charles jackson french medal of honor

This is his jaw-dropping story. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Inspiring Stories of Black History and Achievement. A 1943 "True Comics" account of the valor of Charles Jackson French after his ship was sunk at Guadalcanal. French received no medal, only a letter of commendation. Continue for more information on the site and posts that may be of interest. It is the service's highest award for noncombat heroism . Within days, French, 22, reenlisted. His wife, Linda, called the event just awesome., It makes you want to cry, she said. In San Diego in 2022, French's family was presented with his posthumous Navy and Marine Corps medal. He deserves a higher award, and a destroyer named in his honor. French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. 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In 2011, the National Board of the NAACP passed a resolution requesting the Medal Of Honor for Doris (Dorie) Miller. Charles Jackson French was an American war hero from Foreman, Arkansas. A man discriminated against by the country that he loved, was willing to put his life on the line for. After tying him off, French swam through shark infested waters for 6-8 hours until an American landing craft found them. I was happy to see that, as an American Black man, (French) got recognized.. French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroic actions in 1942. The nation's hierarchy denied French the Medal of Honor and did not consider him for a Silver Star, two of the highest honors bestowed for such self-sacrificing bravery. 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. 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. The Navy dedicated a pool there to French. Since they were taking direct fire, Id feel the Navy Cross the more appropriate of the two. We, the undersigned, call upon Congress and the President of the United States to correct this travesty and give Petty Officer French the recognition he deserved for his selfless act of bravery. A Black sailor swam against sharks to save his White shipmates. Dorie Miller is the most well-known African American hero of World War II. He was a mess steward, one of the few positions Black sailors were then allowed to fill in the military. He re-enlisted after Pearl Harbor where he was assigned to be a mess attendant. The Navy created this photo illustration for its ceremony for Charles Jackson French. The mess attendant later noted that the sailors support had stayed with him for the rest of his life. 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. Well, that was the racism of the times, one has to admit. 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. All DragonDen media is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. He was celebrated in the Black press and was even the subject of a syndicated comic strip. For Black History Month 2022 we focused on Health and Wellness in the Black Community. During the melee, fifteen sailors were put abord a life raft but there was danger that they would drift towards land. Weeks later, he told the story of a heroic mess attendant named "French" who towed a raft full of about 15 wounded sailors including Adrian all night through shark-filled waters until they were rescued. He served two stints in the Navy. . Inaction has been a great injustice to the goodly Sergeants bravery and sacrifice, for him and his Troops. Now many feel that a letter of commendation for a heroic eight hour swim through sharks and enemy shell fire is not enough. . In March of 1942, French was assigned to the USS Gregory (APD-3). Did Charles Jackson French receive the Medal of Honor? Omaha, NE, 68182. French was born in Arkansas in 1919, but moved to Omaha as a youth to live with his married older sister, Viola. It will inspire generations of sailors, he said. His story was retold in comic strips and trading cards, and he traveled the country to help sell war bonds before enthusiastic crowds. Aside: f*ck sharks. We remember Charles Jackson French, winner of the Navy medal, who swam through the Pacific after his vessel sunk in WWII. We also did a mini-series on the Schomburg Center for Research a most amazing collection of Black history and culture. In this story can be found the heretofore-unwritten chapters of one phase of the Negroes march toward freedom in America, written by a man who participated in it. Retroactive to 7 December 1941, the criteria and procedure for award of the medal were likely not yet formalized when word of Frenchs heroics came in. 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. A BILL TO NAME A U.S. POST OFCEFI JUST PAST THE U.S. SENATE. Charles Jackson French with his sister, Viola, at a Creighton football game on Oct. 31, 1942, at which he was honored. urging Congress and President Joe Biden to posthumously award French the Medal of Honor . Name a warship after this Hero. U . French finished a four-year Navy tour in November 1941 and was visiting family in Omaha when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Your email address will not be published. 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. He had been born on Sept. 25, 1919, in Foreman, Arkansas. Todd Neikirk is a New Jersey-based politics, entertainment and history writer. Benjamin Selph shares recognition for Charles Jackson French on behalf of the Navy. 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. . Rep. Don Bacon Honors Navy Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French, Immortal Valor: The Black Medal of Honor Winners of World War II. This button displays the currently selected search type. UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, spoke at the event, pointing to how his actions can inspire us all to be heroes in our own way. Charles Jackson French is what makes America great. The first was an enlistment was in 1937 when he served four years before receiving an honorable discharge in 1941. This activity includes urging President Biden to posthumously confer the Medals of Honor on Doris Miller and Charles French.. Organizations such as the National Coalition of Black Veteran Organizations have also shown their support. You can use a link to tennis shoes to buy a refrigerator or anything else. 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 he began swimming, he soon encountered sharks. Continue scrolling down for more amazing information, videos, books and value items. The Virginia NAACP is anticipating their favorable response. 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. 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. 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. Additionally, it has continued to pursue advocacy objectives that are in line with policies and plans pertaining to veterans of African heritage. According to VSC President Robert Barnette, black veterans have made important contributions over the years to the military might of this country. Read the full statement. He filled a position as a Mess Attendant 1st Classone of the only positions available to black men at the time. Notably, the letter reduced the hours French spent swimming from six-eight to two. Brown noted that, with Frenchs name and photo attached to the Navy pool, his story will be told well into the future. 80 years later, Omaha hero who swam in shark-infested waters receives Navy honor. 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. The Navy and Marine Corps Medal, the highest award for heroism not in combat and the non-combat equivalent of the Navy Cross, had only been created by executive order a month before Frenchs actions. A pool used to train rescue swimmers at Naval Base San Diego also was named in Frenchs honor at the ceremony. Steve is the military affairs reporter for The World-Herald. Maybe they can stop naming warships after politicians and go back to naming them after actual heroes? While the sailors in the life raft were off the burning ship, they were still in deep trouble. He had first enlisted in the Navy in 1937 [1] and had completed his enlistment, moving to Omaha, Nebraska where he had family. Join now . The link to these posts is here. 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. Chester French, nephew of Charles Jackson French, shares remarks at the Hero of the Heartland event. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. 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. 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. Ensign Adrian fought for French to receive the Medal of Honor for his heroic rescue. 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. The wording of the letter follows. 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Bloomsbury presents Immortal Valor by Robert Child, read by Vaughn Johseph. 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. On September 5, 1942, U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French navigated through shark-infested waters with a rope around his waist, towing 15 wounded sailors to safety from. After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men were adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. 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. Teachers are pumped. It is a fact that the victors in battle or those in power in peace write the history of past events to support their views of what should have happened versus the cold hard facts. French, who moved to Omaha as a teen, first enlisted in the US Navy in 1937. A Change.org petition also was started Monday, urging Congress and President Joe Biden to posthumously award French the Medal of Honor. There is a campaign requesting a Congressional Medal of Honor is awarded to French. And while were at it can we please award Alwyn Cashes family his much deserved MOH.please. 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. He remembers meeting his uncle during World War II just after the famous rescue and being inspired to learn to swim. During his youth, he would often swim in the Red River and became quite adept at it. He disrobed and with assistance tied the tow rope around his waist and swam what is estimated to be six to eight hours. In her pitch, Thomas said, to politicians: If ever youve needed a moment that says, I can look past party and politics and everything else going on in the world, this is it. 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 . Perhaps it was that he wasnt considered to be in combat. He died in 1956, at age 37, of depression and alcoholism from untreated post-traumatic stress, family members say. Despite the fact that the Medal of Honor is extremely rare, it can be received twice. When Is The Best Time To Buy First Class Airline Tickets? He was a talented carpenter, a skilled handyman, and a master of DIY projects. To comment or make suggestions on future posts, use Contact Us. Correction: This story has been corrected to state that the bill passed by the Senate was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Don Bacon. The mess attended tied a rope around his waist and the boat and began the journey. I read about this on Facebook some time ago. 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. Jobs People Learning Dismiss Dismiss. French towed a raft loaded with his wounded shipmates through shark-infested waters to safety near Guadalcanal. The night that propelled Charles Jackson French into the role of hero was September 5, 1942, when enemy bombs sank the U.S.S. 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. 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. Charles Jackson French's draft registration card. 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The International Swimming Hall of Fame had this painting created of French, one of the most famous Black heroes of World War II. This meant that if there were family members they had to live in ghettos like the general public. I [just] froze and tried to surface and float, [get] my feet outta the water.. Or even going back to the 90s when a lot of this (blacks finally getting the awards they deserve) started to happen. Eric Ewing, executive director of the Great Plains Black History Museum, shares remarks at the Hero of the Heartland event. These sailors and soldiers were welcomed back to American soil with signs that pointed one way for Whites and the other way for Blacks. (H.R. Charles Jackson French was born in 1919 and grew up in Foreman, Arkansas. To see the posts, click here. He will be missed dearly by his family and friends. I say MOH. The rescued men angrily reacted to this decision, threatening a fight if it wasnt reversed. Enter your email address below to receive updates each time we publish new content. His heroism was recognized in popular culture, though. On September 4th of 1942, the USS Gregory found itself under attack from Japanese destroyers. 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. Frenchs story was soon told by the War Gum Trading Card Company. Keith Station, deputy chief of staff for diversity, equity, & inclusion for the City of Omaha, shares remarks at the Hero of the Heartland event. He enjoys sports, politics, comic books, and anything that has to do with history. 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. A little more than a week after Thomas first called the Senators office, Kaine wrote letters to President Joe Biden concerning Miller and French. Charles will be remembered fondly for his generous spirit, his kind and gentle nature, and the lasting impact he left on those he loved. 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. 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. Charles Jackson French with his sister, Viola, at a Creighton University football game on Oct. 31, 1942, at which he was honored. 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