It only took 3 minutes for the ship to sink. On January 11, 1945, French was serving aboard the USS Bunker Hill, an aircraft carrier . 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. 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. 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. S. House of Representatives: Demand a Congressional Medal of Honor for Petty Officer Charles Jackson French - Sign the Petition! His heroism was recognized in popular culture, though. Required fields are marked *. Since they were taking direct fire, Id feel the Navy Cross the more appropriate of the two. Ensign Robert Adrian realized that the currents were pulling the lifeboat back towards a Japanese-held island. [2] Retroactive to 7 December 1941, the criteria and procedure for award of the medal were likely not yet formalized when word of Frenchs heroics came in. The Color of Water: A Black Mans Tribute to His White Mother. In Omaha, French was honored at a Creighton University football game and was selected to lead a crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance at an Armistice Day (now called Veterans Day) event. After he began swimming, he soon encountered sharks. (H.R. 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. It is time to honor those who deserve honor! Bloomsbury presents Immortal Valor by Robert Child, read by Vaughn Johseph. Todd Neikirk is a New Jersey-based politics, entertainment and history writer. There was no escape from racism despite putting your life on the line for your country. 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. Future Hero of the Heartland events may be held during other heritage months to celebrate heroes among a broad array of diverse ethnic groups. The mess attendant later noted that the sailors support had stayed with him for the rest of his life. Author and Navy veteran Malcolm Nance got the services attention Sunday when he tagged several official accounts in a Twitter post about French. He deserves a higher award, and a destroyer named in his honor. I say MOH. When the sailors were rescued, the Master at Arms attempted to separate French from the men he had just saved. As a result, he is an inspiring example of the bravery and commitment of our youth. He swam six to eight hours in shark-infested waters before being rescued by marines on a navy landing craft. Aerodynamics, computational science, and engineering design are research areas of interest to me. But French said he wasnt afraid. 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. This petition starter stood up and took action. He quickly went to work pulling other sailors aboard with him. A pool and a letter of commendation dont seem like enough for this true American hero. Both Miller and French have been highly decorated for their service, but Thomas wants to see them awarded the top honor. The night that propelled Charles Jackson French into the role of hero was September 5, 1942, when enemy bombs sank the U.S.S. I like TOWs suggestion too. 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. 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. 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. You can read more about the Virginia NAACPs work and our six Game Changer issue areas by visiting NAACPVA.org. French was a swimmer who performed a. 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. The publication for writers and readers to create and read amazing content, Actress, Stage playwright, Author, Motivational Speaker, Teacher Fitness Coach. 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. 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 went into the service as a mess attendant, the only rate then available to a Black man. Charles Jackson French was discharged from the Navy on Nov. 13, 1941, but reenlisted a month later after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. U.S. Navy Capt. Chester French, nephew of Charles Jackson French, shares remarks at the Hero of the Heartland event. Charles Jackson French: Hero Without a Medal. French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. The Navy mess attendant was credited with swimming for several hours through shark-infested waters while towing a lifeboat filled with wounded shipmates, all of whom were White, until they could be rescued. The wording of the letter follows. In 2011, the National Board of the NAACP passed a resolution requesting the Medal Of Honor for Doris (Dorie) Miller. Steve is the military affairs reporter for The World-Herald. French, a Black man from Foreman, Arkansas, worked as a mess attendant on a destroyer transport ship named the USS Gregory, according to a 1943 Associated Press article. French, who moved to Omaha as a teen, first enlisted in the US Navy in 1937. Yet, history has overlooked him. Japanese destroyers sank the ship he was on, the USS Gregory, in the South Pacific in September 1942. A pool used to train rescue swimmers at Naval Base San Diego also was named in Frenchs honor at the ceremony. Proclamations naming the Benson post office in his uncle's honor are featured on easels in front of the stage. 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. I think I would lean toward Medal of Honor just based on what I read here, but Im sure the details would sway me one way or the other. towing a boat of wounded survivors by himself i.imgur.com/P1mQDe. 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. 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. After the death of his parents, he lived with an older sister, Viola, in Omaha, Nebraska. 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Frenchs story was soon told by the War Gum Trading Card Company. I [just] froze and tried to surface and float, [get] my feet outta the water.. His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service. 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. The living quarters were strictly segregated as was housing for family members. 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. 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. It took so long.. We receive a small royalty without cost to you. Charles Jackson French was born in 1919 and grew up in Foreman, Arkansas. 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. He also had a passion for gardening and was an avid reader. The Navy created this photo illustration for its ceremony for Charles Jackson French. Charles Jackson French saved 15 men from the USS Gregory in September of 1942. A Black sailor swam against sharks to save his White shipmates. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). When Is The Best Time To Buy First Class Airline Tickets? French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroic actions in 1942. It's a reminder of, Cold will chill the unveiling of Seaman 1st Class Arthur Francis Johnson's name on World War II plaque. On January 11, 1945, French was serving aboard the USS Bunker Hill, an aircraft carrier that was involved in the Battle of Okinawa. 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. While it is great to receive these honors think how much better it would have been to the generations who were denied knowledge and inspiration from a true hero! Linda Thomas of Bowling Green, Virginia, wants President Joe Biden to award the Medal of Honor to Black World War II Navy heroes Doris Miller and Charles Jackson French. Miller received the Navy Cross (the second-highest award for combat valor) and Bell received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal (the highest award for noncombat heroism). Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Now, 80 years later, the Navy is finally catching up. 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. 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 was awarded both the Army and Navy Medal of Honor, the French Mdaille militaire and Croix de Guerre as well as decorations from Italy, Montenegro and Portugal. To see these posts, click this link, For Womens History Month 2022 we featured 31 amazing Black women we should all know. This activity includes urging President Biden to posthumously confer the Medals of Honor on Doris Miller and Charles French.. 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. The Virginia NAACP is anticipating their favorable response. French towed a raft loaded with his wounded shipmates. 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. Despite the fact that the Medal of Honor is extremely rare, it can be received twice. Hundreds of Blacks were slaughtered and 10,000 left homeless in this largely unknown event. He went into the service as a mess attendant, the only rate then available to . In 2022, the Navy announced that they would name a pool at their San Diego base in Frenchs honor. Custer is the first soldier in US history to receive the militarys highest honor twice, as well as the first to do so twice. It is the service's highest award for noncombat heroism . Notably, the letter reduced the hours French spent swimming from six-eight to two. That led to recognition during the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials held in Omaha in 2021. He was only referred to as French on the card, though. But after his parents died, he moved to. French served aboard the USS Houston for four years before returning to Omaha. 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 . In time it was learned that Charles Jackson French stood 5'8" tall and weighed 195 pounds. 80 years later, Omaha hero who swam in shark-infested waters receives Navy honor. The bravery that he demonstrated serves as a reminder of the sacrifices that can be made at any age. This post office renaming is important to his family, the community of Omaha, and the state of Nebraska. During his youth, he would often swim in the Red River and became quite adept at it. 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 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. Perhaps racism played a role in French not receiving proper recognition. He told the story frequently to family and tried for the rest of his life to get Charles Jackson French, the mess attendant, who was from Omaha, the valor award he was denied during the war. Bonus- The Story of Charles Jackson French. During the attack on the USS Gregory, a destroyer, he was aboard in 1943. For Black History Month 2021, we focused on Black Medical Achievements, Inventors and Scientists.To see those posts, click here. Its a story of the best of who we are.. 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. 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. The information that we present to everyone is extremely important, and a small donation can help us keep it that way. During his youth, he would often swim in the Red River and became quite adept at it. I nearly peed on myself when one of them sharks [touched] my feet. 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. Change.org Uh oh. 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. After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men were adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. 2022 State Convention | NAACP: The Urgency of Now, 2023 Virginia NAACP Legislative Priorities, Copyright 2023 French, who was manning the anti-aircraft guns, was killed in the ensuing explosion, making him one of the first casualties of the battle. Rear Adm. Charles Brown presented eight of Frenchs relatives with a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal on May 21 in San Diego. https://chng.it/F8y8w5n2 via @Change Ive always felt glad to be a proud American, Harris said. If you have a story idea, news tip, or other question, please email the UNO News team at unonews@unomaha.edu. If the latter, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal might have been the most apropos award. This story or history was written to correct one of the many wrongs in the recording of American History. 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. After the death of his parents, he lived with his older sister, Viola, in Omaha, Nebraska. Or even going back to the 90s when a lot of this (blacks finally getting the awards they deserve) started to happen. Organizations such as the National Coalition of Black Veteran Organizations have also shown their support. During his service, he received a letter of commendation from the commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet, Adm. William F. Halsey, Jr. 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. They were spotted and rescued by friendly forces when racism reared its ugly head. Story\Experience 43 comments 100% Upvoted This thread is archived New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast Sort by: best UNOs Hero of the Heartland event continued the long overdue recognition of Frenchs heroism. 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. This is his jaw-dropping story. We depend on your support and thank you for it! Charles Jackson French is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California. His work has been featured in psfk.com, foxsports.com, politicususa.com and hillreporter.com. A world class collection of Black History inspired by a 5th grade teacher who told Arturo Schomburg that there was NO African history. Maybe they can stop naming warships after politicians and go back to naming them after actual heroes? 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. A Black sailor swam against sharks to save his White shipmates. 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. Yet, history has overlooked him. I was happy to see that, as an American Black man, (French) got recognized.. 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. . The VSC NAACP is in full support of Thomass campaign. A self-declared light-skinned woman evasive about her ethnicity, yet steadfast in her love for her 12 Black children. This is a close as you can get to a system of slavery as it is forced on the service member. He remembers meeting his uncle during World War II just after the famous rescue and being inspired to learn to swim. 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. You gotta be kidding me. He was a true patriot whose dedication and dedication to country served as a model for future generations. Ted Carlson, commander of Naval Base San Diego. 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. Aboard a lift raft with several other sailors and drifting towards enemy-held islands, French volunteered to tow the raft himself by swimming. To see this mini-series, click here. Correction: This story has been corrected to state that the bill passed by the Senate was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Don Bacon. As promising as that sounded, that was the most dangerous place to be for fear that they would be captured and executed. The Navy dedicated a pool there to French. His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service. In 1945, when Congress began reviewing the record of the most conspicuous acts of courage by American soldiers during World War II, they recommended awarding the Medal of Honor to 432 recipients. Though the survivors felt French deserved a Medal of Honor or at least a Silver Star, the Swimming Hall of Fame story states, he never received either. 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. Join now . . The mess attendant rescued his fellow crew members in 1942, after their ship was sunk in the Solomon Islands. The waters were shark-infested. Inaction has been a great injustice to the goodly Sergeants bravery and sacrifice, for him and his Troops. 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. Im proud we could come together to recognize his legacy of service and sacrifice.. Thomas has also been in communication with other senators and members of Congress asking them to support this effort. 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. You can try refreshing the page, and if you're still having problems, just try again later. The mess attendant died in 1956 at only 37 years of age. It will inspire generations of sailors, he said. During World War I he served under the name Charles F. Hoffman. After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men was adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. Charles French was born on September 25, 1919, in Foreman, Arkansas. 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 certainly earned a much higher award than he was given. 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. After the rescued ensign recounted the story to The Associated Press and on the radio, French became nationally known as the Human Tugboat. He received a heros welcome in his sisters hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. Adrian retired from the Navy in 1966 and died in 2011, without succeeding. The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) launched a new series to recognize the courage and heroic deeds of the heroes who call the Omaha area home. Continue to scroll for fascinating Videos and Books to enhance your learning experience. This to the scientific notationed! Name a warship after this Hero. French was hailed as the hero of the Solomons and the Human Tugboat for his daring rescue of the Pacific during World War II. 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. 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. As one of the survivors, French found himself in the water on a life raft. During World War II, he served as a U.S. sailor. The story of men who served their country when to do so was to endure, or to appear to accept the humiliating admission of ones own inferiority. German prisoners of war were allowed to ride with White soldiers while the Black fighters were relegated to open, drafty, smelly cattle cars. French was a swimmer who performed a heroic act that gave others another chance at life. The event was held as part of events hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs in observance of Black History Month. We encourage you to share the site on social media. 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. Still, a letter of commendation is completely inadequate for what French did and I dont buy that this cant be considered combat. A man who served and re-enlisted again when we entered World War II. A man discriminated against by the country that he loved, was willing to put his life on the line for. Racism preventing awarding a medal? The story of Charles Jackson French's World War II valor was told and retold, especially in Black newspapers. 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. 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. 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. 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. I read about this on Facebook some time ago. 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. 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