Select the next to any field to update. French saved the lives of more than a dozen Sailors by swimming through the night, dragging a raft full of injured shipmates through shark-infested waters. Adrian told him it was impossible that he would only be giving himself up to the sharks that surrounded them "French responded that he was not afraid. The U.S. After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men was adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. 0000732899 00000 n The commendation stated: 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. Just before 1 a.m. on the morning of Sept. 5, the two ships saw flashes of gunfire. He makes comedy sketches on his YouTube channel. A small donation would help us keep this available to all. 2021, https://omaha.com/news/local/nebraska-reps-seek-to-name-benson-post-office-for-black-omaha-wwii-hero/article_66699ca0-d8ff-11eb-aee6-474cdd1763ba.htm; Bruce Wigo, Memorial Day Rewind: The Forgotten Hero of WWII, SwimmingWorld.com, May 30, 2021, https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/memorial-day-rewind-the-forgotten-hero-of-wwii/. 0000125572 00000 n 0000190535 00000 n 0000006232 00000 n Charles Jackson French was born on September 25, 1919, and died at age 37 years old on November 7, 1956. If you are interested, you are suggested to go through this video, Charles Jackson French Cause of Death.Post going through the entire video, you will get a better idea about the real and accurate news. It was an act of bravery for which his shipmates thought Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French deserved the Medal of Honor. On September 5, 1942, United States Navy Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French, of Omaha Nebraska, swam through the night for 6 - 8 hours pulling a raft of 15 wounded sailors with a rope around his stomach through shark-infested waters after the USS Gregory was hit by Japanese naval fire near Guadalcanal. His bravery, heroism, and toughness are a testament to the best in mankind even when mankind isnt being its best. 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 safety. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. He was born on September 25, 1919. This was during a period of American history when segregation was active, which means black men and white men were not permitted to swim together, even during Navy swim calls in the ocean. Box 6237, in San Diego, California. Understanding the actions French took for them, the crew became angry, demanded that French wasnt leaving, and stated that anyone who had a problem could catch hands. Contributor: Judy Borden Soos (46958020) Section N Site 490 P.o. The night was black as ink and a haze was obscuring any landmarks, so the crews of Gregory and her sister ship USS Little (APD 4) were patrolling the area between Savo Island and Guadalcanal. NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent. Share memories and family stories, photos, or ask questions. As noted at history.com, the 1.2 million African Americans who served in World War II fought for democracy overseas while being treated as second-class citizens by their own country. 0000007046 00000 n French was memorialized on War Gum trading cards and in a comic strip. Charles Jackson French, an African-American orphan, and championship-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. He swam between six and eight hours in shark-infested water before being rescued by marines in a navy landing craft. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. 0000189970 00000 n IMAGE: CHARLES JACKSON FRENCH 1 . Jump in and swim for two hours straight, then come back and tell us how you feel. Thanks and have a good day ahead!#CharlesJacksonFrench#CharlesJacksonFrenchDeath#CharlesJacksonFrenchCauseOfDeath#Death#CauseOfDeath#CelebrityDeath#PopularCelebrityDeath#CheckCelebrityDeath#CheckCelebritiesDeath#CheckPopularCelebrityDeath#CheckPopularCelebritiesDeath Adrian attempted to talk French into getting out of the shark-infested waters, but French responded that he was more afraid of the Japanese than he was of the sharks. 0000125864 00000 n The New York Post reports . French enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1937 and served four years. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. His mission was to rescue fellow soldiers. H\n0Fy 0000008519 00000 n Resend Activation Email. (j/p> dO~"$3$i'FwKk9Evhr-R|(}@4rY$^'\h? He was celebrated in the black press and was even the subject of a syndicated comic strip. He asked for help to tie a rope around his waist and towed them to safety." 0000002403 00000 n Try again later. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Charles Jackson French. the average French family member AncientFaces is a place where our memories live. Charles Jackson French (Navy.mil) Charles French was born on September 25, 1919, in Foreman, Arkansas. endstream endobj 257 0 obj <>/Metadata 35 0 R/Pages 34 0 R/StructTreeRoot 37 0 R/Type/Catalog/ViewerPreferences<>>> endobj 258 0 obj <>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/TrimBox[0.0 0.0 612.0 792.0]/Type/Page>> endobj 259 0 obj <> endobj 260 0 obj <> endobj 261 0 obj <> endobj 262 0 obj <> endobj 263 0 obj <>stream 0 In addition, Rep. Bacon, a retired Air Force brigadier general, has petitioned the navy, asking for French to be considered for a posthumous medal of honor. UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, spoke at the event, pointing to how his actions can inspire us all to be heroes in our own way. 4168 to name the U.S. Post Office in Omaha's Benson area, 6223 Maple St., after Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French, a World War II hero with ties to Omaha, who rescued fifteen of his injured shipmates by swimming for hours through shark-infested waters . The nations 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. He served his four years in the Navy working the mess decks of Hawaii-based heavy cruiser USS Houston (CA-30) and returned home to Nebraska in 1941. Gibson Johns. Photos, memories, family stories & discoveries are unique to you, and only you can control. May 18, 2018, 11:38 AM. Charles Jackson, one of the most successful failures in American letters, wished as fiercely as any writer for literary immortality. French successfully brought the men to safety on the shores of the Solomon Islands. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Help paint a picture of Charles so that he is always remembered. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Even after all of his heroics, once he and the others made it to a rest camp, the authorities at this camp insisted on having French segregated from the whites in the group. In most cases, African-Americans were the victims. Section N Site 490 P.o. WASHINGTON, D.C. - Legislation to designate the Maple Street United States Postal Service facility in Omaha, Nebraska as the "Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French Post Office" passed out of the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee today. 0000005681 00000 n -- The story of Charles Jackson French captured the attention of Omaha in the weeks ahead of the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. After the death of his parents, he lived with his older sister, Viola, in Omaha, Nebraska. Charles Jackson French was a 23 year-old orphan from Foreman, Arkansas who had enlisted in the navy in 1937. He had first enlisted in the navy in 1937 and had completed his enlistment, moving to Omaha, Nebraska where he had family. The AFRO knows what its like to endure challenging times. He received an honorable discharge on November 11, 1941, but re-enlisted after Pearl Harbor. The pilot dispatched a Marine landing craft to pick them up. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. And in June 2022, President Joe Biden signed a bill renaming the US Post Office in Omaha, Nebraska, the Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French Post Office. Charles French was buried at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery cemeteries found in San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. With gunfire continuing all around them, French, a nearly 23-year-old Black man who wasnt even permitted to swim with his fellow white Sailors during training, tied a rope around his waist, tied the rope to the raft, and began to swim. The average age of Charles Jackson French WW II Hero. F. Baurer, the ships CO. %%EOF While the crews of Gregory and Little debated whether to engage the Japanese destroyers or depart quietly, a Navy pilot also spotted the flashes of fire. Arkansas born, African American, Petty Officer First Class, Charles Jackson French didn't imagine he would be completing such a feat at just the age of 23 years-old. Friends can be as close as family. French was the first black swimmer to earn the Navy Medal for his heroism in 1943. In 1956, in the year of Charles Jackson French's passing, on May 20th, the U.S. tested the first hydrogen bomb dropped from a plane over Bikini Atoll. In May of 2022, French was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. What schools or universities did Charles attend? He was born in Arkansas on 25 September 1919. 0000012928 00000 n Forego a bottle of soda and donate its cost to us for the information you just learned, and feel good about helping to make it available to everyone. 0 cemeteries found in San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA. He made his first comedy sketch "What I Would Love To Hear In Class" on February 6, 2016 . 0000102179 00000 n (NNPA Newswire) It remains by far one of the most heroic acts performed in war, and it also counts as one of the most underappreciated sacrifices in American history. A photo of French is shown outside the building at 63rd and Maple Streets. The night was black as ink and a haze was obscuring any landmarks, so the crews of Gregory and her sister ship USS Little (APD 4) were patrolling the area between Savo Island and Guadalcanal. when he died at the age of 37. 0000002550 00000 n It was called the "Red Summer". The 22-year-old saved the lives of 15 sailors . 0000184407 00000 n The AFRO provides readers with good news about the Black community not otherwise found. [2] With the attack on Pearl Harbor, French went to the closest recruitment office, and on December 19, 1941, re-enlisted in the United States Navy. Little did he know that three weeks before his 23rd birthday, French would become a Navy hero. Find the nearest body of water to you. Charles Jackson French was memorialized on War Gum trading cards, in syndicated comic strips, on calendars, and The Chicago Defender named him Hero of the Year. Oh, and while you are at it, dont forget to tie a raft to yourself thats holding more than a dozen people in it, fill the water with sharks, while multiple units of the Japanese Imperial Navy try to kill you at the same time. Charles Jackson French, a Black sailor in World War II, may soon be recognized by the Navy for rescuing 15 men after Japanese soldiers sunk their ship. This video talks about the death news of Charles Jackson French who passed away many years ago.With deep heart we remember Charles Jackson French, an American war hero from Foreman, Arkansas, who died on 7 November 1956. endstream endobj 270 0 obj <>stream When you share, or just show that you care, the heart Section N Site 490, San Diego, California. It didnt stop the Foreman, Ark., native and avid swimmer since the age of 8, from tying a rope around his waist, jumping into the waters and defying the multitude of sharks that hungrily searched for prey. What happened next would take Navy Messman Charles Jackson French from the mess hall and into quiet adoration for his bravery. Still, the man that we know and remember is one whos a testament to doing the right thing even when its not easy and putting others before yourself. Wars/Conflicts: World War Ii. Swimming until sunrise, French and the 15 Sailors on the raft he was towing were spotted by a scout aircraft. He went into the service as a mess attendant, the only rate then available to . Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 17741985, Record Group 92. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. Oops, something didn't work. 0000176236 00000 n Baltimore, MD Office John Henry Murphy Sr.; Slave. By Navy standards, it would be nearly unprecedented for a subordinate to receive a higher decoration for an act of heroism comparable to that of a superior.. French, a United States Navy Messman, swam through shark-infested waters for six to eight hours on the night of September 5, 1942 pulling a raft of 15 surviving sailors with a rope around his . Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. On September 5, 1942, United States Navy Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson Fr. For his actions, French received a letter of commendation from the commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet, Adm. William F. Bull Halsey. becomes full To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Charles Thomas Jackson, (born June 21, 1805, Plymouth, Mass., U.S.died Aug. 28, 1880, Somerville, Mass. Swimming until sunrise, French and the 15 Sailors on the raft he was towing were spotted by a scout aircraft. Charles Jackson French faced all of this and more during his time of service and helped save many lives through grit and bravery. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. 256 75 If ever there was a time for survival mode, its the middle of the night when youre injured and your ship is sinking into the ocean. Undoubtedly, there were other forms of racism and discrimination that also accompanied such treatment. 0000164266 00000 n Link to family and friends whose lives he impacted. His father was an operator for Shell Chemical . With Adrian amongst the rescued Sailors on board the raft, French started to tie a rope around his waist. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. May we all proceed and help others with the courage and strength of Messman Charles Jackson French, a name that will never be forgotten. Charles Jackson French (September 25, 1919 - November 7, 1956) was a United States Navy sailor. ), Interment Control Forms, 19281962. ;P"f The New York Stock Exchange, is an American stock exchange located at 11 Wall . After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men were adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. 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