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LC` After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men were adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. Not many people can say they have swam for 6-8 hours straight while tugging a raft full of 24 wounded men away from Japanese capture and through shark infested waters to safety, but Charles Jackson French can. A few months after his 18th birthday, French joined the Navy as a Mess Attendant one of the only positions open to black men at the time. 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. Chuck was born February 15, 1947 in Waco to Charlie and Dottie French. "Then French volunteered to swim the raft away from shore. 0000010730 00000 n
Halsey was then commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet. [9], French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroic actions. Charles Jackson French was a United States Navy sailor. Pictured is Charles with his sister Viola during a public appearance at a football game in Omaha, Nebraska,1943. HTo0~_G#C@*%imVMNcW/RgR};;ww_@o.@r"?%YDiA,~J6adlm8Q35:P/0|mc2?wW8m.Or
\mz{.-GJ^{ As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Charles Jackson French has a story thats been forgotten in the pages of history. AncientFaces is a place where our memories live. In addition to the War Gum trading card, his story was told in syndicated comic strips, on calendars and he made public appearances across the country to promote the sale of War Bonds. 0000003092 00000 n
This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Mini Bio (1) Charles Jackson was born in 1903 into a wholly dysfunctional family in Summit, New Jersey. 0000012928 00000 n
French was the first black swimmer to earn the Navy Medal for his heroism in 1943. . 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. Charles Jackson French, a Black sailor in World War II, may soon be recognized by the Navy for rescuing 15 men after Japanese soldiers sunk their ship. His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service.. endstream
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French was memorialized on War Gum trading cards, in syndicated comic strips, on calendars, and The Chicago Defender named him Hero of the Year. French would go on to earn the name The Human Tugboat and garner immense respect from his fellow military peers. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. The Navy plans to dedicate a rescue swimming training pool in May 2022 at Naval Base San Diego to French in honor of his heroic actions during the Battle of Guadalcanal. Later that year Nebraskas three U.S. representatives, Don Bacon, Jeff Fortenberry, and Adrian Smith, co-sponsored H.R. 0000193082 00000 n
Jackson received his M.D. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Charles Jackson French (September 25, 1919 - November 7, 1956) was a United States Navy sailor. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/72213738/charles-jackson-french. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. At 1 a.m., the Japanese opened fire. %PDF-1.4
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Please reset your password. Men who were returning from World War I needed jobs and there was competition for those jobs among the races. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. WASHINGTON, D.C. - Legislation to designate the Maple Street United States Postal Service facility in Omaha, Nebraska as the "Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French Post Office" passed out of the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee today. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Fellow troops tried to talk him out of the desperate move, to take cover and escape the shark-infested waters, but French wouldnt listen. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Charles French (72213738)? HUn0+B-Q[5PtU@$ What is Charles' ethnicity and where did his parents, grandparents & great-grandparents come from? 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. [6] Adm. Halsey was then commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet. The story of a Black Navy vet who saved 15 of his crewmates during World War II was only known among a few families for many years. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. He had first enlisted in the navy in 1937 and had completed his enlistment, moving to Omaha, Nebraska where he had family. i6
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He is also recognized by the International Swimming Hall of Fame. French was a black man born in Foreman, Arkansas, Sept. 25, 1919. Thats an error: NYC road sign is spelled Jakie Robinson, The end of Black History Month and our challenge, Local Publishers, Deloitte to Create Business Content for Diverse Audiences, Congressman Kweisi Mfume Introduces Legislation to Commemorate African American World War II Hero Doris Miller, Towson University is trying to get ahead of the lure of sports betting, Buzzy sports betting posts appeal to Gen Z social media audience, On game day, sports betting is the new normal for some Colorado fans, Remembering Louis Sylvester Diggs, the Baltimore County historian, We Earn Our Stripes: a song for Black Americans who serve, Morgan State and Howard University among 13 institutions to receive bobbleheads in first-ever HBCU Series, Pfizer partners with communities nationwide to raise awareness of ATTR-CM, an underdiagnosed cause of heart failure among Black and Afro-Caribbean communities, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. 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. 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. Charles Jackson French (September 25, 1919 - November 7, 1956) was a United States Navy sailor. During his youth, he would often swim in the Red River and became quite adept at it. Refresh this page to see various historical events that occurred during Charles' lifetime. endstream
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The 22-year-old saved the lives of 15 sailors . the world learned more about the heroic swimmer. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. GET LOCAL BREAKING NEWS ALERTS In the aftermath, French helped fifteen wounded survivors from the ship into a life raft. BlackPast.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373. Charles Jackson French passed away on November 7, 1956 at age 37. [8] 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. It was Ensign Robert N. Adrian, the only officer from the bridge of the Gregory to survive, who told an Associated Press reporter about the rescue. This is the family of Charles Jackson French. Dozens of Americans were killed and many others wounded, including French. 0000007046 00000 n
F. Baurer, the ships CO. It was called the "Red Summer". Archived. He had first enlisted in the Navy in 1937 and had completed his enlistment, moving to Omaha, Nebraska where he had family. Charles French was buried at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? When you share, or just show that you care, the heart Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Foreman, Little River County, Arkansas, USA, San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA. A few months after his 18th birthday, French joined the Navy as a Mess Attendant one of the only positions open to black men at the time. 0000110559 00000 n
[2] His family moved to Newark, New York in 1907, and nine years later his older sister, Thelma, and younger brother, Richard, were killed while riding in a car that was struck by an express train. It sold half a million copies in the first six months. Of the many acts of bravery among the men of Gregory during its final battle (including the mortally wounded skipper ordering his crew to abandon him and help other . Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Weve updated the security on the site. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. French was an unassuming 58 and 195 pounds when Navy Ensign Robert Adrian, with injuries in his legs and blast fragments in his eyes, regained consciousness and saw French swimming around and gathering injured shipmates to pile onto a raft. Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 17741985, Record Group 92. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. He moved from France to Thailand when he was 14. And white soldiers and local white residents routinely slurred and harassed them.. 0000125638 00000 n
Washington, DC -On Friday, Rep. Don Bacon (NE - 02) and Reps. Jeff Fortenberry (NE-01) and Adrian Smith (NE-03) introduced H.R. recommended by Julian Jackson. 4,972 birth records, View Sorry! 0000189493 00000 n
French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. [3], French was an orphan from Foreman, Arkansas[4] who learned to swim in the Red River at the age of eight.[5]. 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.. Mess Attendant 1st Class Charles Jackson French, known only at the time by his last name, was on Gregory that night. His bravery, heroism, and toughness are a testament to the best in mankind even when mankind isnt being its best. m1zQ+Q=,m ZpS#Ar4HB|jP;eKKFZIz
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He swam between six and eight hours in shark-infested water before being rescued by marines in a navy landing craft. A SUNDAY TIMES , THE TIMES, DAILY TELEGRAPH, NEW STATESMAN, SPECTATOR, FINANCIAL TIMES, TLS BOOK OF THE YEAR 'Masterly . The Biography piece is collaborative, where we work together to present the facts. He was survived by his sister Viola. 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. Gregory, a destroyer training ship, when it was sunk by the Japanese navy near the Solomon Islands. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Did Charles finish grade school, get a GED, go to high school, get a college degree or masters? Charles Jackson French was born Sept. 25, 1919, in Foreman, Ark., and moved to Omaha to live with a sister after their parents died. r\a W+Y f%`VY f%`V Little did he know that three weeks before his 23rd birthday, French would become a Navy hero. Thirteen-year-old Charlie is spared . Growing Up and Early Naval Days. Black WW2 hero's story of pulling 15 men to safety through shark-infested waters gets a new audience. Charles Jackson French (September 25, 1919 November 7, 1956) was a United States Navy sailor. He was born on September 25, 1919. 0000010538 00000 n
The story of Charles Jackson French's valor was told in newspapers, on radio dramas, in comics, in World War II calendars and on this bubble gum card. I think Charles Jackson French's story of rescue is one of the most amazing I have ever read, and I never heard of him prior to today, March 5, 2021. Along with Doris Dorie Miller, who received the Navy Cross for valor during the attack on the fleet at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, French was one of the most celebrated Black sailors during the war. Listen to Julian Jackson discuss Charles de Gaulle on the Bloomberg.com podcast Surveillance [at 33:20] Listen to Professor Jackson discuss de Gaulle on ABC Radio National's Between the Lines; At The Good Men Project, read Jackson on whether Emmanuel Macron might be the man to help the French people escape the long shadow of General de Gaulle 0000000016 00000 n
Taking care of the military personnel that keeps us free has come a long way, and theres still a way to go, but after returning from WWII, history loses track of French. French successfully brought the men to safety on the shores of the Solomon Islands. Rank attained: STEWARDS MATE 1/C 0000104051 00000 n
Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. 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). 0000008519 00000 n
You can always change this later in your Account settings. Charles Jackson French was born on 25 Sep 1919. He gave his country two decades of prosperity under a stable, authoritarian government but . HTM0+|] r7CJ1qh,ofo!l22}4go5 %Y,VkWdV0Rl'GDD+"A[*qMQV.:7yj~UO8z"a)/AW_zwU(:eE>W0T x'?CsJEJ0B~|!Sed8y%>%lI8 ~f0&Y|q`e'Z3%>UJ+0Q,Oi6Z?pQYCGUw } X:jSlS8*%Qs&@SFCe1j;A*dr|JWx@!66mNs/&GAxy2 c3q:m ;">7 He later received the Navy Cross. Friends can be as close as family. He was a powerful swimmer, and swam all night, 6 to 8 hours, until they were eventually saved by a landing craft. STEWARDS MATE 1/C US NAVY WORLD WAR II 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. Forego a bottle of soda and donate its cost to us for the information you just learned, and feel good about helping to make it available to everyone. He served his four years in the Navy working the mess decks of Hawaii-based heavy cruiser USS Houston (CA-30) and returned home to Nebraska in 1941. 0000176236 00000 n
Charles Jackson French was 10 years old when The New York Stock Exchange crashes in what will be called the Crash of '29 or "Black Tuesday", ending the Great Bull Market of the 1920s and beginning the Great Depression. 0000164084 00000 n
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