Hundreds of Blacks were slaughtered and 10,000 left homeless in this largely unknown event. 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. 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. He was a talented carpenter, a skilled handyman, and a master of DIY projects. American sailors attempted to separate French from the men he had rescued, but they rebelled, and the American sailors relented. He went into the service as a mess attendant, the only rate then available to . Charles will be remembered fondly for his generous spirit, his kind and gentle nature, and the lasting impact he left on those he loved. Dorie Miller is the most well-known African American hero of World War II. During his youth, he would often swim in the Red River and became quite adept at it. He deserves at least the Navy Cross. 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. We depend on your support and thank you for it! French, who was manning the anti-aircraft guns, was killed in the ensuing explosion, making him one of the first casualties of the battle. Miller wasnt the only African-American hero of World War II, though. His wife, Linda, called the event just awesome., It makes you want to cry, she said. The event was held as part of events hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs in observance of Black History Month. The bravery that he demonstrated serves as a reminder of the sacrifices that can be made at any age. For his bravery, Navy Messman Charles Jackson French was provided a letter of commendation from Adm. William F. "Bull" Halsey, the Commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet, and the Navy Cross, the second-highest award available. Teachers are pumped. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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. Charles Jackson French with his sister, Viola, at a Creighton University football game on Oct. 31, 1942, at which he was honored. Read the full statement. Did Charles Jackson French receive the Medal of Honor? Still, a letter of commendation is completely inadequate for what French did and I dont buy that this cant be considered combat. Inaction has been a great injustice to the goodly Sergeants bravery and sacrifice, for him and his Troops. For Black History Month 2021, we focused on Black Medical Achievements, Inventors and Scientists.To see those posts, click here. 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. 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. We encourage you to share the site on social media. A man discriminated against by the country that he loved, was willing to put his life on the line for. 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. 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. French successfully brought the men to safety on the shores of the Solomon Islands. For Black History Month 2022 we focused on Health and Wellness in the Black Community. 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. Either wouldeasilybe warranted in my opinion. French was the first black swimmer to earn the Navy Medal for his heroism in 1943. A man who served and re-enlisted again when we entered World War II. Notably, the letter reduced the hours French spent swimming from six-eight to two. The waters were shark-infested. Dismiss. Keith Station, deputy chief of staff for diversity, equity, & inclusion for the City of Omaha, shares remarks at the Hero of the Heartland event. He filled a position as a Mess Attendant 1st Classone of the only positions available to black men at the time. It is the service's highest award for noncombat heroism . Navy officials escorted members of Frenchs family to his gravesite at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, on San Diegos Point Loma peninsula. In San Diego in 2022, French's family was presented with his posthumous Navy and Marine Corps medal. He went into the service as a mess attendant, the only rate then available to a Black man. When the sailors were rescued, the Master at Arms attempted to separate French from the men he had just saved. He was particularly noted for his work on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in Maryland, a major engineering feat of its time. Born in a small town in California, Charles was a man of many talents. Your email address will not be published. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Don Bacon,cleared the House of Representatives in March. I [just] froze and tried to surface and float, [get] my feet outta the water.. More at the source. 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. The publication for writers and readers to create and read amazing content, Actress, Stage playwright, Author, Motivational Speaker, Teacher Fitness Coach. He received an honorable discharge on November 11, 1941, but re-enlisted after Pearl Harbor. 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. Perhaps it was that he wasnt considered to be in combat. 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. Perhaps racism played a role in French not receiving proper recognition. He died in 1956, at age 37, of depression and alcoholism from untreated post-traumatic stress, family members say. Charles Jackson French with his sister, Viola, at a Creighton football game on Oct. 31, 1942, at which he was honored. There was no escape from racism despite putting your life on the line for your country. Correction: This story has been corrected to state that the bill passed by the Senate was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Don Bacon. 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. He was recognized locally in September 2022 with the renaming of a Benson post office in his honor. In cases where you shop at Amazon for example you are encouraged to use our links anytime you shop there. You can cancel at any time. The inaugural Hero of the Heartland event, hosted by UNOs Office of Multicultural Affairs and UNOs Military-Connected Resource Center, honored a World War II hero whose acts have been largely forgotten for decades. In time it was learned that Charles Jackson French stood 5'8" tall and weighed 195 pounds. This whole story violates the laws of physics. The wording of the letter follows. His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service. It took so long.. 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. On January 11, 1945, French was serving aboard the USS Bunker Hill, an aircraft carrier that was involved in the Battle of Okinawa. These are the least desired jobs possible and beneath the White troops. Thats when French a 22-year-old sailor in the racially segregated messman branch volunteered to tow them to safety, the article states. As promising as that sounded, that was the most dangerous place to be for fear that they would be captured and executed. During the attack on the USS Gregory, a destroyer, he was aboard in 1943. 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. He enjoys sports, politics, comic books, and anything that has to do with history. The living quarters were strictly segregated as was housing for family members. Kind of sounds like it. The rescued men angrily reacted to this decision, threatening a fight if it wasnt reversed. We receive a small royalty without cost to you. 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. Soon Frenchs name will be immortalized in Omaha, too. French was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal in recognition of his bravery and combat action. Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French was an American hero who gave his life in service of his country. French was memorialized on War gum trading cards and in a comic strip. Ive always felt glad to be a proud American, Harris said. Continue scrolling down for more amazing information, videos, books and value items. The Virginia NAACP is anticipating their favorable response. This was one of the few assignments available to Black troops and included stevedores, stewards. . 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. He remembers meeting his uncle during World War II just after the famous rescue and being inspired to learn to swim. A world class collection of Black History inspired by a 5th grade teacher who told Arturo Schomburg that there was NO African history. 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. French was a swimmer who performed a. 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. He will be missed dearly by his family and friends. The story of the men who fought and served under trying circumstances. Generations of Sailors will train [at the pool] and never forget the values and legacy of such a brave American hero.. Will definitely agree that he earned a higher award than was given. I like TOWs suggestion too. This is a close as you can get to a system of slavery as it is forced on the service member. 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. [2] Growing Up and Early Naval Days. He had first enlisted in the Navy in 1937 [1] and had completed his enlistment, moving to Omaha, Nebraska where he had family. In May 2022, the Navy finally presented French'srelatives with a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal in recognition of his heroics. Im proud we could come together to recognize his legacy of service and sacrifice.. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. The Chicago Defender named him Hero of the Year. U . Well, that was the racism of the times, one has to admit. 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. 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 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. After he began swimming, he soon encountered sharks. Name a warship after this Hero. 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. After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men was adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. A pool and a letter of commendation dont seem like enough for this true American hero. Her husband, Floyd, has served on the Caroline Board of Supervisors for. French was hailed as the hero of the Solomons and the Human Tugboat for his daring rescue of the Pacific during World War II. He was responsible for the development and construction of hundreds of public works projects during his career. 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. 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. The University prohibits any form of retaliation taken against anyone for reporting discrimination, harassment, or retaliation for otherwise engaging in protected activity. The ship sailed on the Pacific Ocean heading towards Guadalcanal. 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. Gregory near the Solomon Islands. 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. He quickly went to work pulling other sailors aboard with him. urging Congress and President Joe Biden to posthumously award French the Medal of Honor . Brown noted that, with Frenchs name and photo attached to the Navy pool, his story will be told well into the future. Todd Neikirk is a New Jersey-based politics, entertainment and history writer. 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. Inspiring Stories of Black History and Achievement. Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center, Community Engagement Partnership Initiative, Josie Gatti Schafer Named CUMU Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Research Fellow, #NUforNE: Keeping Nebraska Communities Healthy, Social Mobility, Experiential Learning Focus of Interview with UNO Chancellor Li, University of Nebraska Omaha, It's a reminder of, Cold will chill the unveiling of Seaman 1st Class Arthur Francis Johnson's name on World War II plaque. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Submit a Public Notice for Omaha World-Herald, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, Dirk Chatelain: Driven by the story, mine at The World-Herald has come to an end (for now at least), Time to move? When bombs sank the. He was a generous and kind soul who was always willing to lend a helping hand. French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. We also did a mini-series on the Schomburg Center for Research a most amazing collection of Black history and culture. Yeah, I know, not with this illegitimate regime in place. On September 4th of 1942, the USS Gregory found itself under attack from Japanese destroyers. 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. On November 7, 1956, in San Diego, California, Charles Jackson French, 37 at the time, died. This post office renaming is important to his family, the community of Omaha, and the state of Nebraska. www.epmcknight.wixsite.epfitspiration Follow me: Tiktok, imdb.me/epmcknight. To see the posts, click here. Despite the fact that the Medal of Honor is extremely rare, it can be received twice. I know that lots of guys missed out on medals for one reason or another, but for him to be recognized at the time for risking life (from nature) to avoid having his companions killed by direct action or by being taken prisoner of the Japanese and to just get a letter seems more than just an over-site. Charles Jackson French saved the lives 15 Sailorsall of them whiteby pulling them on a raft behind him as he swam for hours through shark-infested waters. 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. I read about this on Facebook some time ago. Im glad I waited til the evening to read this, its beer:30 hours at Fort Roh-Dog and this cold one is hoisted to the deeds of Messman Charles French. Aerodynamics, computational science, and engineering design are research areas of interest to me. He had been born on Sept. 25, 1919, in Foreman, Arkansas. 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