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. I get the chance to remember the Share yesterday to connect today & preserve tomorrow, Copyright 1999-2023 AncientFaces, Inc. All Rights Reserved, ADVERTISEMENT we begin to Show & Tell who they were during particular moments in their lives. 0000190880 00000 n After a tense standoff, the others realized that the survivors meant business and backed down. Branch of service: Us Navy "Then French volunteered to swim the raft away from shore. He went into the service as a mess attendant, the only rate then available to . We have no information about Charles's family. He was serving as a mess man on the USS Gregory when it was sunk by Japanese forces near the Solomon Islands in September of 1942. a Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Please try again later. 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. HUKo0WEo@-0cmVbHJO40`~H#)QzU2:A./nnIyU$"b}V$9,%,L3SBC.F6k*\f0tJ-. Subject specific information for the media, Events or announcements of note for the media, An official website of the United States government. 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. Despite never completing college, Jackson had a passion for literature . 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. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. OMAHA, Neb. Charles Jackson French lived After the death of his parents, he lived with his older sister, Viola, in Omaha, Nebraska. (U.S. Navy) CITATION: PUBLIC DOMAIN BY U S NAVY. He is also recognized by the International Swimming Hall of Fame.Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French passed away on November 7th, 1956 at the age of 37. His bravery, heroism, and toughness are a testament to the best in mankind even when mankind isnt being its best. 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. French made public appearances after the rescue, including attending a Creighton University football game with his sister in 1942. 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. It was called the "Red Summer". 0000189006 00000 n John Henry Murphy Sr.; Slave. Previously right hand man to boss Johnny Torrio, Capone took over when Torrio was shot and severely injured and decided to resign. 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. Interview by . 0000190410 00000 n He is also recognized by the International Swimming Hall of Fame. 0000054932 00000 n He enlisted in the Navy shortly after turning 18. Mess Attendant 1st Class Charles Jackson French, known only at the time by his last name, was on Gregory that night. Its a shame that so many who served our country were left to face the mental and physical ailments war may bring in solitude. He asked for help to tie a rope around his waist and towed them to safety." Later that year Nebraskas three U.S. representatives, Don Bacon, Jeff Fortenberry, and Adrian Smith, co-sponsored H.R. This is the family of Charles Jackson French. 0000009327 00000 n Charles Jackson French of Foreman, Arkansas, became a national hero after the destroyer Gregory was sunk Sept. 5, 1942, by Japanese warships near Guadalcanal. *(*B)$wHHB3Mg 0000110718 00000 n 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. In 1956, in the year of Charles Jackson French's passing, on May 20th, the U.S. tested the first hydrogen bomb dropped from a plane over Bikini Atoll. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. The night was black as ink and a haze was obscuring any landmarks, so the crews of Gregory and her sister ship USS Little (APD 4) were patrolling the area between Savo Island and Guadalcanal. BlackPast.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373. Try again later. Charles Jackson French (Navy.mil) Charles French was born on September 25, 1919, in Foreman, Arkansas. 0000102129 00000 n Drag images here or select from your computer for Charles Jackson French memorial. For his actions, French received a letter of commendation from the commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet, Adm. William F. Bull Halsey. HUn0+B-Q[5PtU@$ Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. endstream endobj 265 0 obj <> endobj 266 0 obj [285 0 R] endobj 267 0 obj <>stream He was born in Arkansas on 25 September 1919. Charles Jackson French was a United States Navy sailor. French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. 18 February 2022. [2] 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. He served in the Navy, becoming a true war hero in 1942. He had first enlisted in the Navy in 1937 and had completed his enlistment, moving to Omaha, Nebraska where he had family. He was survived by his sister Viola. Pictured is Charles with his sister Viola during a public appearance at a football game in Omaha, Nebraska,1943. French, a United States Navy Messman, swam through shark-infested waters for six to eight hours on the night of September 5, 1942 pulling a raft of 15 surviving sailors with a rope around his . 0000003649 00000 n an outstanding biography' Max Hastings, Sunday Times The definitive biography of the greatest French statesman of mode We remember Charles Jackson French and commemorate his heroism and incredible swimming to celebrate Black History Month. The Chicago Defender named him Hero of the Year. This is a carousel with slides. Gregory was hit by Japanese naval fire in the South Pacific. 0000175553 00000 n The story, incredible. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. As the attacks continued and the ship began to sink, many Sailors suffered injuries. 0000005539 00000 n F. Baurer, the ships CO. 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. In the aftermath, French helped fifteen wounded survivors from the ship into a life raft. ), Interment Control Forms, 19281962. He moved from France to Thailand when he was 14. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. French would go on to earn the name The Human Tugboat and garner immense respect from his fellow military peers. 0000003092 00000 n French is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California. His father was an operator for Shell Chemical . 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. 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. Failed to remove flower. 0000125789 00000 n Despite his heroism, the ignorantly prejudiced United States all but ignored French. Charles Jackson was born in 1903 into a wholly dysfunctional family in Summit, New Jersey. "I knew that if we floated ashore we'd be taken as prisoners of war," he said. Abandon ship! Tension was heightened by the use by many companies of blacks as strikebreakers. His father skipped out on the family when he was 10 and the boy completed his elementary education in Newark, then began college at Syracuse University but abruptly quit. 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. The bill can now proceed to the Senate floor. Section N Site 490 P.o. More like this: New Study Surfaces Detailing Racial Discrimination in the Military, Filed Under: Military History Tagged With: Black military history, Charles Jackson French, Navy. French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. Adrian attempted to talk French into getting out of the shark-infested waters, but French responded that he was more afraid of the Japanese than he was of the sharks. 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. 0000125754 00000 n 0000008519 00000 n <<4EEFF01CF8009C438CF4B522CFC4463C>]/Prev 1234002/XRefStm 2222>> 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. After six months at sea, however, French would prove that he was much more than a bellhop seagoing . It was an act of bravery for which his shipmates thought Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French deserved the Medal of Honor. 233 E. Redwood Street Suite 600G Can You Name All 8 United States Uniformed Services? episode was complicated by the issuance of a posthumous Silver Star to Lt. Cdr.H. The crew of high-speed transport USS Gregory (APD 3) were returning from transferring a Marine Raider Battalion to Savo Island on the night of Sept. 4, 1942. Growing Up and Early Naval Days. Steward's Mate 1 st Class Charles Jackson French was sailing aboard the USS Gregory early on the morning of Sept. 5, 1942, when Japanese destroyers opened fire on the high-speed transport. 20072023 Blackpast.org. French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. Try again later. Previously, hydrogen bombs had only been tested on the ground. She flew over 2,000 miles in just under 15 hours. If ever there was a time for survival mode, its the middle of the night when youre injured and your ship is sinking into the ocean. H\n0Fy 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 With the attack on Pearl Harbour, French went to the closest recruitment office, and on 19 December 1941, re . He was buried in Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery 0000190335 00000 n Charles French was born on September 25, 1919, in Foreman, Arkansas. Many were wounded and killed. On September 5, 1942, United States Navy Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson Fr. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. [6][7] For this action, French received a letter of commendation from Adm. William F. Halsey Jr. in May 1943. 256 75 Search above to list available cemeteries. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. 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. ;P"f 0000005708 00000 n 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. 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. . The first is unexpected: on a leisurely ride in 1916, Jackson's older sister and younger brother are killed when a train strikes their car. Instead, the Navy sent him a nice letter. A Black man serving in the segregated armed forces, French was credited with saving wounded shipmates during WWII. Charles Jackson French was born in 1919 and grew up in Foreman, Arkansas. [Charles Jackson French's name might not be a household one, but he was once named the Hero of the Year by the Chicago Defender. Three Japanese destroyers Ydachi, Hatsuyuki, and Murakumo came into the Slot undetected to bombard American positions ashore. Learn more about managing a memorial . Ferdinand Mount, London Review of Books "Jackson's riveting biography of Charles de Gaulleportrays a divisive, self-contradictory but still legendary figure; the book also vividly profiles twentieth-century France from the disillusionment of the First World War to the dislocations of the 1960s." 0000184407 00000 n French was memorialized on War Gum trading cards and in a comic strip. 4168 to rename an Omaha post office for French. 0000004758 00000 n A small donation would help us keep this available to all. The story of Charles Jackson French's World War II valor was told and retold, especially in Black newspapers. The U.S. 0000005681 00000 n 330 0 obj <>stream French, who moved to Omaha as a teen, first enlisted in the US Navy in 1937. . Swimming until sunrise, French and the 15 Sailors on the raft he was towing were spotted by a scout aircraft. "Once Charles Jackson French was identified, he became a national hero. The award was presented on May 21, 2022, at Naval Base San Diego, at a ceremony in which the base's rescue swimmer training pool was dedicated in French's honor. A classic cotton tee emblazoned with the Wikipedia article on Charles Jackson French . 0000007046 00000 n Charles Jackson French was an American war hero from Foreman, Arkansas. 0000190535 00000 n Charles French was buried at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service. I swear, our ancestors were built different Military.com article Navy May Recognize Black WWII Sailor Who Towed Wounded Shipmates Through Shark-Infested Waters Charles Jackson French of Foreman, Arkansas, became a national hero after the destroyer Gregory was sunk Sept. 5, 1942, by. 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