charles jackson french medal of honor
It is not necessary to purchase the item in the link. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Todd Neikirk is a New Jersey-based politics, entertainment and history writer. The Virginia NAACP is anticipating their favorable response. He was responsible for the development and construction of hundreds of public works projects during his career. Generations of Sailors will train [at the pool] and never forget the values and legacy of such a brave American hero.. After the rescued ensign recounted the story to The Associated Press and on the radio, French became nationally known as the Human Tugboat. He received a heros welcome in his sisters hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. Now many feel that a letter of commendation for a heroic eight hour swim through sharks and enemy shell fire is not enough. A Black sailor swam against sharks to save his White shipmates. A pool used to train rescue swimmers at Naval Base San Diego also was named in Frenchs honor at the ceremony. He served two stints in the Navy. Racism preventing awarding a medal? I [just] froze and tried to surface and float, [get] my feet outta the water.. Aboard a lift raft with several other sailors and drifting towards enemy-held islands, French volunteered to tow the raft himself by swimming. Charles Jackson French, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully at the age of 77 on June 17th, 2020. He had been born on Sept. 25, 1919, in Foreman, Arkansas. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. He disrobed and with assistance tied the tow rope around his waist and swam what is estimated to be six to eight hours. We depend on your support and thank you for it! To see these posts, click this link, For Womens History Month 2022 we featured 31 amazing Black women we should all know. As promising as that sounded, that was the most dangerous place to be for fear that they would be captured and executed. 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. We receive a small royalty without cost to you. Eric Ewing, executive director of the Great Plains Black History Museum, shares remarks at the Hero of the Heartland event. The ships first class is the Petty Officer 1st Class. He was a mess steward, one of the few positions Black sailors were then allowed to fill in the military. Still, a letter of commendation is completely inadequate for what French did and I dont buy that this cant be considered combat. 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. 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. On Thursday, a billto rename the Benson postal facility at 6223 Maple St. the Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French Post Office cleared the Senate by a unanimous vote. Both Miller and French have been highly decorated for their service, but Thomas wants to see them awarded the top honor. Kind of sounds like it. U . 2022 State Convention | NAACP: The Urgency of Now, 2023 Virginia NAACP Legislative Priorities, Copyright 2023 If the latter, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal might have been the most apropos award. Soon after, a bill passed the Nebraska legislature to name an Omaha post office for him. Adrian also recommended him for a Navy Cross, the Navys second-highest award for valor, but he received only a letter of commendation. 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. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Don Bacon,cleared the House of Representatives in March. Messman Charles French became a hero to his shipmates after their destroyer USS Gregory (DD-82) was sunk by Imperial Japanese Navy ships on 5 September 1942. Award of a Medal of Honor would require congressional intervention, but award of a Navy Cross or a Navy and Marine Corps Medal would not. Will definitely agree that he earned a higher award than was given. Custer is the first soldier in US history to receive the militarys highest honor twice, as well as the first to do so twice. 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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. Ensign Robert Adrian realized that the currents were pulling the lifeboat back towards a Japanese-held island. Charles Jackson French died in 1956 and is buried in Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California. Summary of H.R.1251 - 118th Congress (2023-2024): To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller posthumously for acts of valor while a member of the Navy during World War II. He remembers meeting his uncle during World War II just after the famous rescue and being inspired to learn to swim. Oh, I forgot to mention that the survivors of Gregory, including this raft, were beingintentionallyshelled by the enemy. When Adrian told him that the swim would be arduous and the water was full of sharks, French responded that he was more afraid of the Japanese than he was of the sharks. Charles Jackson (MEng, DIS, MINCOSE) Expand search. He certainly earned a much higher award than he was given. This activity includes urging President Biden to posthumously confer the Medals of Honor on Doris Miller and Charles French.. He pulled off his clothes, had his shipmates help tie a rope around his waist, and dove into the water. I think I would lean toward Medal of Honor just based on what I read here, but Im sure the details would sway me one way or the other. This request was also forwarded to the National NAACP office asking for a resolution to be adopted. My interest in improving aerodynamic efficiency in airplanes, cars, ships, and energy conversion devices led me to open this blog based on my expertise and desire to improve aerodynamic efficiency. During the attack on the USS Gregory, a destroyer, he was aboard in 1943. 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. 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. 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. 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. Inaction has been a great injustice to the goodly Sergeants bravery and sacrifice, for him and his Troops. Did Charles Jackson French receive the Medal of Honor? 1 of 5. Inspiring Stories of Black History and Achievement. French was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal in recognition of his bravery and combat action. Roughly 15 survivors of the Gregory, some injured, were gathered in a life raft. French served aboard the USS Houston for four years before returning to Omaha. Dismiss. Bonus- The Story of Charles Jackson French. I got the hell scared outta me, French told Chester Wright, author of the 2009 book Black Men and Blue Water, in an interview after the Korean War. In March of 1942, French was assigned to the USS Gregory (APD-3). Japanese destroyers sank the ship he was on, the USS Gregory, in the South Pacific in September 1942. 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. We know of this story because of the courage demonstrated by Ensign Robert N Adrian, the only officer from the bridge of the Gregory to survive. 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. Im glad I waited til the evening to read this, its beer:30 hours at Fort Roh-Dog and this cold one is hoisted to the deeds of Messman Charles French. French became famous after his commander, Ensign Robert Adrian, told the story on a radio program broadcast across the country. James McBride, journalist, musician, and son, explores his mothers past, as well as his own upbringing and heritage, in a poignant and powerful debut, The Color of Water: A Black Mans Tribute to His White Mother. French swam against the current for between six and eight hours. French, who was manning the anti-aircraft guns, was killed in the ensuing explosion, making him one of the first casualties of the battle. 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. It will inspire generations of sailors, he said. 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. There is a campaign requesting a Congressional Medal of Honor is awarded to French. French volunteered to tow the raft to another island that was safer, however, these were shark infested waters and those on board the raft attempted to talk French out of the mission, but he believed that death by shark would at least be quick and merciful. 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 was born in 1919 and grew up in Foreman, Arkansas. The wording of the letter follows. A man who served and re-enlisted again when we entered World War II. He enjoys sports, politics, comic books, and anything that has to do with history. Gregory near the Solomon Islands. Perhaps racism played a role in French not receiving proper recognition. The award was presented during a ceremony in which a pool used for training Navy rescue swimmers at Naval Base San Diego was renamed in Frenchs honor. Proclamations naming the Benson post office in his uncle's honor are featured on easels in front of the stage. 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. The Navy dedicated a pool there to French. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. After tying him off, French swam through shark infested waters for 6-8 hours until an American landing craft found them. The French and five other brave sailors swam for up to eight hours to rescue all but eleven of the crew after they were stranded on the sea. On January 11, 1945, French was serving aboard the USS Bunker Hill, an aircraft carrier that was involved in the Battle of Okinawa. 1603) On June 20, 2022, President Biden signed it into law. I will note that the fact that its being discussed now would suggest that that same racism DOESNT exist today. That led to recognition during the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials held in Omaha in 2021. Mrs. Thomas requests the Medal of Honor for the following Black Veterans: More than 3500 Medals of Honor have been given out to date, according to the National Medal of Honor Museum, however, less than 100 of those recipients are African-American. But his story will be told during a ga, A Virginia woman is trying an unconventional approach to secure the Medal of Honor for two WWII heroes, including Charles Jackson French, who , The University of Nebraska at Omaha honored a long-unsung World War II hero once lauded as a human tugboat during a Black History Month even, Metropolitan Community College is seeking to take over a Marine Corps facility next to its Fort Omaha campus for future expansion.