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Steve is the military affairs reporter for The World-Herald. French stayed in the military until the end of the war, then took a civilian job with the Navy in San Diego. French enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1937 and served four years. French was memorialized on War gum trading cards and in a comic strip. Inaction has been a great injustice to the goodly Sergeants bravery and sacrifice, for him and his Troops. Rear Adm. Charles Brown presented eight of French's relatives with a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal on May 21 in San Diego. I was happy to see that, as an American Black man, (French) got recognized.. The omission remained on the record for more than four decades. But after his parents died, he moved to. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Now, 80 years later, the Navy is finally catching up. 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. We remember Charles Jackson French, winner of the Navy medal, who swam through the Pacific after his vessel sunk in WWII. Or even going back to the 90s when a lot of this (blacks finally getting the awards they deserve) started to happen. Charles Jackson French was born in 1919 and grew up in Foreman, Arkansas. We're doing our best to get things working smoothly! 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 . Jobs People Learning Dismiss Dismiss. Chester French, nephew of Charles Jackson French, shares remarks at the Hero of the Heartland event. He was a mess steward, one of the few positions Black sailors were then allowed to fill in the military. 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. 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. Messman Charles French became a hero to his shipmates after their destroyer USS Gregory (DD-82) was sunk by Imperial Japanese Navy ships on 5 September 1942. This is a close as you can get to a system of slavery as it is forced on the service member. https://chng.it/F8y8w5n2 via @Change 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. 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. Dismiss. Military.com reports; A movement is gaining steam to recognize a heroic Black sailor from World War II, who towed a raftload of wounded shipmates through shark-infested waters after their ship was sunk in 1942. French successfully brought the men to safety on the shores of the Solomon Islands. Thomas has also been in communication with other senators and members of Congress asking them to support this effort. 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The information that we present to everyone is extremely important, and a small donation can help us keep it that way. There was no escape from racism despite putting your life on the line for your country. 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. Dorie Miller is the most well-known African American hero of World War II. In San Diego in 2022, French's family was presented with his posthumous Navy and Marine Corps medal. Aboard a lift raft with several other sailors and drifting towards enemy-held islands, French volunteered to tow the raft himself by swimming. His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service. 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. French would go on to earn the name "The Human Tugboat" and garner immense respect from his fellow military peers. Proclamations naming the Benson post office in his uncle's honor are featured on easels in front of the stage. The mess attendant died in 1956 at only 37 years of age. I read about this on Facebook some time ago. Born in a small town in California, Charles was a man of many talents. His story was retold in comic strips and trading cards, and he traveled the country to help sell war bonds before enthusiastic crowds. He swam six to eight hours in shark-infested waters before being rescued by marines on a navy landing craft. 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. In 2022, the Navy announced that they would name a pool at their San Diego base in Frenchs honor. . The Hero of the Heartland event will honor additional local heroes in the coming years. 6001 Dodge Street, This post office renaming is important to his family, the community of Omaha, and the state of Nebraska. Lets get this HERO the Medal of Honor, Forgotten: The Untold Story of D-days Black Heroes, at Home and at War. This might be the first time I agree with Malcolm Nance. Now many feel that a letter of commendation for a heroic eight hour swim through sharks and enemy shell fire is not enough. The waters were shark-infested. 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. During his youth, he would often swim in the Red River and became quite adept at it. 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. 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. French towed a raft loaded with his wounded shipmates. This was one of the few assignments available to Black troops and included stevedores, stewards. French was an African American serving at a time when prejudice and discrimination were ever-present in our Armed Forces and society, said Capt. When he is not sitting in front of a laptop, Todd enjoys soaking up everything the Jersey Shore has to offer with his wife, two sons and American Foxhound, Wally. Charles Jackson French, an African American orphan, and championship-caliber swimmer navigated shark infested waters for about eight hours during. 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. 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. A pool and a letter of commendation dont seem like enough for this true American hero. BZ PO1 French! 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. Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French was an American hero who gave his life in service of his country. 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. The Chicago Defender named him Hero of the Year. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. 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. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Perhaps it was that he wasnt considered to be in combat. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. He certainly earned a much higher award than he was given. Thats a portrait of a hero. You can use a link to tennis shoes to buy a refrigerator or anything else. UNOs Hero of the Heartland event continued the long overdue recognition of Frenchs heroism. His heroism was recognized in popular culture, though. During World War II, he served as a U.S. sailor. Charles Jackson French, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully at the age of 77 on June 17th, 2020. After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men were adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. As promising as that sounded, that was the most dangerous place to be for fear that they would be captured and executed. Continue scrolling down for more amazing information, videos, books and value items. French was born in Arkansas in 1919, but moved to Omaha as a youth to live with his married older sister, Viola. 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. French was memorialized on War gum trading cards and in a comic strip. Omahans during World War II knew a strong-swimming, shark-defying, human tugboat of a hero when they saw one, regardless of the color ofCha, An African American sailor from Omaha was hailed as a hero during World War II for swimming through shark-infested waters to rescue his wounde, The full House approved HR 4168 to rename the facility at 6223 Maple St. the Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French Post Office., The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency said identifications of the 92nd Infantry members, known as "Buffalo Soldiers," have beendifficult beca, Lt. Vernon Baker of Clarinda, Iowa, is part of a series of graphic novels about recipients of the Medal of Honor, the nations highest award f, A 36-year Air Force missile and space officer has been nominated as the next commander of Offutt-based U.S. Strategic Command, the Pentagon an, Eighty years ago, Nebraska set the pace for the nation in launching a scrap metal drive to support the World War II effort. Born in a small town in California, Charles was a man of many talents. 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. Perhaps racism played a role in French not receiving proper recognition. 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. It is the service's highest award for noncombat heroism . Its the kind of narrative that captures your imagination regardless of which side of the aisle you are on., Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia has supported Thomas request. Charles Jackson French was an American war hero from Foreman, Arkansas. If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it. Correction: This story has been corrected to state that the bill passed by the Senate was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Don Bacon. Generations of Sailors will train [at the pool] and never forget the values and legacy of such a brave American hero.. It is not necessary to purchase the item in the link. 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. He was a generous and kind soul who was always willing to lend a helping hand. 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. A little more than a week after Thomas first called the Senators office, Kaine wrote letters to President Joe Biden concerning Miller and French. To see the posts, click here. Charles Denver Barger (June 3, 1892 - November 25, 1936) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in World War I.He earned the medal while serving as a Chauchat automatic rifle gunner during the Meuse-Argonne offensive, when he and another soldier, Jesse N. Funk, entered no man's land despite . During World War I he served under the name Charles F. Hoffman. French made public appearances after the rescue, including attending a Creighton University football game with his sister in 1942. 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 bill, sponsored by Rep. Don Bacon,cleared the House of Representatives in March. 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. The International Swimming Hall of Fame had this painting created of French, one of the most famous Black heroes of World War II. The ultimate insult! The story of Frenchs bravery was celebrated at the time but then largely forgotten for decades. Several San Diego Navy leaders spoke. He was 37 years old when he died on November 7, 1956, in San Diego, California. In May 2022, the Navy finally presented French'srelatives with a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal in recognition of his heroics. A self-declared light-skinned woman evasive about her ethnicity, yet steadfast in her love for her 12 Black children. S. House of Representatives: Demand a Congressional Medal of Honor for Petty Officer Charles Jackson French - Sign the Petition! The actions of the French will never be forgotten, as will their ultimate sacrifice. Still, a letter of commendation is completely inadequate for what French did and I dont buy that this cant be considered combat. French became famous after his commander, Ensign Robert Adrian, told the story on a radio program broadcast across the country. French, who moved to Omaha as a teen, first enlisted in the US Navy in 1937. A pool used to train rescue swimmers at Naval Base San Diego also was named in Frenchs honor at the ceremony. Darn guys a stud. The link to these posts is here. If they floated ashore, an ensign on the raft later said, they would be taken as prisoners of war, according to an article on the International Swimming Hall of Fames website. 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. Ted Carlson, commander of Naval Base San Diego. Eric Ewing, executive director of the Great Plains Black History Museum, shares remarks at the Hero of the Heartland event. 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