French was lucky enough to escape without much harm and began gathering injured Sailors to put into a raft. 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. 0000003092 00000 n During World War II,[1] messmate French swam 68 hours in shark-infested waters near Guadalcanal while towing a life raft with 15 USSGregory(DD-82) survivors of an attack by the Japanese Imperial Navy. Washington, DC 20002, Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent, AFRO endorsements for the 2022 midterm elections, A time to dance: Rev. Box 6237, in San Diego, California 92166. Charles Jackson, one of the most successful failures in American letters, wished as fiercely as any writer for literary immortality. Similar read: Meet Frank Emi, a WWII Hero You Need To Know. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. z:RA" ERAZC@ Charles Jackson French has a story thats been forgotten in the pages of history. The leader of the Free French had arrived in Paris the previous evening, a day after his advancing . 1140 3rd St., 2nd Flr, NE 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. By the feat, French should have become the first black swimmer to earn the Navy Medal for his heroic feat in 1943, however, he was denied the Medal of Honor or Silver Star. H\n0Fy He also recounted the narrative on the NBC radio program, It Happened in the Service. Although Ensign Adrian received the Purple Heart for being wounded in action during the attack, French received a letter of commendation for meritorious conduct in action instead of a medal. Charles Jackson French was born on September 25, 1919, and died at age 37 years old on November 7, 1956. 0000110683 00000 n French was memorialized on War Gum trading cards, in syndicated comic strips, on calendars, and The Chicago Defender named him Hero of the Year. He served in the Navy, becoming a true war hero in 1942. He grew up as an orphan and enlisted in 1937. GREAT NEWS! Section N Site 490 P.o. 4168 to rename an Omaha post office for French. hbbg`b``3 & Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. (j/p> dO~"$3$i'FwKk9Evhr-R|(}@4rY$^'\h? He had first enlisted in the Navy in 1937 and had completed his enlistment, moving to Omaha, Nebraska where he had family. To use this feature, use a newer browser. His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service. O n 26 August 1944, General Charles de Gaulle took a high profile walk on the Champs-Elyses. Just tell me if Im going the right way, French said. BlackPast.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373. The U.S. Navy Ship the U.S.S. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. 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.. French was one of six Sailors who swam through the night and up to eight hours, rescuing all but 11 members of Gregorys crew. This browser does not support getting your location. 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. Charles Jackson French lived Introduction. 0000006232 00000 n The average age of 734 death records, 32 followers 14.9k+ favorites. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Section N Site 490, San Diego, California. 0000002222 00000 n Charles Jackson was born in 1903 into a wholly dysfunctional family in Summit, New Jersey. While the crews of Gregory and Little debated whether to engage the Japanese destroyers or depart quietly, a Navy pilot also spotted the flashes of fire. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Regardless of the region, at all the bases there were separate blood banks, hospitals or wards, medical staff, barracks and recreational facilities for Black soldiers. 4,972 birth records, View Friends can be as close as family. 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 . Try again later. However, as in the case of many other African-American war heroes, he would receive a lesser reward than anticipated. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? xref Charles Jackson French was born on 25 Sep 1919. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. Did Charles finish grade school, get a GED, go to high school, get a college degree or masters? Historian Julian Jackson, author of a major new biography of Charles de Gaulle, offers a fresh take on the iconic French leader, exploring his role in World War Two and decolonisation, among other things. This account has been disabled. [9], French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroic actions. Please reset your password. 233 E. Redwood Street Suite 600G Dozens of Americans were killed and many others wounded, including French. 4th of July 2022: Celebrating the Birth of Our Nation & Its Heroes, Military Appreciation Month 2022: Saluting Those Who Serve, Veterans Day 2022: Celebrating Those Whove Served, Meet Frank Emi, a WWII Hero You Need To Know, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the all-Black female 6888th Central Postal Battalion, demand a Congressional Medal of Honor for Petty Officer Charles Jackson French, New Study Surfaces Detailing Racial Discrimination in the Military, Here are 200 Remote Jobs for Veterans in 2023. He made his first comedy sketch "What I Would Love To Hear In Class" on February 6, 2016 . Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. recommended by Julian Jackson. 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. Once Charles Jackson French was identified, he became a national hero. We mourn with the loved ones who are in deep pain post hearing this death news.We request to kindly like and subscribe to our channel, so that in the future as well, we can provide the latest and accurate news at the earliest.In case you share some memories with Charles Jackson, and want the world to know about the same, you are requested to share them here.Please use the share icon to make this news accessible to more people. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Charles R. Jackson. the world learned more about the heroic swimmer. The pilot dispatched a Marine landing craft to pick them up. Just tell me if Im going the right way, French said as he began to tow the raft full of injured Sailors, according to a 1942 radio dramatization introducing Adrian to tell Frenchs story. endstream endobj 257 0 obj <>/Metadata 35 0 R/Pages 34 0 R/StructTreeRoot 37 0 R/Type/Catalog/ViewerPreferences<>>> endobj 258 0 obj <>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/TrimBox[0.0 0.0 612.0 792.0]/Type/Page>> endobj 259 0 obj <> endobj 260 0 obj <> endobj 261 0 obj <> endobj 262 0 obj <> endobj 263 0 obj <>stream Adrian told him it was impossible that he would only be giving himself up to the sharks that surrounded them "French responded that he was not afraid. Gregory, a destroyer training ship, when it was sunk by the Japanese navy near the Solomon Islands. 0000012998 00000 n Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. French was a black man born in Foreman, Arkansas, Sept. 25, 1919. Charles R. Jackson was born in Summit, New Jersey on April 6, 1903, the son of Frederick George and Sarah Williams Jackson. Charles Jackson French saved the lives 15 Sailorsall of them whiteby pulling them on a raft behind him as he swam for hours through shark-infested waters. 0000003773 00000 n Undoubtedly, there were other forms of racism and discrimination that also accompanied such treatment. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. He had first enlisted in the Navy in 1937[1] and had completed his enlistment, moving to Omaha, Nebraska where he had family. He appeared before enthusiastic crowds at French was memorialized on War Gum trading cards and in a comic strip. Black WW2 hero's story of pulling 15 men to safety through shark-infested waters gets a new audience. Her boilers had burst and her mess decks were aflame. French was the first black swimmer to earn the Navy Medal for his heroism in 1943.French's story first came to light when Robert N. Adrian a young ensign, told a reporter from the Associated Press about how Charles braved the Pacific Ocean to bring the men to safety.Ensign Adrian was the only one on the bridge to survive and floated over into the water as the ship sank below him. What happened next would take Navy Messman Charles Jackson French from the mess hall and into quiet adoration for his bravery. Posted by 1 year ago. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. The New York Stock Exchange, is an American stock exchange located at 11 Wall . But now through social media, the tale of Petty Officer Charles Jackson French is being shared to thousands of . French performed valiantly on September . The story of Charles Jackson French takes an interesting turn once he and his fellow survivors reached safety. HTo0~_G#C@*%imVMNcW/RgR};;ww_@o.@r"?%YDiA,~J6adlm8Q35:P/0|mc2?wW8m.Or \mz{.-GJ^{ In addition, Rep. Bacon, a retired Air Force brigadier general, has petitioned the navy, asking for French to be considered for a posthumous medal of honor. Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. The name of Charles Jackson French resurfaced in 2009, when his story was part of an exhibit on Black Swimming History at the International Swimming Hall of Fame, in Fort Lauderdale. On September 5, 1942, United States Navy Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French, of Omaha Nebraska, 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 USS Gregory was hit by Japanese naval fire near Guadalcanal. 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. He had first enlisted in the navy in 1937[1] and had completed his enlistment, moving to Omaha, Nebraska where he had family. Charles "Chuck" French passed away April 21, 2021, at the age of 74. Attacked by the Japanese in the South Pacific. Failed to remove flower. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. A small donation would help us keep this available to all. 0000003649 00000 n Charles Jackson French was born Sept. 25, 1919, in Foreman, Ark., and moved to Omaha to live with a sister after their parents died. Charles Jackson French was born in 1919 and grew up in Foreman, Arkansas. r\a W+ French is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California. TIL about Navy Seaman Charles Jackson French who, after his ship the USS Gregory was sunk in WWII, swam for 6-8 hours towing a raft of 15 survivors through shark-infested waters. charles jackson french swam 6-8 hours in 1942nd a saved 15 of his crewmates and died in 1956. Help us Continue to tell OUR Story and join the AFRO family as a member subscribers are now members! John Henry Murphy Sr.; Slave. Learn more about managing a memorial . I thought you might like to see a memorial for Charles Jackson French I found on Findagrave.com. 4=yDZ &yK[ #x+T.$P"> Ty\I @44mP_dFI+ By: Aaron Sanderford - September 9, 2022 3:25 pm. Add Charles' family friends, and his friends from childhood through adulthood. After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men were adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. On September 5, 1942, United States Navy Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French, of Omaha Nebraska, 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 USS Gregory was hit by Japanese naval fire near Guadalcanal. 0000190410 00000 n Previously, hydrogen bombs had only been tested on the ground. French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. Learn more about merges. Writer: The Lost Weekend. Resend Activation Email. As noted at history.com, the 1.2 million African Americans who served in World War II fought for democracy overseas while being treated as second-class citizens by their own country. At 1 a.m., the Japanese opened fire. zH#mAqtI 0000184779 00000 n The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland. Since 2018 there has been renewed interest in recognizing Charles Frenchs heroism more appropriately. Charles Jackson French. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. He asked for help to tie a rope around his waist and towed them to safety." Sorry! ;P"f (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. 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. During Frenchs time in the military, segregation was still an issue he faced. African American History: Research Guides & Websites, Global African History: Research Guides & Websites, African American Scientists and Technicians of the Manhattan Project, Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors, https://omaha.com/news/local/history/back-in-the-day-oct-30-1942-omahas-hero-of-the-solomon-islands-returns-home/article_ef06042c-2788-11ec-a5e1-4b1dd928d8f4.html, https://omaha.com/news/local/nebraska-reps-seek-to-name-benson-post-office-for-black-omaha-wwii-hero/article_66699ca0-d8ff-11eb-aee6-474cdd1763ba.htm, https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/memorial-day-rewind-the-forgotten-hero-of-wwii/, Foundation, Organization, and Corporate Supporters. Exchange located at 11 Wall without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft adulthood. 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