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. It only took 3 minutes for the ship to sink. 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. Eric Ewing, executive director of the Great Plains Black History Museum, shares remarks at the Hero of the Heartland event. Itwould ef. During the attack on the USS Gregory, a destroyer, he was aboard in 1943. The ships first class is the Petty Officer 1st Class. For Black History Month 2022 we focused on Health and Wellness in the Black Community. In his interview with Wright, French described the intense racism he encountered, even after he helped save his shipmates. BZ PO1 French! Your email address will not be published. Bacon, R-Neb., had written a letter to the acting secretary of the Navy a year ago, asking for a review of Frenchs file to determine whether he had received the proper awards. And while were at it can we please award Alwyn Cashes family his much deserved MOH.please. There is a campaign requesting a Congressional Medal of Honor is awarded to French. USA Swimming presented him with a gold medal for winning the gold medal in the mens 8 meter swimming event at the Olympic swimming trials in Omaha in June 2021. Charles Jackson French saved 15 men from the USS Gregory in September of 1942. The Chicago Defender named him Hero of the Year. The story of Charles Jackson French's World War II valor was told and retold, especially in Black newspapers. Notably, the letter reduced the hours French spent swimming from six-eight to two. 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. Japanese destroyers sank the ship he was on, the USS Gregory, in the South Pacific in September 1942. Rear Adm. Charles Brown presented eight of Frenchs relatives with a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal on May 21 in San Diego. Yeah, I know, not with this illegitimate regime in place. He re-enlisted after Pearl Harbor where he was assigned to be a mess attendant. Hundreds of Blacks were slaughtered and 10,000 left homeless in this largely unknown event. Thomas has also been in communication with other senators and members of Congress asking them to support this effort. We depend on your support and thank you for it! A man discriminated against by the country that he loved, was willing to put his life on the line for. The mess attendant died in 1956 at only 37 years of age. That led to recognition during the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials held in Omaha in 2021. After he began swimming, he soon encountered sharks. It is the service's highest award for noncombat heroism . When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. But after his parents died, he moved to. He was a true patriot whose dedication and dedication to country served as a model for future generations. It was amplified on social media in spring 2021, prompting USA Swimming to honor him during the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials in Omaha last June. French was the first black swimmer to earn the Navy Medal for his heroism in 1943. French, who moved to Omaha as a teen, first enlisted in the US Navy in 1937. The Virginia NAACP is anticipating their favorable response. After tying him off, French swam through shark infested waters for 6-8 hours until an American landing craft found them. Her husband, Floyd, has served on the Caroline Board of Supervisors for. There was a problem saving your notification. 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. French was memorialized on War gum trading cards and in a comic strip. Thomas is also requesting support from the citizens as well as other groups and veterans organizations to ensure that Mr. Miller and Mr. French are properly recognized for their contributions to this country by making phone calls or sending letters to members of congress and the senate. Its a story of the best of who we are.. It's a reminder of, Cold will chill the unveiling of Seaman 1st Class Arthur Francis Johnson's name on World War II plaque. 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. He died in 1956, at age 37, of depression and alcoholism from untreated post-traumatic stress, family members say. 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, who moved to Omaha as a teen, first enlisted in the US Navy in 1937. We encourage you to share the site on social media. 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. Since they were taking direct fire, Id feel the Navy Cross the more appropriate of the two. There are some that estimated the time at two hours but in any case, it was a tremendous physical act of courage, keeping in mind that the enemy was still searching for them with the intent of killing them. 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. You can use a link to tennis shoes to buy a refrigerator or anything else. Charles Jackson French was discharged from the Navy on Nov. 13, 1941, but reenlisted a month later after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. 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. 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. He remembers meeting his uncle during World War II just after the famous rescue and being inspired to learn to swim. On January 11, 1945, French was serving aboard the USS Bunker Hill, an aircraft carrier . 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. Nothing of value. The event was held as part of events hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs in observance of Black History Month. UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, speaks to the bravery and courage of Charles Jackson French at the Hero of the Heartland event. 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. A letter of commendation? We also did a mini-series on the Schomburg Center for Research a most amazing collection of Black history and culture. This was one of the few assignments available to Black troops and included stevedores, stewards. French was a swimmer who performed a. {{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? Another of Frenchs nephews, 89-year-old Roscoe Harris of Omaha, also attended, along with two of his own sons and three of his grandsons. The living quarters were strictly segregated as was housing for family members. He was also featured in a 1943 comic book and was honored at halftime during a Creighton University football game. Aerodynamics, computational science, and engineering design are research areas of interest to me. Despite the fact that he did not receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, French was awarded the second highest honor, just below the Congressional Medal of Honor, which had been given to Doris Miller. These are the least desired jobs possible and beneath the White troops. 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To see these posts, click this link, For Womens History Month 2022 we featured 31 amazing Black women we should all know. We receive a small royalty without cost to you. 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. Will you do the same? 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. You can read more about the Virginia NAACPs work and our six Game Changer issue areas by visiting NAACPVA.org. 80 years later, Omaha hero who swam in shark-infested waters receives Navy honor. 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They were spotted and rescued by friendly forces when racism reared its ugly head. 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. Still, a letter of commendation is completely inadequate for what French did and I dont buy that this cant be considered combat. As one of the survivors, French found himself in the water on a life raft. A Change.org petition also was started Monday, urging Congress and President Joe Biden to posthumously award French the Medal of Honor. A Black sailor swam against sharks to save his White shipmates. French towed a raft loaded with his wounded shipmates through shark-infested waters to safety near Guadalcanal. His story was largely forgotten until Bruce Wigo, a former director of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, unearthed it several years ago. He was celebrated in the Black press and was even the subject of a syndicated comic strip. The link to these posts is here. During his service, he received a letter of commendation from the commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet, Adm. William F. Halsey, Jr. Days later, he went down to his local recruitment office and reenlisted. The actions of the French will never be forgotten, as will their ultimate sacrifice. We also posted a 5 part mini-series on the 100th anniversary of one of the most horrific massacres in the history of America. 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. Join now . 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. 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. 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. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. https://chng.it/F8y8w5n2 via @Change ABOUT THE VIRGINIA NAACPFounded in 1935, the Virginia State Conference of NAACP Branches (Virginia NAACP) is the oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization in the Commonwealth, overseeing over 100 NAACP branches, youth councils, and college chapters. 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. 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. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, he noted that part of his job is to make sure that our veterans receive the recognition they deserve for their courage and dedication to our country. 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. Charles Jackson French is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California. The Color of Water: A Black Mans Tribute to His White Mother. Born in a small town in California, Charles was a man of many talents. Ensign Robert Adrian realized that the currents were pulling the lifeboat back towards a Japanese-held island. 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. I nearly peed on myself when one of them sharks [touched] my feet. 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. The New York Times best-selling story from the author of The Good Lord Bird, winner of the 2013 National Book Award for Fiction. The first was an enlistment was in 1937 when he served four years before receiving an honorable discharge in 1941. French stayed in the military until the end of the war, then took a civilian job with the Navy in San Diego. When the sailors were rescued, the Master at Arms attempted to separate French from the men he had just saved. . This blog was created to share a passion for all things Southern. He had been born on Sept. 25, 1919, in Foreman, Arkansas. Mrs. Thomas requests the Medal of Honor for the following Black Veterans: More than 3500 Medals of Honor have been given out to date, according to the National Medal of Honor Museum, however, less than 100 of those recipients are African-American. The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its education programs or activities, including admissions and employment. 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. French had only been out of the Navy for a couple of months when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. French was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal in recognition of his bravery and combat action. The International Swimming Hall of Fame had this painting created of French, one of the most famous Black heroes of World War II. Roughly 15 survivors of the Gregory, some injured, were gathered in a life raft. He received an honorable discharge on November 11, 1941, but re-enlisted after Pearl Harbor. This request was also forwarded to the National NAACP office asking for a resolution to be adopted. 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. In San Diego in 2022, French's family was presented with his posthumous Navy and Marine Corps medal. After his military service, French developed alcoholism and depression. 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. The omission remained on the record for more than four decades. He went into the service as a mess attendant, the only rate then available to a Black man. All DragonDen media is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. This man did as much if not more than a medic often does to save 15 of his comrades from capture, while being actively shelled, in shark infested waters. It read: 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. A Black sailor swam against sharks to save his White shipmates. 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. French was honored at the U.S. Olympic swim trials in 2021. A little more than a week after Thomas first called the Senators office, Kaine wrote letters to President Joe Biden concerning Miller and French. 2023 A Month of Tribute to 31 Women We Should All Know, Rosewood A Typical Race Riot in America. 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. Ted Carlson, commander of Naval Base San Diego. The information that we present to everyone is extremely important, and a small donation can help us keep it that way. S. House of Representatives: Demand a Congressional Medal of Honor for Petty Officer Charles Jackson French - Sign the Petition! 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. USA Swimming honored him at the finals of the 2021 Swim Trials in June. He will be missed dearly by his family and friends. Instead, the Navy only issued a letter of commendation. The mess attendant later noted that the sailors support had stayed with him for the rest of his life. Charles Jackson French, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully at the age of 77 on June 17th, 2020. He was a generous and kind soul who was always willing to lend a helping hand. Inaction has been a great injustice to the goodly Sergeants bravery and sacrifice, for him and his Troops. 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. 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. He exemplified our core values and faced adversity with unwavering grit and selflessness. French, who was manning the anti-aircraft guns, was killed in the ensuing explosion, making him one of the first casualties of the battle. The night that propelled Charles Jackson French into the role of hero was September 5, 1942, when enemy bombs sank the U.S.S. Born in a small town in California, Charles was a man of many talents. 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. Dismiss. We're doing our best to get things working smoothly! French became famous after his commander, Ensign Robert Adrian, told the story on a radio program broadcast across the country. (H.R. 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. Omaha hailed hometown hero Charles Jackson French back in 1942, when the African American mess steward saved the lives of his shipmates after their destroyer was sunk in the World War II battle of the Solomon Islands. He disrobed and with assistance tied the tow rope around his waist and swam what is estimated to be six to eight hours. Virginia NAACP President Robert Barnette was pleased to have his Executive Committee give its unanimous support to Mrs. Thomas effort. Charles Jackson French and his sister, Viola, were honored at a Creighton football game in Omaha on Oct. 31, 1942. French received no medal, only a letter of commendation. Dismiss. It has been reported that Charles Jackson French simply asked his injured crewmates, Just tell me if Im going the right way. Frenchs example shows that everyone has within themselves the capacity for great bravery. U.S. Navy Capt. Despite the fact that the Medal of Honor is extremely rare, it can be received twice. Now, 80 years later, the Navy is finally catching up. Survivors, French swam through shark infested waters for 6-8 hours until an landing!, he moved to Omaha as a teen, first enlisted in the water on a life raft for!. On May 21 in San Diego rescued ensign recounted the story on a life raft was honored at Hero... We depend on your support and thank you for it story of Charles Jackson French is at! Valor was told and retold, especially in Black newspapers halftime during a Creighton University football game Officer 1st.... Sept. 25, 1919, in the US Navy in 1937 that will switch the search inputs match! 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