endstream endobj 265 0 obj <> endobj 266 0 obj [285 0 R] endobj 267 0 obj <>stream September 8, 2022 In "International" June 27, 2018 In "Education" ancestry.com, "Chicago Defender Interviews Navy Hero on Rescues," (Chicago), Black Swimming History: Forgotten Hero of WWII, https://ishof.org/assets/charles-jackson-french_article.pdf, "How Charles French swam eight hours in shark waters to save 15 U.S sailors in WWII", "Navy Dedicates Rescue Swimmer Training Pool and Presents Posthumous Award to WWII Hero's Family", "Remembering a Forgotten World War II Hero", "Omaha post office to be renamed in honor of local World War II hero", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Charles_Jackson_French&oldid=1116036338, This page was last edited on 14 October 2022, at 13:20. For six to eight hours, he tugged a raft filled with injured sailors behind him, pulling them to safety. HUn0+B-Q[5PtU@$ 0000000016 00000 n Charles Jackson French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Just before 1 a.m. on the morning of Sept. 5, the two ships saw flashes of gunfire. 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. ;P"f Charles VII, byname Charles The Well-served, orThe Victorious, French Charles Le Bien-servi, orLe Victorieux, (born Feb. 22, 1403, Parisdied July 22, 1461, Mehun-sur-Yvre, Fr. All Rights Reserved. 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. French would go on to earn the name The Human Tugboat and garner immense respect from his fellow military peers. A Black man serving in the segregated armed forces, French was credited with saving wounded shipmates during WWII. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). French saved the lives of 15 of his shipmates by swimming through shark-infested waters near the Solomon Islands. Charles Jackson French Obituary. 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. Oops, we were unable to send the email. GREAT NEWS! For the next six to eight hours, French tirelessly swam as sharks got so close that they sometimes brushed against his legs. Charles French was born on September 25, 1919, in Foreman, Arkansas. 0000055359 00000 n While we may never hope to be in such a perilous situation, life will inevitably throw uncomfortable situations our way. French may have been denied the medal because a Silver Star was awarded to one of his superiors and it was unprecedented to award a higher medal to a subordinate. Battle of the Bulge a group of white soldiers were captured and the Germans shot them. In life, French wasnt honored like he deserved. 0000184407 00000 n In 1956, French died in San Diego at age 37, outlets report . 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. Charles Jackson French, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully at the age of 77 on June 17th, 2020. Family members linked to this person will appear here. based on information from your browser. "Once Charles Jackson French was identified, he became a national hero. 0000005539 00000 n 0000102129 00000 n It didnt stop the Foreman, Ark., native and avid swimmer since the age of 8, from tying a rope around his waist, jumping into the waters and defying the multitude of sharks that hungrily searched for prey. French was assigned to the mess (kitchen) as an attendant. Charles Jackson French, an African-American orphan, and championship-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. She graduated from Oberlin College, where she earned a double degree in American History and French. 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. Francis II was born in 1544. Charles ascended to the English throne in 1625 following the death of his father, King James I. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. A long-time heavy smoker, Jackson suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 20072023 Blackpast.org. French has been honored in other ways, too. Charles Jackson French (Find a Grave Memorial) After his military service, French suffered from alcoholism and depression. Einhard, a Frankish scholar and contemporary of Charlemagne, wrote a biography of the emperor after his death. "I knew that if we floated ashore we'd be taken as prisoners of war," he said. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. He was only 37 years old. (U.S. Navy) 27 Apr 2021 Military.com | By Stephen Losey #wzCa3H'HnmBfOhS9A^dexl(wu%pp; /[GL] E$ * And by the time he was 18, French decided to strike out on his own and enlist in the U.S. Navy. C harles Jackson French was born on September 25, 1919 and died November 7 1956. Still, the man that we know and remember is one whos a testament to doing the right thing even when its not easy and putting others before yourself. 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, according to Adrian, replied: Just keep telling me if Im goin the right way.. Baltimore, MD 21202, Washington, DC Office [3], French was an orphan from Foreman, Arkansas[4] who learned to swim in the Red River at the age of eight.[5]. He said that he was more afraid of the Japanese shooting at him than the sharks, and he continued on his way. On the night of September 5, 1942, French was on board the U.S.S. On Tuesday, Melinda Shankar, who played French's girlfriend in the show . The story, incredible. 0000125243 00000 n This video talks about the death news of Charles Jackson French who passed away many years ago.With deep heart we remember Charles Jackson French, an American war hero from Foreman, Arkansas, who died on 7 November 1956. He was a Black World War II hero. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. A depiction of French's heroic actions was included in the WWII Commemorative Card Set produced by Gum Inc., based in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Heroism is the dazzling and glori-ous concentration of courage, ' ' says Henri-Frederick Amiel, Nineteenth Century Swiss poet and philoso-pher. zP|CY`oRHw`)UV\[|d/X3"{JrX1}qI_ji7`;LZ2[!x7)X+f$'^"#au"jJm&?i+ Charles French (and family) *Charles Jackson French was born on this date in 1919. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. 0000005681 00000 n Charles Jackson French was a Navy Mess Specialist 1st Class Petty Officer the night the USS Gregory (APD 3) was sunk by Japanese destroyers during the Battle of Guadalcanal. Try again later. He was survived by his sister Viola. 0000106326 00000 n Oops, something didn't work. The ship was severely damaged after only minutes and began to sink into the shark-infested waters. In addition to the War Gum trading card, his story was told in syndicated comic strips, on calendars and he made. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. [6] Adm. Halsey was then commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet. The Little-Known Story Of World War II Hero Charles Jackson French And The 15 Sailors He Saved. There is no real piety without heroism. English Charles Jackson French was a Navy Mess Specialist 1st Class Petty Officer the night the USS Gregory (APD 3) was sunk by Japanese destroyers during the Battle of Guadalcanal. On September 5, 1942, USS Gregory was hit by Japanese naval fire near Guadalcanal and sank. He who had been looked down upon as a caste man, frozen in status, suddenly was looked up to as a SAVIOUR.. With Adrian amongst the rescued Sailors on board the raft, French started to tie a rope around his waist. HUmo0/Fj'C&ThnR34M&-83(>g9t&i&M$]u8#J"I+K*$eS,tY9Jw*/dZZdW+uES3 n %}*ht0.x'AK){O"Nui -4Rdm9X{H$gU~7V;"~[L;ubr=@xd 0000104051 00000 n loneliness and of death. 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. When the USS Gregory sank in 1942, a mess hall officer named Charles Jackson French dragged a raft full of his wounded crewmates to safety through shark-infested waters. 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. He served in the Navy, becoming a true war hero in 1942. He was a talented carpenter, a skilled handyman, and a master of DIY projects. Resend Activation Email. Undoubtedly, there were other forms of racism and discrimination that also accompanied such treatment. John Henry Murphy Sr.; Slave. Its surviving men were plunged into shark-infested waters as the Japanese fired on them. r\a W+ There was an error deleting this problem. The story of Charles Jackson Frenchs heroism was later made public by Adrian, who described it on a radio program called It Happened in the Service in October 1942, according to Swimming World Magazine. French was born in Foreman, Arkansas in about 1920. When Charles Jackson French was later identified, he became a national hero. Death 17 Nov 1968 (aged 51) Burial. In June 2021, he was honored by USA Swimming at the Olympics Swim Trials in Omaha. And white soldiers and local white residents routinely slurred and harassed them.. Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. [9], French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroic actions. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. 0000012998 00000 n 0000004154 00000 n He went into the service as a mess attendant, the only rate then available to . Charles Jackson French was born in 1919 and grew up in Foreman, Arkansas. 0000003649 00000 n 0000186651 00000 n BlackPast.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373. That's when French -- a 22-year-old sailor in the racially segregated messman branch -- volunteered to tow them to safety, the article states. Our appreciation of these words is quickened during these days as we read in the dailies and weeklies of the nation of the brave DEFENCE attorney and CNN legal analyst Midwin Charles died at the age of 47. Despite his heroism, the ignorantly prejudiced United States all but ignored French. His bravery, heroism, and toughness are a testament to the best in mankind even when mankind isnt being its best. French, who moved to Omaha as a teen, first enlisted in the US Navy in 1937. The history of Cape Verde is typical and yet unique for its location. 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 hl/CQ?!yEAb [$~$HH5" ? 0000189895 00000 n Along with stevedore and steward, mess attendant was one of the few occupations open to African American men in the navy. "Omaha Negro Hero of Ship Disaster," (Columbus, Neb. If you are interested, you are suggested to go through this video, Charles Jackson French Cause of Death.Post going through the entire video, you will get a better idea about the real and accurate news. @Ll&F"|s^`l"1~#L-;x?z>G6?QUTNA/"yVb]-ef6&u&:3'rjW7D]UH)PpA-+vKN|Vz1Jb#c BF6P)cjTu #A After World War II ended, French faded from the public eye. Fellow troops tried to talk him out of the desperate move, to take cover and escape the shark-infested waters, but French wouldnt listen. He was survived by his sister Viola. Wright notes that his death didnt merit even two paragraphs in the San Diego press when he died in 1937. NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent. The pilot dispatched a Marine landing craft to pick them up. Three Japanese destroyers Ydachi, Hatsuyuki, and Murakumo came into the Slot undetected to bombard American positions ashore. 0000054932 00000 n 0000190880 00000 n He was celebrated across the country, featured in a comic strip, and lauded by the Black press. 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