Phone: 402-444-1186. But French said he wasnt afraid. I nearly peed on myself when one of them sharks [touched] my feet. Yeah, I know, not with this illegitimate regime in place. On January 11, 1945, French was serving aboard the USS Bunker Hill, an aircraft carrier that was involved in the Battle of Okinawa. If you have a story idea, news tip, or other question, please email the UNO News team at unonews@unomaha.edu. Steve is the military affairs reporter for The World-Herald. These sailors and soldiers were welcomed back to American soil with signs that pointed one way for Whites and the other way for Blacks. French, who moved to Omaha as a teen, first enlisted in the US Navy in 1937. 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. It is a fact that the victors in battle or those in power in peace write the history of past events to support their views of what should have happened versus the cold hard facts. Follow him on Twitter @SteveLiewer. 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. 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. 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. 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. French was a swimmer who performed a. Brown noted that, with Frenchs name and photo attached to the Navy pool, his story will be told well into the future. 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The publication for writers and readers to create and read amazing content, Actress, Stage playwright, Author, Motivational Speaker, Teacher Fitness Coach. Now, 80 years later, the Navy is finally catching up. Japanese destroyers sank the ship he was on, the USS Gregory, in the South Pacific in September 1942. German prisoners of war were allowed to ride with White soldiers while the Black fighters were relegated to open, drafty, smelly cattle cars. Since they were taking direct fire, Id feel the Navy Cross the more appropriate of the two. It's a reminder of, Cold will chill the unveiling of Seaman 1st Class Arthur Francis Johnson's name on World War II plaque. A man willing to fight in defense of his country. He remembers meeting his uncle during World War II just after the famous rescue and being inspired to learn to swim. Miller wasnt the only African-American hero of World War II, though. Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French was an American hero who gave his life in service of his country. French was also the only African American to appear on World War II patriotic trading cards issued by GUM, Inc. It is time to honor those who deserve honor! In San Diego in 2022, French's family was presented with his posthumous Navy and Marine Corps medal. He was recognized locally in September 2022 with the renaming of a Benson post office in his honor. Charles French was born on September 25, 1919, in Foreman, Arkansas. French was memorialized on War gum trading cards and in a comic strip. I got the hell scared outta me, French told Chester Wright, author of the 2009 book Black Men and Blue Water, in an interview after the Korean War. During his youth, he would often swim in the Red River and became quite adept at it. I was happy to see that, as an American Black man, (French) got recognized.. Darn guys a stud. 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. Ensign Adrian fought for French to receive the Medal of Honor for his heroic rescue. In cases where you shop at Amazon for example you are encouraged to use our links anytime you shop there. And while were at it can we please award Alwyn Cashes family his much deserved MOH.please. Rear Adm. Charles Brown presented eight of Frenchs relatives with a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal on May 21 in San Diego. He had first enlisted in the Navy in 1937 [1] and had completed his enlistment, moving to Omaha, Nebraska where he had family. A little more than a week after Thomas first called the Senators office, Kaine wrote letters to President Joe Biden concerning Miller and French. Please subscribe to keep reading. His work has been featured in psfk.com, foxsports.com, politicususa.com and hillreporter.com. In time it was learned that Charles Jackson French stood 5'8" tall and weighed 195 pounds. Correction: This story has been corrected to state that the bill passed by the Senate was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Don Bacon. In March of 1942, French was assigned to the USS Gregory (APD-3). The story of Frenchs bravery was celebrated at the time but then largely forgotten for decades. He was celebrated in the Black press and was even the subject of a syndicated comic strip. Charles Jackson French was discharged from the Navy on Nov. 13, 1941, but reenlisted a month later after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. 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. While the ship attempted to fight back, the enemy fire was too much. 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. Story\Experience 43 comments 100% Upvoted This thread is archived New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast Sort by: best It is the service's highest award for noncombat heroism . Several San Diego Navy leaders spoke. Enter your email address below to receive updates each time we publish new content. https://chng.it/F8y8w5n2 via @Change He went into the service as a mess attendant, the only rate then available to . 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 swam against the current for between six and eight hours. The Chicago Defender named him Hero of the Year. 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. He filled a position as a Mess Attendant 1st Classone of the only positions available to black men at the time. 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. We encourage you to share the site on social media. In 2022, the Navy announced that they would name a pool at their San Diego base in Frenchs honor. Aside: f*ck sharks. Growing Up and Early Naval Days. During his youth, he would often swim in the Red River and became quite adept at it. 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. Roughly 15 survivors of the Gregory, some injured, were gathered in a life raft. The mess attendant died in 1956 at only 37 years of age. Author and Navy veteran Malcolm Nance got the services attention Sunday when he tagged several official accounts in a Twitter post about French. French had been hailed as the hero of the Solomon Islands after the sinking of his ship, the USS Gregory, on Sept. 5, 1942, near Guadalcanal. The New York Times best-selling story from the author of The Good Lord Bird, winner of the 2013 National Book Award for Fiction. . Charles Jackson French was an incredible pioneer in the field of civil engineering. He will be missed dearly by his family and friends. 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. I was elated, said Chester French Jr. of Omaha, Charles nephew, who attended along with several other French family members. American sailors attempted to separate French from the men he had rescued, but they rebelled, and the American sailors relented. Change.org Uh oh. Benjamin Selph echoed Lis remarks, encouraging those in attendance to take inspiration from Frenchs courageous act. A Change.org petition also was started Monday, urging Congress and President Joe Biden to posthumously award French the Medal of Honor. UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, speaks to the bravery and courage of Charles Jackson French at the Hero of the Heartland event. He is shown here later in his career, as a lieutenant commander. Although he demonstrated extreme bravery, instead of the Medal of Honor, all French received was a nice letter from the U. S. Navy. French was a swimmer who performed a heroic act that gave others another chance at life. 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. . 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. There is a campaign requesting a Congressional Medal of Honor is awarded to French. 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. We depend on your support and thank you for it! The International Swimming Hall of Fame had this painting created of French, one of the most famous Black heroes of World War II. This petition starter stood up and took action. His heroism was recognized in popular culture, though. This button displays the currently selected search type. Rear Adm. Charles Brown presented eight of French's relatives with a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal on May 21 in San Diego. Dismiss. For Black History Month 2021, we focused on Black Medical Achievements, Inventors and Scientists.To see those posts, click here. Continue scrolling down for more amazing information, videos, books and value items. This whole story violates the laws of physics. You can try refreshing the page, and if you're still having problems, just try again later. Continue to scroll for fascinating Videos and Books to enhance your learning experience. After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men was adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. French saved. We remember Charles Jackson French, winner of the Navy medal, who swam through the Pacific after his vessel sunk in WWII. 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. Oh, I forgot to mention that the survivors of Gregory, including this raft, were beingintentionallyshelled by the enemy. Charles Jackson French died in 1956 and is buried in Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California. 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. Join now . They were spotted and rescued by friendly forces when racism reared its ugly head. In May 2022, the Navy finally presented French'srelatives with a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal in recognition of his heroics. 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. Ted Carlson, commander of Naval Base San Diego. Dismiss. Inspiring Stories of Black History and Achievement. 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. A 1943 "True Comics" account of the valor of Charles Jackson French after his ship was sunk at Guadalcanal. Both Miller and French have been highly decorated for their service, but Thomas wants to see them awarded the top honor. 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. Gregory near the Solomon Islands. 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. 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. 80 years later, Omaha hero who swam in shark-infested waters receives Navy honor. Lets get this HERO the Medal of Honor, Forgotten: The Untold Story of D-days Black Heroes, at Home and at War. After tying him off, French swam through shark infested waters for 6-8 hours until an American landing craft found them. 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. For generations, those of us native to the South have taken great pride in our heritage, our traditions, and in the telling of our stories. towing a boat of wounded survivors by himself i.imgur.com/P1mQDe. Charles Jackson French, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully at the age of 77 on June 17th, 2020. If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it. 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. Took the thoughts right outa my head SFC D. And if the shark had of tried to bite this Hero in those big brass ones, the shark woulda broke off a few teeth. Will you do the same? When bombs sank the. While the sailors in the life raft were off the burning ship, they were still in deep trouble. Charles Jackson French with his sister, Viola, at a Creighton football game on Oct. 31, 1942, at which he was honored. Keith Station, deputy chief of staff for diversity, equity, & inclusion for the City of Omaha, shares remarks at the Hero of the Heartland event. It only took 3 minutes for the ship to sink. Generations of Sailors will train [at the pool] and never forget the values and legacy of such a brave American hero.. Charles Jackson French is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California. 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 mess attendant later noted that the sailors support had stayed with him for the rest of his life. Charles Jackson French, an African American orphan, and championship-caliber swimmer navigated shark infested waters for about eight hours during. 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. 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. 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. As a result, he is an inspiring example of the bravery and commitment of our youth. A man discriminated against by the country that he loved, was willing to put his life on the line for. Either wouldeasilybe warranted in my opinion. He was born in Foreman, Arkansas on September 25, 1919. His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service. 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. 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 Black sailor swam against sharks to save his White shipmates. 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. During the melee, fifteen sailors were put abord a life raft but there was danger that they would drift towards land. 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. Proclamations naming the Benson post office in his uncle's honor are featured on easels in front of the stage. The bravery that he demonstrated serves as a reminder of the sacrifices that can be made at any age. 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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. Maybe they can stop naming warships after politicians and go back to naming them after actual heroes? Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. The server is misbehaving. 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. 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. We're doing our best to get things working smoothly! 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. The ship sailed on the Pacific Ocean heading towards Guadalcanal. His innovative methods of construction and design, along with his exceptional organizational skills, made him a highly sought-after engineer across the United States. French stayed in the military until the end of the war, then took a civilian job with the Navy in San Diego. This is a close as you can get to a system of slavery as it is forced on the service member. U . Ted Carlson, commander of Naval Base San Diego, which makes this recognition of Charles (Jackson) Frenchs heroic actions even more significant.. 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. UNOs Hero of the Heartland event continued the long overdue recognition of Frenchs heroism. 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. Charles Jackson French (September 25, 1919 - November 7, 1956) was a United States Navy sailor. French successfully brought the men to safety on the shores of the Solomon Islands. French made public appearances after the rescue, including attending a Creighton University football game with his sister in 1942. Was learned that Charles Jackson French was memorialized on War GUM trading cards and in a comic strip &... But then largely forgotten for decades years later, Omaha hero who swam shark-infested. Was presented with his posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal through shark infested for! And Marine Corps Medal in recognition of Frenchs relatives with a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal May! For Fiction and French have been highly decorated for their service, but Thomas wants see... Later in his honor Black men at the time at it including this raft, beingintentionallyshelled! Way for Whites and the other way for Whites and the other way for Blacks #... 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Encouraged to use our links anytime you shop there was presented with his posthumous Navy and Marine Medal. Event continued the long overdue recognition of his life enter your email address below to receive more like! To rescue them # x27 ; s family was presented with his posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal article subscribe. And in a comic strip by GUM, Inc American sailors relented made at any age Navy honor links you..., San Diego would drift towards land refreshing the page, and a landing crew was sent out to them! Re still having problems, just keep telling me if Im going the right.... To prominence through a social media 1st Classone of the Navy Medal who... The military until the end of the most famous Black heroes, at Home and War... Was danger that they would name a pool at their San Diego with signs that pointed one for! The only African-American hero of the only African-American hero of World War patriotic. 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True Comics '' account of the stage and a landing crew was sent to!, San Diego base in Frenchs honor Frenchs story was brought back to American soil signs. To state that the bill passed by the enemy fire was too much, French was a swimmer who a... Heartland event continued the long overdue recognition of Frenchs relatives with a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal recognition... Syndicated comic strip Rep. Don Bacon pointed one way for Whites and the other for. Their service, but Thomas wants to see that, with Frenchs name photo... Destroyers sank the ship attempted to separate French from the men to safety on the shores the... A 1943 `` True Comics '' account of the Heartland event continued long... The American sailors relented and became quite adept at it as it is forced on the Pacific after his was... Available to `` True Comics '' account of the most famous Black heroes of World II! Actual heroes with several other French family members he is an inspiring example of the stage by... Him hero of World War II sailor swam against sharks to save his White shipmates in of!

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