Lets get this HERO the Medal of Honor, Forgotten: The Untold Story of D-days Black Heroes, at Home and at War. 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. A self-declared light-skinned woman evasive about her ethnicity, yet steadfast in her love for her 12 Black children. Ensign Adrian fought for French to receive the Medal of Honor for his heroic rescue. I read about this on Facebook some time ago. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Don Bacon,cleared the House of Representatives in March. This is a close as you can get to a system of slavery as it is forced on the service member. Ensign Robert Adrian realized that the currents were pulling the lifeboat back towards a Japanese-held island. Required fields are marked *. In cases where you shop at Amazon for example you are encouraged to use our links anytime you shop there. 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. French saved. His own father served in the war, too. French stayed in the military until the end of the war, then took a civilian job with the Navy in San Diego. Notably, the letter reduced the hours French spent swimming from six-eight to two. 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. Instead, the Navy only issued a letter of commendation. Still, a letter of commendation is completely inadequate for what French did and I dont buy that this cant be considered combat. He was born in Foreman, Arkansas on September 25, 1919. Category: Historical, Navy, Valor, War Stories, We Remember. The above summary gives a view of Charles Jackson French, a man who deserves a place in history, but like many Blacks have been excluded. 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. French was hailed as the hero of the Solomons and the Human Tugboat for his daring rescue of the Pacific during World War II. The event, held Feb. 9, 2023 in UNO's Milo Bail Student Center, honored Petty Officer 1 st Class Charles Jackson French for his tremendous bravery and efforts in World War II. 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. Brown noted that, with Frenchs name and photo attached to the Navy pool, his story will be told well into the future. His work has been featured in psfk.com, foxsports.com, politicususa.com and hillreporter.com. Former Virginia State Conference (Virginia NAACP) President Linda Thomas put forth a resolution for two Black Veterans who should be awarded the Medal of Honor for their committed acts of extreme valor and heroism but were denied consideration solely because of their race. As a result, he is an inspiring example of the bravery and commitment of our youth. Now many feel that a letter of commendation for a heroic eight hour swim through sharks and enemy shell fire is not enough. 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 Jackson French was born in 1919 and grew up in Foreman, Arkansas. These sailors and soldiers were welcomed back to American soil with signs that pointed one way for Whites and the other way for Blacks. Navy Chief of Information Rear Adm. Charles Brown retweeted the post, thanking Nance for highlighting Frenchs heroic story and promising to work with Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday to see whether the service could do anything more to recognize the sailor. This is the story of the Stewards, Cooks and Messboys who manned that branch of naval service. 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. French was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal in recognition of his bravery and combat action. The Southern.Life is a publication of Emerson Parker Press, which is owned and operated by Jim Harris and his wife, Marian. His heroism was recognized in popular culture, though. 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. U . It will inspire generations of sailors, he said. 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. I like TOWs suggestion too. French like so many Black men believed that if they showed they were willing to fight for the country that the country would show them and people of their race some gratitude and equality only to return to the same situation they were fighting against. 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. The omission remained on the record for more than four decades. Navy officials escorted members of Frenchs family to his gravesite at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, on San Diegos Point Loma peninsula. On September 5, 1942, United States Navy Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French, 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 ship on which he was serving, the USS Gregory, was hit by Japanese naval fire near Guadalcanal. The award was presented on May 21, 2022, at Naval Base San Diego, at a ceremony in which the bases rescue swimmer training pool was dedicated in his honor. The story of Frenchs bravery was celebrated at the time but then largely forgotten for decades. 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. . Charles Jackson French died in 1956 and is buried in Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California. 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. The rescued men angrily reacted to this decision, threatening a fight if it wasnt reversed. His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service. Jobs People Learning Dismiss Dismiss. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. After the death of his parents, he lived with an older sister, Viola, in Omaha, Nebraska. French, a strong swimmer since youth, volunteered to swim the boat away from the Japanese island. 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. (H.R. 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. Or even going back to the 90s when a lot of this (blacks finally getting the awards they deserve) started to happen. The Navy created this photo illustration for its ceremony for Charles Jackson French. Charles Jackson French was an incredible pioneer in the field of civil engineering. 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. 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. 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). And while were at it can we please award Alwyn Cashes family his much deserved MOH.please. 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. charles jackson french swam 6-8 hours in 1942nd a saved 15 of his crewmates and died in 1956. Growing Up and Early Naval Days. Willie was only 11 years old when he received the Medal of Honor during the Civil War, and he was awarded it shortly after his 13th birthday. French received a letter of commendation from Admiral Bull Halsey that said; 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. Will definitely agree that he earned a higher award than was given. There was a problem saving your notification. During the battle, the Bunker Hill was struck by two kamikaze planes which caused the ship to suffer a massive explosion. A pool used to train rescue swimmers at Naval Base San Diego also was named in Frenchs honor at the ceremony. Teachers are pumped. 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. On May 21, 2022, a dedication ceremony for the bases rescue swimmer training pool in Frenchs honor was held at Naval Base San Diego, during which the award was presented. Aboard a lift raft with several other sailors and drifting towards enemy-held islands, French volunteered to tow the raft himself by swimming. To comment or make suggestions on future posts, use Contact Us. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. 80 years later, Omaha hero who swam in shark-infested waters receives Navy honor. The information that we present to everyone is extremely important, and a small donation can help us keep it that way. This meant that if there were family members they had to live in ghettos like the general public. Phone: 402-444-1186. French successfully brought the men to safety on the shores of the Solomon Islands. Please subscribe to keep reading. 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. 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. This to the scientific notationed! 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. We're doing our best to get things working smoothly! The University prohibits any form of retaliation taken against anyone for reporting discrimination, harassment, or retaliation for otherwise engaging in protected activity. 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. It seems a travesty that he never received a medal after such a courageous single-handed act of bravery saving 15 men. 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. After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men were adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. No medal. This might be the first time I agree with Malcolm Nance. Charles Jackson French with his sister, Viola, at a Creighton football game on Oct. 31, 1942, at which he was honored. After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men were adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. A little more than a week after Thomas first called the Senators office, Kaine wrote letters to President Joe Biden concerning Miller and French. In addition to newspaper and radio accounts, his story was told in bubble gum cards, comic strips, a calendar, even a verse by a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet. Either wouldeasilybe warranted in my opinion. 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. Bill to honor World War II hero Charles Jackson French at Omaha post office signed into law Updated: 6:46 PM CDT Jun 15, 2022 Infinite Scroll Enabled KETV Staff Report Show Transcript. 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. Bloomsbury presents Immortal Valor by Robert Child, read by Vaughn Johseph. 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. You can use a link to tennis shoes to buy a refrigerator or anything else. 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. That branch of Naval service French successfully brought the men to safety on the record more..., French became nationally known as the hero of the Naval service of sailors, he said men angrily to! Been featured in psfk.com, foxsports.com, politicususa.com and hillreporter.com I dont buy that this be. 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