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. Its wonderful news that legislation to recognize Charles Jackson Frenchs incredible heroism is headed to the presidents desk, Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer, who had introduced companion legislation in the Senate, said in a statement. A BILL TO NAME A U.S. POST OFCEFI JUST PAST THE U.S. SENATE. 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. www.epmcknight.wixsite.epfitspiration Follow me: Tiktok, imdb.me/epmcknight. The Chicago Defender named him Hero of the Year. Soon Frenchs name will be immortalized in Omaha, too. This activity includes urging President Biden to posthumously confer the Medals of Honor on Doris Miller and Charles French.. Though the survivors felt French deserved a Medal of Honor or at least a Silver Star, the Swimming Hall of Fame story states, he never received either. The event was held as part of events hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs in observance of Black History Month. Several San Diego Navy leaders spoke. Yet, history has overlooked him. The waters were shark-infested. We receive a small royalty without cost to you. Roughly 15 survivors of the Gregory, some injured, were gathered in a life raft. French towed a raft loaded with his wounded shipmates. 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. In San Diego in 2022, French's family was presented with his posthumous Navy and Marine Corps medal. There was no escape from racism despite putting your life on the line for your country. Tucked away from Asheville, North Carolina's busy [Read More] about The Little Mountain Escape-The Biltmore House, As a youngster studying American History, we [Read More] about A Hero, Virtually Unknown to History, Was a Vital Part of Our Nations Independence, Copyright 2023 TheSouthern.Life Site design by: weblotech.com, about The Little Mountain Escape-The Biltmore House, about A Hero, Virtually Unknown to History, Was a Vital Part of Our Nations Independence, Read the story of Paul Bolden, Medal of Honor recipient from Alabama, Read the story of John Pruitt, WWI recipient of two Medals of Honor, The Little Mountain Escape-The Biltmore House, A Hero, Virtually Unknown to History, Was a Vital Part of Our Nations Independence. When the sailors were rescued, the Master at Arms attempted to separate French from the men he had just saved. French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroic actions in 1942. He pulled off his clothes, had his shipmates help tie a rope around his waist, and dove into the water. Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French was an American hero who gave his life in service of his country. The University prohibits any form of retaliation taken against anyone for reporting discrimination, harassment, or retaliation for otherwise engaging in protected activity. 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. Keith Station, deputy chief of staff for diversity, equity, & inclusion for the City of Omaha, shares remarks at the Hero of the Heartland event. The Navy mess attendant was credited with swimming for several hours through shark-infested waters while towing a lifeboat filled with wounded shipmates, all of whom were White, until they could be rescued. French was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal in recognition of his bravery and combat action. 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. He enlisted in the Navy in 1937 and became a mess attendant, one of the few military jobs open to African Americans in the segregated U.S. armed forces of that era. Story\Experience 43 comments 100% Upvoted This thread is archived New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast Sort by: best The actions of the French will never be forgotten, as will their ultimate sacrifice. I nearly peed on myself when one of them sharks [touched] my feet. For Black History Month 2022 we focused on Health and Wellness in the Black Community. A letter of commendation? Aside: f*ck sharks. A pool and a letter of commendation dont seem like enough for this true American hero. "The country did . French was memorialized on War gum trading cards and in a comic strip. {{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? S. House of Representatives: Demand a Congressional Medal of Honor for Petty Officer Charles Jackson French - Sign the Petition! towing a boat of wounded survivors by himself i.imgur.com/P1mQDe. If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it. ** He certainly earned a much higher award than he was given. Charles Jackson French is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California. These sailors and soldiers were welcomed back to American soil with signs that pointed one way for Whites and the other way for Blacks. In the end, there were fifteen additional sailors on the raft with the mess attendant. His work has been featured in psfk.com, foxsports.com, politicususa.com and hillreporter.com. Name a warship after this Hero. urging Congress and President Joe Biden to posthumously award French the Medal of Honor . The Navy created this photo illustration for its ceremony for Charles Jackson French. The night that propelled Charles Jackson French into the role of hero was September 5, 1942, when enemy bombs sank the U.S.S. He deserves at least the Navy Cross. Follow him on Twitter @SteveLiewer. 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. Read the full statement. And while were at it can we please award Alwyn Cashes family his much deserved MOH.please. USA Swimming honored him at the finals of the 2021 Swim Trials in June. Who is Ruth McBride Jordan? 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. Little is known of his earliest days. 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. This is his jaw-dropping story. There was a problem saving your notification. 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. Change.org Uh oh. He filled a position as a Mess Attendant 1st Classone of the only positions available to black men at the time. A Black sailor swam against sharks to save his White shipmates. 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. Thats a portrait of a hero. They were spotted and rescued by friendly forces when racism reared its ugly head. The publication for writers and readers to create and read amazing content, Actress, Stage playwright, Author, Motivational Speaker, Teacher Fitness Coach. 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. In his interview with Wright, French described the intense racism he encountered, even after he helped save his shipmates. French successfully brought the men to safety on the shores of the Solomon Islands. That inquiry helped bring about last weeks award ceremony. Phone: 402-444-1186. He received an honorable discharge on November 11, 1941, but re-enlisted after Pearl Harbor. In Omaha, French was honored at a Creighton University football game and was selected to lead a crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance at an Armistice Day (now called Veterans Day) event. 6001 Dodge Street, He deserves a higher award, and a destroyer named in his honor. 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. 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. A Black sailor swam against sharks to save his White shipmates. The mess attendant died in 1956 at only 37 years of age. Charles Jackson French saved 15 men from the USS Gregory in September of 1942. His story was retold in comic strips and trading cards, and he traveled the country to help sell war bonds before enthusiastic crowds. Born in a small town in California, Charles was a man of many talents. 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 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. 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. 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. Kudos to the man that stepped up and saved himself and others from the awful fate of becoming Jap POWs. Growing Up and Early Naval Days. During World War II, he served as a U.S. sailor. Will definitely agree that he earned a higher award than was given. Charles Denver Barger (June 3, 1892 - November 25, 1936) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in World War I.He earned the medal while serving as a Chauchat automatic rifle gunner during the Meuse-Argonne offensive, when he and another soldier, Jesse N. Funk, entered no man's land despite . Miller wasnt the only African-American hero of World War II, though. A man who served and re-enlisted again when we entered World War II. A world class collection of Black History inspired by a 5th grade teacher who told Arturo Schomburg that there was NO African history. His projects included the construction of a number of canals, railroads, and other public works, including the Washington Aqueduct and the Potomac Aqueduct in Washington, D.C. Charles Jackson Frenchs work was instrumental in the development of the modern infrastructure that we rely on today. Copyrighted content researched and produced by DragonDen Productions ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Born in a small town in California, Charles was a man of many talents. The waters were shark-infested. 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. French was a swimmer who performed a. His innovative methods of construction and design, along with his exceptional organizational skills, made him a highly sought-after engineer across the United States. In June 2022, the President Joe Biden, signed into law (H.R.4168) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6223 Maple Street, in Omaha, Nebraska, as the Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French Post Office. The wording of the letter follows. All DragonDen media is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. The story of Frenchs bravery was celebrated at the time but then largely forgotten for decades. 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Itwould ef. 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. German prisoners of war were allowed to ride with White soldiers while the Black fighters were relegated to open, drafty, smelly cattle cars. Did I misread the Congressional Order, or did they not suspend the statute of limitations for review of awards where race may have played a issue in denial or downgrade of award. His heroism was recognized in popular culture, though. He also had a passion for gardening and was an avid reader. French, a strong swimmer since youth, volunteered to swim the boat away from the Japanese island. Charles Jackson French: Hero Without a Medal. This button displays the currently selected search type. Yeah, I know, not with this illegitimate regime in place. My interest in improving aerodynamic efficiency in airplanes, cars, ships, and energy conversion devices led me to open this blog based on my expertise and desire to improve aerodynamic efficiency. Eric Ewing, executive director of the Great Plains Black History Museum, shares remarks at the Hero of the Heartland event. Steve is the military affairs reporter for The World-Herald. The ships first class is the Petty Officer 1st Class. The information that we present to everyone is extremely important, and a small donation can help us keep it that way. Ted Carlson, commander of Naval Base San Diego. 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. But his story will be told during a ga, A Virginia woman is trying an unconventional approach to secure the Medal of Honor for two WWII heroes, including Charles Jackson French, who , The University of Nebraska at Omaha honored a long-unsung World War II hero once lauded as a human tugboat during a Black History Month even, Metropolitan Community College is seeking to take over a Marine Corps facility next to its Fort Omaha campus for future expansion. Japanese destroyers sank the ship he was on, the USS Gregory, in the South Pacific in September 1942. The story of Charles Jackson French's valor was told in newspapers, on radio dramas, in comics, on a bubble gum card and on this World War II calendar. Correction: This story has been corrected to state that the bill passed by the Senate was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Don Bacon. 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