French, who moved to Omaha as a teen, first enlisted in the US Navy in 1937. 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. Story\Experience 43 comments 100% Upvoted This thread is archived New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast Sort by: best He filled a position as a Mess Attendant 1st Classone of the only positions available to black men at the time. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. 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. BZ PO1 French! GET LOCAL BREAKING NEWS ALERTS The ultimate insult! 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. It is not necessary to purchase the item in the link. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. The story of Charles Jackson French's World War II valor was told and retold, especially in Black newspapers. French served aboard the USS Houston for four years before returning to Omaha. French made public appearances after the rescue, including attending a Creighton University football game with his sister in 1942. Continue to scroll for fascinating Videos and Books to enhance your learning experience. Schomburg dedicated his life to proving that teacher wrong and Schomburg did an amazing job with his collection. In March of 1942, French was assigned to the USS Gregory (APD-3). A 1943 "True Comics" account of the valor of Charles Jackson French after his ship was sunk at Guadalcanal. 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. Thomas has also been in communication with other senators and members of Congress asking them to support this effort. French received no medal, only a letter of commendation. During his youth, he would often swim in the Red River and became quite adept at it. Charles Jackson French died in 1956 and is buried in Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California. His story was retold in comic strips and trading cards, and he traveled the country to help sell war bonds before enthusiastic crowds. 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. A man discriminated against by the country that he loved, was willing to put his life on the line for. Perhaps it was that he wasnt considered to be in combat. Yeah, I know, not with this illegitimate regime in place. sliewer@owh.com; twitter.com/Steve Liewer. He was recognized locally in September 2022 with the renaming of a Benson post office in his honor. Charles Jackson French (on stage, not pictured) led a crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance at the Omaha Auditorium on Nov. 11, 1942, during the city's largest Armistice Day observance since the end of World War I 24 years earlier. And while were at it can we please award Alwyn Cashes family his much deserved MOH.please. 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. 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. French saved. We receive a small royalty without cost to you. It is time to honor those who deserve honor! 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. He deserves at least the Navy Cross. A self-declared light-skinned woman evasive about her ethnicity, yet steadfast in her love for her 12 Black children. 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. When the sailors were rescued, the Master at Arms attempted to separate French from the men he had just saved. Omaha, NE, 68182. Ive always felt glad to be a proud American, Harris said. 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. Research is spotty, Nebraska high school boys basketball state tournament schedule, Medal sought for Black WWII sailor from Omaha lauded as hero, then forgotten, Back in the day, Oct. 30, 1942: Omaha's 'Hero of the Solomon Islands' returns home to honors, Plan to rename Benson post office after Black World War II hero clears House, Offutt lab seeks to identify soldiers who fought and died in segregated unit in WWII, Black WWII Army hero with ties to Boys Town featured in new graphic novel, Air Force Global Strike chief tabbed to be next StratCom leader, Editorial: Nebraskans have a track record of coming together for the common good, Omaha sailor killed in WWII will be added to Memorial Park monument during Vets Day event, Virginia woman seeks Medal of Honor for Black Navy WWII heroes, including Omaha's French, UNO honors Black WWII sailor as 'Hero of the Heartland', Metro CC may take over Marine Corps base at Fort Omaha campus, New biotech can 3D print living cells inside the human body, Ukraine will join NATO but in 'long- term', says NATO chief Stoltenberg, Finland begins building fence along Russia border. 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. He certainly earned a much higher award than he was given. 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. Bonus- The Story of Charles Jackson French. French stayed in the military until the end of the war, then took a civilian job with the Navy in San Diego. After he began swimming, he soon encountered sharks. 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. Aside: f*ck sharks. He was 37 years old when he died on November 7, 1956, in San Diego, California. All DragonDen media is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. The event was held as part of events hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs in observance of Black History Month. The Virginia NAACP is anticipating their favorable response. We encourage you to share the site on social media. To comment or make suggestions on future posts, use Contact Us. He was a generous and kind soul who was always willing to lend a helping hand. After the death of his parents, he lived with his older sister, Viola, in Omaha, Nebraska. This button displays the currently selected search type. {{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? U.S. Navy Capt. Proclamations naming the Benson post office in his uncle's honor are featured on easels in front of the stage. During his service, he received a letter of commendation from the commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet, Adm. William F. Halsey, Jr. His work has been featured in psfk.com, foxsports.com, politicususa.com and hillreporter.com. Lets get this HERO the Medal of Honor, Forgotten: The Untold Story of D-days Black Heroes, at Home and at War. If the latter, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal might have been the most apropos award. Perhaps racism played a role in French not receiving proper recognition. USA Swimming honored him at the finals of the 2021 Swim Trials in June. French was memorialized on War gum trading cards and in a comic strip. Thats a portrait of a hero. 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 had only been out of the Navy for a couple of months when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. This to the scientific notationed! German prisoners of war were allowed to ride with White soldiers while the Black fighters were relegated to open, drafty, smelly cattle cars. A BILL TO NAME A U.S. POST OFCEFI JUST PAST THE U.S. SENATE. His story was largely forgotten until Bruce Wigo, a former director of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, unearthed it several years ago. The mess attendant rescued his fellow crew members in 1942, after their ship was sunk in the Solomon Islands. French, who was manning the anti-aircraft guns, was killed in the ensuing explosion, making him one of the first casualties of the battle. A man who served and re-enlisted again when we entered World War II. He had first enlisted in the Navy in 1937 [1] and had completed his enlistment, moving to Omaha, Nebraska where he had family. 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. This is the story of the Stewards, Cooks and Messboys who manned that branch of naval service. Continue for more information on the site and posts that may be of interest. 6001 Dodge Street, Will definitely agree that he earned a higher award than was given. On November 7, 1956, in San Diego, California, Charles Jackson French, 37 at the time, died. Well, that was the racism of the times, one has to admit. 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. Copyrighted content researched and produced by DragonDen Productions ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 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. The publication for writers and readers to create and read amazing content, Actress, Stage playwright, Author, Motivational Speaker, Teacher Fitness Coach. 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. The Hero of the Heartland event will honor additional local heroes in the coming years. Darn guys a stud. 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. Charles French was born on September 25, 1919, in Foreman, Arkansas. Charles Jackson French is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California. This is a close as you can get to a system of slavery as it is forced on the service member. He was a talented carpenter, a skilled handyman, and a master of DIY projects. Japanese destroyers sank the ship he was on, the USS Gregory, in the South Pacific in September 1942. During this time, the military followed the segregation laws that were prevalent in the nation. There is a campaign requesting a Congressional Medal of Honor is awarded to French. 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, He also had a passion for gardening and was an avid reader. urging Congress and President Joe Biden to posthumously award French the Medal of Honor . Charles Jackson French and his sister, Viola, were honored at a Creighton football game in Omaha on Oct. 31, 1942. He will be missed dearly by his family and friends. Rep. Don Bacon Honors Navy Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French, Immortal Valor: The Black Medal of Honor Winners of World War II. 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. . Read the full statement. charles jackson french swam 6-8 hours in 1942nd a saved 15 of his crewmates and died in 1956. Navy officials escorted members of Frenchs family to his gravesite at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, on San Diegos Point Loma peninsula. You can cancel at any time. Todd Neikirk is a New Jersey-based politics, entertainment and history writer. Charles Jackson French with his sister, Viola, at a Creighton University football game on Oct. 31, 1942, at which he was honored. The server is misbehaving. Soon after, a bill passed the Nebraska legislature to name an Omaha post office for him. He was particularly noted for his work on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in Maryland, a major engineering feat of its time. 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