Author and Navy veteran Malcolm Nance got the services attention Sunday when he tagged several official accounts in a Twitter post about French. French was memorialized on War gum trading cards and in a comic strip. This whole story violates the laws of physics. 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 . He quickly went to work pulling other sailors aboard with him. I like TOWs suggestion too. You must know this HERO Charles Jackson French, Charles Jackson French survived the destruction of the USS Gregory and then swam for hours dragging a life raft full of his shipmates through Shark infested waters. French was an African American serving at a time when prejudice and discrimination were ever-present in our Armed Forces and society, said Capt. The event was held as part of events hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs in observance of Black History Month. The Southern.Life is a publication of Emerson Parker Press, which is owned and operated by Jim Harris and his wife, Marian. He had first enlisted in the Navy in 1937 [1] and had completed his enlistment, moving to Omaha, Nebraska where he had family. Ensign Robert Adrian realized that the currents were pulling the lifeboat back towards a Japanese-held island. Phone: 402-444-1186. Maybe they can stop naming warships after politicians and go back to naming them after actual heroes? I was happy to see that, as an American Black man, (French) got recognized.. In cases where you shop at Amazon for example you are encouraged to use our links anytime you shop there. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Charles Jackson French with his sister, Viola, at a Creighton University football game on Oct. 31, 1942, at which he was honored. Charles Jackson French with his sister, Viola, at a Creighton University football game on Oct. 31, 1942, at which he was honored. Virginia NAACP President Robert Barnette was pleased to have his Executive Committee give its unanimous support to Mrs. Thomas effort. This activity includes urging President Biden to posthumously confer the Medals of Honor on Doris Miller and Charles French.. The omission remained on the record for more than four decades. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. 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. The event, held Feb. 9, 2023 in UNOs Milo Bail Student Center, honored Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French for his tremendous bravery and efforts in World War II. Dismiss. 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. Charles Jackson French was an incredible pioneer in the field of civil engineering. Both Miller and French have been highly decorated for their service, but Thomas wants to see them awarded the top honor. The publication for writers and readers to create and read amazing content, Actress, Stage playwright, Author, Motivational Speaker, Teacher Fitness Coach. He was celebrated in the Black press and was even the subject of a syndicated comic strip. He died in 1956, at age 37, of depression and alcoholism from untreated post-traumatic stress, family members say. 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. The award was presented on May 21, 2022, at Naval Base San Diego, at a ceremony in which the bases rescue swimmer training pool was dedicated in his honor. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. 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. 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. Gregory near the Solomon Islands. I was elated, said Chester French Jr. of Omaha, Charles nephew, who attended along with several other French family members. 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. Im proud we could come together to recognize his legacy of service and sacrifice.. Ted Carlson, commander of Naval Base San Diego. Adrian also recommended him for a Navy Cross, the Navys second-highest award for valor, but he received only a letter of commendation. Instead, the Navy only issued a letter of commendation. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Yeah, I know, not with this illegitimate regime in place. This meant that if there were family members they had to live in ghettos like the general public. French like so many Black men believed that if they showed they were willing to fight for the country that the country would show them and people of their race some gratitude and equality only to return to the same situation they were fighting against. Rear Adm. Charles Brown presented eight of French's relatives with a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal on May 21 in San Diego. A BILL TO NAME A U.S. POST OFCEFI JUST PAST THE U.S. SENATE. French, who moved to Omaha as a teen, first enlisted in the US Navy in 1937. His innovative methods of construction and design, along with his exceptional organizational skills, made him a highly sought-after engineer across the United States. We also posted a 5 part mini-series on the 100th anniversary of one of the most horrific massacres in the history of America. French was also the only African American to appear on World War II patriotic trading cards issued by GUM, Inc. Join now . 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. You are now armed with knowledge, but for a deeper dive, continue to scroll down and watch amazing videos of French and books to allow for greater understanding. When bombs sank the. Charles Jackson French was an American war hero from Foreman, Arkansas. Inspiring Stories of Black History and Achievement. French was the first black swimmer to earn the Navy Medal for his heroism in 1943. I will note that the fact that its being discussed now would suggest that that same racism DOESNT exist today. German prisoners of war were allowed to ride with White soldiers while the Black fighters were relegated to open, drafty, smelly cattle cars. French was born in Arkansas in 1919, but moved to Omaha as a youth to live with his married older sister, Viola. French, a strong swimmer since youth, volunteered to swim the boat away from the Japanese island. I read about this on Facebook some time ago. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Don Bacon,cleared the House of Representatives in March. The Virginia NAACP is focused on being the preeminent voice of Black Virginians and advocating for policies and programs to benefit Blacks and people of color. Schomburg dedicated his life to proving that teacher wrong and Schomburg did an amazing job with his collection. The actions of the French will never be forgotten, as will their ultimate sacrifice. The gunfire hit two of the ships boilers and the Gregory was set ablaze by the fire. You can use a link to tennis shoes to buy a refrigerator or anything else. 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. Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French was an American hero who gave his life in service of his country. USA Swimming honored him at the finals of the 2021 Swim Trials in June. After the death of his parents, he lived with an older sister, Viola, in Omaha, Nebraska. 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 bravery that he demonstrated serves as a reminder of the sacrifices that can be made at any age. The waters were shark-infested. (H.R. Charles Jackson French, an African American orphan, and championship-caliber swimmer navigated shark infested waters for about eight hours during. We depend on your support and thank you for it! Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday said in a statement: The story of Charles Jackson French needs to be told and shared for generations to come. On January 11, 1945, French was serving aboard the USS Bunker Hill, an aircraft carrier that was involved in the Battle of Okinawa. 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. Born in a small town in California, Charles was a man of many talents. Aside: f*ck sharks. It only took 3 minutes for the ship to sink. To see the posts, click here. BZ PO1 French! A letter of commendation? 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. You gotta be kidding me. This petition starter stood up and took action. Charles French was born on September 25, 1919, in Foreman, Arkansas. This man did as much if not more than a medic often does to save 15 of his comrades from capture, while being actively shelled, in shark infested waters. He was recognized locally in September 2022 with the renaming of a Benson post office in his honor. He was 37 years old when he died on November 7, 1956, in San Diego, California. 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. I [just] froze and tried to surface and float, [get] my feet outta the water.. He certainly earned a much higher award than he was given. Willie was only 11 years old when he received the Medal of Honor during the Civil War, and he was awarded it shortly after his 13th birthday. sliewer@owh.com; twitter.com/Steve Liewer. Itwould ef. The first was an enlistment was in 1937 when he served four years before receiving an honorable discharge in 1941. To comment or make suggestions on future posts, use Contact Us. We remember Charles Jackson French, winner of the Navy medal, who swam through the Pacific after his vessel sunk in WWII. The International Swimming Hall of Fame had this painting created of French, one of the most famous Black heroes of World War II. You can cancel at any time. 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. Todd Neikirk is a New Jersey-based politics, entertainment and history writer. That inquiry helped bring about last weeks award ceremony. Information from ISHOF, military.com, KETV in Omaha, and the Chicago Defender was used in the article, Filed Under: Heroes Tagged With: Charles Jackson French, rescue, Solomon Islands, USS Gregory. His wife, Linda, called the event just awesome., It makes you want to cry, she said. For Black History Month 2022 we focused on Health and Wellness in the Black Community. But French said he wasnt afraid. This is the story of Charles Jackson French, who rescued several soldiers during the Battle of Guadalcanal. The ships first class is the Petty Officer 1st Class. 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. . You can try refreshing the page, and if you're still having problems, just try again later. Use our links to Amazon anytime you shop Amazon. Charles Jackson French is what makes America great. 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. French received no medal, only a letter of commendation. Required fields are marked *. French towed a raft loaded with his wounded shipmates. On November 7, 1956, in San Diego, California, Charles Jackson French, 37 at the time, died. Now many feel that a letter of commendation for a heroic eight hour swim through sharks and enemy shell fire is not enough. This to the scientific notationed! We see many examples of prisoners of war being treated with greater dignity than soldiers wearing American uniforms after suffering injuries, physical, emotional, mental, and even watched death. French was memorialized on War gum trading cards and in a comic strip. 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. Its a story of the best of who we are.. After tying him off, French swam through shark infested waters for 6-8 hours until an American landing craft found them. Organizations such as the National Coalition of Black Veteran Organizations have also shown their support. Will definitely agree that he earned a higher award than was given. A Black sailor swam against sharks to save his White shipmates. French saved. Charles Jackson French, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully at the age of 77 on June 17th, 2020. A man discriminated against by the country that he loved, was willing to put his life on the line for. A Change.org petition also was started Monday, urging Congress and President Joe Biden to posthumously award French the Medal of Honor. Ted Carlson, commander of Naval Base San Diego, which makes this recognition of Charles (Jackson) Frenchs heroic actions even more significant.. He also had a passion for gardening and was an avid reader. French would go on to earn the name "The Human Tugboat" and garner immense respect from his fellow military peers. As a result, he is an inspiring example of the bravery and commitment of our youth. Did Charles Jackson French receive the Medal of Honor? Hundreds of Blacks were slaughtered and 10,000 left homeless in this largely unknown event. 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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. USA Swimming presented him with a gold medal for winning the gold medal in the mens 8 meter swimming event at the Olympic swimming trials in Omaha in June 2021. No medal. 1603) On June 20, 2022, President Biden signed it into law. 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. . After he began swimming, he soon encountered sharks. A world class collection of Black History inspired by a 5th grade teacher who told Arturo Schomburg that there was NO African history. Thats a portrait of a hero. Several San Diego Navy leaders spoke. Navy officials escorted members of Frenchs family to his gravesite at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, on San Diegos Point Loma peninsula. {{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? Rear Adm. Charles Brown presents a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Chester French Jr. of Omaha, nephew of Mess Attendant 1st Class Charles Jackson French, and Chesters wife, Linda, on May 21 in San Diego. 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. www.epmcknight.wixsite.epfitspiration Follow me: Tiktok, imdb.me/epmcknight. As the 10th State Command Chief Master Sergeant of the Virginia Air National Guard, I take great personal pride in supporting French and Millers application for the Medal of Honor. I find it hard to believe that the Admiral would sign a letter of commendation that said that and thought it was the right award, if race did not play a part. The Navy dedicated a pool there to French. 80 years later, Omaha hero who swam in shark-infested waters receives Navy honor. 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. If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it. 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. But after his parents died, he moved to. 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. Proclamations naming the Benson post office in his uncle's honor are featured on easels in front of the stage. Japanese destroyers sank the ship he was on, the USS Gregory, in the South Pacific in September 1942. I know that lots of guys missed out on medals for one reason or another, but for him to be recognized at the time for risking life (from nature) to avoid having his companions killed by direct action or by being taken prisoner of the Japanese and to just get a letter seems more than just an over-site. The ensign told French the plan was crazy, that they were surrounded by sharks and he would only get himself killed. His story was largely forgotten until Bruce Wigo, a former director of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, unearthed it several years ago. U.S. Navy Capt. Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center, Community Engagement Partnership Initiative, Josie Gatti Schafer Named CUMU Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Research Fellow, #NUforNE: Keeping Nebraska Communities Healthy, Social Mobility, Experiential Learning Focus of Interview with UNO Chancellor Li, University of Nebraska Omaha, During this time, the military followed the segregation laws that were prevalent in the nation. Follow him on Twitter @SteveLiewer. Inaction has been a great injustice to the goodly Sergeants bravery and sacrifice, for him and his Troops. Dismiss. When the sailors were rescued, the Master at Arms attempted to separate French from the men he had just saved. 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. The Color of Water: A Black Mans Tribute to His White Mother. The Omaha World-Herald reported that Frenchs story was brought back to prominence through a social media post by the International Swimming Hall of Fame. Despite the fact that the Medal of Honor is extremely rare, it can be received twice. Charles Jackson French saved 15 men from the USS Gregory in September of 1942. His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service. He re-enlisted after Pearl Harbor where he was assigned to be a mess attendant. Correction: This story has been corrected to state that the bill passed by the Senate was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Don Bacon. Their orders were to man a curtain of armed balloons meant to deter enemy aircraft. Omaha, NE, 68182. All DragonDen media is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. It seems a travesty that he never received a medal after such a courageous single-handed act of bravery saving 15 men. The information that we present to everyone is extremely important, and a small donation can help us keep it that way. His work has been featured in psfk.com, foxsports.com, politicususa.com and hillreporter.com. Note: when French was in the Navy, it was not permitted for there to be Blacks and Whites in the water at the same time. During the attack on the USS Gregory, a destroyer, he was aboard in 1943. 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. The publication for writers and readers to create and read amazing content, Actress, Stage playwright, Author, Motivational Speaker, Teacher Fitness Coach. These sailors and soldiers were welcomed back to American soil with signs that pointed one way for Whites and the other way for Blacks. 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. Copyrighted content researched and produced by DragonDen Productions ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. If the Navy and Marine Corps Medal is appropriate for Frenchs action, and by any objective measure it would be, then he ought to get the Navy Cross of MOH. To see these posts, click this link, For Womens History Month 2022 we featured 31 amazing Black women we should all know. The server is misbehaving. Miller received the Navy Cross (the second-highest award for combat valor) and Bell received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal (the highest award for noncombat heroism). He went into the service as a mess attendant, the only rate then available to a Black man. Calls to recognize black WWII hero shed light on feat of heroism, Omaha-native Charles Jackson French is credited with saving his entire crew while serving in the U.S. Navy. To see this mini-series, click here. He told the story frequently to family and tried for the rest of his life to get Charles Jackson French, the mess attendant, who was from Omaha, the valor award he was denied during the war. He enjoys sports, politics, comic books, and anything that has to do with history. 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. French was hailed as the hero of the Solomons and the Human Tugboat for his daring rescue of the Pacific during World War II.
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