Born Sept. 25, 1919, French died on Nov. 7, 1956, at 37. [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. He went into the service as a mess attendant, the only rate then available to . For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. For his actions, French received a letter of commendation from the commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet, Adm. William F. Bull Halsey. 0000190535 00000 n 0000184704 00000 n endstream endobj 264 0 obj <>stream This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. 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. French was also the only African American to appear on World War II patriotic trading cards issued by GUM, Inc. After his military service, French suffered from alcoholism and depression. In the aftermath, French helped fifteen wounded survivors from the ship into a life raft. 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.. Subject specific information for the media, Events or announcements of note for the media, An official website of the United States government. His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service. French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. The crew of high-speed transport USS Gregory (APD 3) were returning from transferring a Marine Raider Battalion to Savo Island on the night of Sept. 4, 1942. His . *(*B)$wHHB3Mg 0000125243 00000 n The ship was severely damaged after only minutes and began to sink into the shark-infested waters. Charles Jackson was first enlisted in the United States Navy in 1937 and had completed his enlistment, moving to Omaha, Nebraska where he lived with his family. He had first enlisted in the Navy in 1937[1] and had completed his enlistment, moving to Omaha, Nebraska where he had family. There is a problem with your email/password. Steward's Mate 1 st Class Charles Jackson French was sailing aboard the USS Gregory early on the morning of Sept. 5, 1942, when Japanese destroyers opened fire on the high-speed transport. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. Charles Jackson French (25 September 1919 to 07 November 1956) was a United States Navy sailor. (U.S. Navy) 27 Apr 2021 endstream endobj 269 0 obj <>stream The bill can now proceed to the Senate floor. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. Napoleon III, also called (until 1852) Louis-Napolon, in full Charles-Louis-Napolon Bonaparte, (born April 20, 1808, Parisdied January 9, 1873, Chislehurst, Kent, England), nephew of Napoleon I, president of the Second Republic of France (1850-52), and then emperor of the French (1852-70). becomes full HTo0~_G#C@*%imVMNcW/RgR};;ww_@o.@r"?%YDiA,~J6adlm8Q35:P/0|mc2?wW8m.Or \mz{.-GJ^{ 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 . Pictured is Charles with his sister Viola during a public appearance at a football game in Omaha, Nebraska,1943. Pictured is Charles with his sister Viola during a public appearance at a football game in Omaha, Nebraska,1943. Please reset your password. In most cases, African-Americans were the victims. A former Playboy model killed herself and her 7-year-old son after jumping from a hotel in Midtown New York City on Friday morning. Swimming until sunrise, French and the 15 Sailors on the raft he was towing were spotted by a scout aircraft. episode was complicated by the issuance of a posthumous Silver Star to Lt. Cdr.H. Failed to report flower. 0000163762 00000 n [9], French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroic actions. Charles Jackson French. French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men were adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. The 22-year-old saved the lives of 15 sailors . He moved from France to Thailand when he was 14. we begin to Show & Tell who they were during particular moments in their lives. Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French was hailed as the hero of the Solomons and the Human Tugboat after a heroic rescue in the Pacific during World War II. Oops, we were unable to send the email. 0000007046 00000 n However, at 1:23 a.m. on Sept. 5, 1942, French was one of a few uninjured Sailors that found themselves floating on makeshift rafts when the Japanese ships turned their guns from the crippled ships to the crew floating in the water. I swear, our ancestors were built different Military.com article Navy May Recognize Black WWII Sailor Who Towed Wounded Shipmates Through Shark-Infested Waters Charles Jackson French of Foreman, Arkansas, became a national hero after the destroyer Gregory was sunk Sept. 5, 1942, by. These flares became a backdrop for the silhouettes of Gregory and Little who now became the targets of the Japanese destroyers and a Japanese cruiser that had joined them. Charles Jackson French of Foreman, Arkansas, became a national hero after the destroyer Gregory was sunk Sept. 5, 1942, by Japanese warships near Guadalcanal. (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. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. ;P"f 0000005708 00000 n Ferdinand Mount, London Review of Books "Jackson's riveting biography of Charles de Gaulleportrays a divisive, self-contradictory but still legendary figure; the book also vividly profiles twentieth-century France from the disillusionment of the First World War to the dislocations of the 1960s." Despite his heroism, the ignorantly prejudiced United States all but ignored French. During Frenchs time in the military, segregation was still an issue he faced. Wars/Conflicts: World War Ii. As the attacks continued and the ship began to sink, many Sailors suffered injuries. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. #"4d*2 LC` cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men were adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. hbbg`b``3 & With the attack on Pearl Harbour, French went to the closest recruitment office, and on 19 December 1941, re . Fearing that the raft would drift toward the shore where Japanese troops were located, French towed the raft of wounded survivors toward a different island. He returned to Boston in 1832 . You can always change this later in your Account settings. Like many others at the time, he probably saw it as a way to. Please try again later. 0000125572 00000 n Jackson received his M.D. French was lucky enough to escape without much harm and began gathering injured Sailors to put into a raft. This is a carousel with slides. Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox, Revolutionized American Warfare, Taylor Sheridan Is Taking on the Military World With New Spy Thriller, Mission Daybreak Rewards Those Fighting Against Veteran Suicide With Millions, Volunteers Needed for the Million Veteran Program. 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. Postal Service held a ceremony Friday in Omaha to formally rename the Benson branch post pffice for World War II Navy veteran Charles Jackson French. There are campaigns to demand a Congressional Medal of Honor for Petty Officer Charles Jackson French posthumously and plans for the Navy to dedicate a rescue swimmer pool in his honor. 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. Mini Bio (1) Charles Jackson was born in 1903 into a wholly dysfunctional family in Summit, New Jersey. 1140 3rd St., 2nd Flr, NE 0000002403 00000 n Three Japanese destroyers Ydachi, Hatsuyuki, and Murakumo came into the Slot undetected to bombard American positions ashore. His father skipped out on the family when he was 10 and the boy completed his elementary education in Newark, then began college at Syracuse University but abruptly quit. He grew up as an orphan and enlisted in 1937. H\n0Fy 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 . Sorry! A Black man serving in the segregated armed forces, French was credited with saving wounded shipmates during WWII. According to Swimming World Magazine, French's rank was elevated above a mere mess mate, but he and others were still derided in the Black press as "seagoing bellhops.". . Julian Jackson reads a biography that helps to solve de Gaulle's mysteries Charles de Gaulle speaks at a ceremony in Bruneval in 1947. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. 4,972 birth records, View 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. %%EOF More like this: New Study Surfaces Detailing Racial Discrimination in the Military, Filed Under: Military History Tagged With: Black military history, Charles Jackson French, Navy. 0000101669 00000 n Charles Jackson was born in 1903 into a wholly dysfunctional family in Summit, New Jersey. We share yesterday, to build meaningful connections today, and preserve for tomorrow. He was born in Arkansas on 25 September 1919. IMAGE: CHARLES JACKSON FRENCH 1 . [3], French was an orphan from Foreman, Arkansas[4] who learned to swim in the Red River at the age of eight.[5]. Try again later. 0000189006 00000 n We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. startxref All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Once Charles Jackson French was identified, he became a national hero. 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. For his actions, French received a letter of commendation from the commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet, Adm. William F. Bull Halsey. r\a W+Y f%`VY f%`V He had first enlisted in the Navy in 1937[1] and had completed his enlistment, moving to Omaha, Nebraska where he had family. French was memorialized on War Gum trading cards, in syndicated comic strips, on calendars, and The Chicago Defender named him Hero of the Year. The story of Charles Jackson French takes an interesting turn once he and his fellow survivors reached safety. He was a powerful swimmer, and swam all night, 6 to 8 hours, until they were eventually saved by a landing craft. 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