wellness in the Black Community. Days later, he went down to his local recruitment office and reenlisted. 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. Use our links to Amazon anytime you shop Amazon. 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. 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. Maybe they can stop naming warships after politicians and go back to naming them after actual heroes? When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. Did Charles Jackson French receive the Medal of Honor? 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. Several San Diego Navy leaders spoke. (H.R. German prisoners of war were allowed to ride with White soldiers while the Black fighters were relegated to open, drafty, smelly cattle cars. 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. 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. Story\Experience 43 comments 100% Upvoted This thread is archived New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast Sort by: best 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. 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. The actions of the French will never be forgotten, as will their ultimate sacrifice. 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. We depend on your support and thank you for it! Charles Jackson (MEng, DIS, MINCOSE) Expand search. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday said in a statement: The story of Charles Jackson French needs to be told and shared for generations to come. The Hero of the Heartland event will honor additional local heroes in the coming years. This is his jaw-dropping story. The story of Charles Jackson French is little known and marred by the inevitable racism that permeates our history in America. Darn guys a stud. Charles Jackson French and his sister, Viola, were honored at a Creighton football game in Omaha on Oct. 31, 1942. French saved. French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroic actions in 1942. I find it hard to believe that the Admiral would sign a letter of commendation that said that and thought it was the right award, if race did not play a part. Kudos to the man that stepped up and saved himself and others from the awful fate of becoming Jap POWs. He served two stints in the Navy. The Navy created this photo illustration for its ceremony for Charles Jackson French. For Black History Month 2021, we focused on Black Medical Achievements, Inventors and Scientists.To see those posts, click here. Eric Ewing, executive director of the Great Plains Black History Museum, shares remarks at the Hero of the Heartland event. These posts focus on the reality of Black life in America after the Civil War culminating in the landmark Brown v Board of Education that changed so many of the earlier practices. Will you do the same? Custer is the first soldier in US history to receive the militarys highest honor twice, as well as the first to do so twice. 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. 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. 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. 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. This is the story of Charles Jackson French, who rescued several soldiers during the Battle of Guadalcanal. Dismiss. He deserves at least the Navy Cross. Aside: f*ck sharks. 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. In 2011, the National Board of the NAACP passed a resolution requesting the Medal Of Honor for Doris (Dorie) Miller. To see these posts, click this link, For Womens History Month 2022 we featured 31 amazing Black women we should all know. 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. . If the latter, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal might have been the most apropos award. French had only been out of the Navy for a couple of months when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. 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. He was a generous and kind soul who was always willing to lend a helping hand. French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroic actions in 1942. During the attack on the USS Gregory, a destroyer, he was aboard in 1943. 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. 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. 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. Since they were taking direct fire, Id feel the Navy Cross the more appropriate of the two. His story was largely forgotten until Bruce Wigo, a former director of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, unearthed it several years ago. You can read more about the Virginia NAACPs work and our six Game Changer issue areas by visiting NAACPVA.org. As a result, he is an inspiring example of the bravery and commitment of our youth. We also posted a 5 part mini-series on the 100th anniversary of one of the most horrific massacres in the history of America. French successfully brought the men to safety on the shores of the Solomon Islands. 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. Keith Station, deputy chief of staff for diversity, equity, & inclusion for the City of Omaha, shares remarks at the Hero of the Heartland event. In March of 1942, French was assigned to the USS Gregory (APD-3). 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. After his military service, French developed alcoholism and depression. This whole story violates the laws of physics. It only took 3 minutes for the ship to sink. ** 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. 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. The New York Times best-selling story from the author of The Good Lord Bird, winner of the 2013 National Book Award for Fiction. 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. As one of the survivors, French found himself in the water on a life raft. BZ PO1 French! It is the services highest award for noncombat heroism and the same award presented to Lt. John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the future U.S. president, for bravery under similar circumstances during World War II. He went into the service as a mess attendant, the only rate then available to a Black man. The publication for writers and readers to create and read amazing content, Actress, Stage playwright, Author, Motivational Speaker, Teacher Fitness Coach. This petition starter stood up and took action. On January 11, 1945, French was serving aboard the USS Bunker Hill, an aircraft carrier . Hundreds of Blacks were slaughtered and 10,000 left homeless in this largely unknown event. The waters were shark-infested. Omaha, NE, 68182. French was a swimmer who performed a heroic act that gave others another chance at life. Bonus- The Story of Charles Jackson French. Your email address will not be published. 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. On Thursday, a billto rename the Benson postal facility at 6223 Maple St. the Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French Post Office cleared the Senate by a unanimous vote. 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. He was 37 years old when he died on November 7, 1956, in San Diego, California. This is the story of the Stewards, Cooks and Messboys who manned that branch of naval service. 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, spoke at the event, pointing to how his actions can inspire us all to be heroes in our own way. 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 Omaha World-Herald reported that Frenchs story was brought back to prominence through a social media post by the International Swimming Hall of Fame. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. In his interview with Wright, French described the intense racism he encountered, even after he helped save his shipmates. Todd Neikirk is a New Jersey-based politics, entertainment and history writer. Now, 80 years later, the Navy is finally catching up. Charles Jackson French, an African American orphan, and championship-caliber swimmer navigated shark infested waters for about eight hours during. Continue for more information on the site and posts that may be of interest. 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. His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service. It would seem to me well past the point to review Frenchs case. Ted Carlson, commander of Naval Base San Diego. 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