He was a talented carpenter, a skilled handyman, and a master of DIY projects. After the death of his parents, he lived with an older sister, Viola, in Omaha, Nebraska. On January 11, 1945, French was serving aboard the USS Bunker Hill, an aircraft carrier that was involved in the Battle of Okinawa. To comment or make suggestions on future posts, use Contact Us. 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. In San Diego in 2022, French's family was presented with his posthumous Navy and Marine Corps medal. charles jackson french swam 6-8 hours in 1942nd a saved 15 of his crewmates and died in 1956. A letter of commendation? 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. Yet, history has overlooked him. 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. 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. Charles Jackson French is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California. Racism preventing awarding a medal? During his youth, he would often swim in the Red River and became quite adept at it. French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. 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. He was recognized locally in September 2022 with the renaming of a Benson post office in his honor. 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. 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. A BILL TO NAME A U.S. POST OFCEFI JUST PAST THE U.S. SENATE. We depend on your support and thank you for it! 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. Thats when French a 22-year-old sailor in the racially segregated messman branch volunteered to tow them to safety, the article states. Gregory near the Solomon Islands. UNOs Hero of the Heartland event continued the long overdue recognition of Frenchs heroism. Ensign Adrian fought for French to receive the Medal of Honor for his heroic rescue. Chester French, nephew of Charles Jackson French, shares remarks at the Hero of the Heartland event. Enter your email address below to receive updates each time we publish new content. The information that we present to everyone is extremely important, and a small donation can help us keep it that way. Continue to scroll for fascinating Videos and Books to enhance your learning experience. Notably, the letter reduced the hours French spent swimming from six-eight to two. French had only been out of the Navy for a couple of months when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Rep. Don Bacon Honors Navy Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French, Immortal Valor: The Black Medal of Honor Winners of 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. Little is known of his earliest days. You are now armed with knowledge, but for a deeper dive, continue to scroll down and watch amazing videos of French and books to allow for greater understanding. He will be missed dearly by his family and friends. Charles Jackson French (September 25, 1919 - November 7, 1956) was a United States Navy sailor. Benjamin Selph shares recognition for Charles Jackson French on behalf of the Navy. Dismiss. 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. French received a letter of commendation from Admiral Bull Halsey that said; 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. There have been 19 individuals to receive this award in US history, the most recent being George Custer, who received it for the second time in 1864. Adrian retired from the Navy in 1966 and died in 2011, without succeeding. U . The International Swimming Hall of Fame had this painting created of French, one of the most famous Black heroes of World War II. This story or history was written to correct one of the many wrongs in the recording of American History. As promising as that sounded, that was the most dangerous place to be for fear that they would be captured and executed. Several San Diego Navy leaders spoke. 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. . Follow him on Twitter @SteveLiewer. Eric Ewing, executive director of the Great Plains Black History Museum, shares remarks at the Hero of the Heartland event. I was elated, said Chester French Jr. of Omaha, Charles nephew, who attended along with several other French family members. 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. . The publication for writers and readers to create and read amazing content, Actress, Stage playwright, Author, Motivational Speaker, Teacher Fitness Coach. 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. 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. 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. 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. He went into the service as a mess attendant, the only rate then available to . 1603) On June 20, 2022, President Biden signed it into law. Charles Jackson French was an American war hero from Foreman, Arkansas. 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. Growing Up and Early Naval Days. Jobs People Learning Dismiss Dismiss. Miller wasnt the only African-American hero of World War II, though. Maybe they can stop naming warships after politicians and go back to naming them after actual heroes? 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. It took so long.. 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. 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. 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. His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service.. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroic actions in 1942. 2023 A Month of Tribute to 31 Women We Should All Know, Rosewood A Typical Race Riot in America. After tying him off, French swam through shark infested waters for 6-8 hours until an American landing craft found them. Organizations such as the National Coalition of Black Veteran Organizations have also shown their support. But French said he wasnt afraid. 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. Dorie Miller is the most well-known African American hero of World War II. He deserves a higher award, and a destroyer named in his honor. 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. 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. When the sailors were rescued, the Master at Arms attempted to separate French from the men he had just saved. Charles Jackson French saved 15 men from the USS Gregory in September of 1942. These sailors and soldiers were welcomed back to American soil with signs that pointed one way for Whites and the other way for Blacks. "The country did . French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroic actions in 1942. 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. The New York Times best-selling story from the author of The Good Lord Bird, winner of the 2013 National Book Award for Fiction. 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. More at the source. 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. In addition to newspaper and radio accounts, his story was told in bubble gum cards, comic strips, a calendar, even a verse by a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet. 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. 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 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. 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. 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. Either wouldeasilybe warranted in my opinion. 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 a swimmer who performed a. Inspiring Stories of Black History and Achievement. Im proud we could come together to recognize his legacy of service and sacrifice.. Additionally, it has continued to pursue advocacy objectives that are in line with policies and plans pertaining to veterans of African heritage. 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