French's story first came to light when Robert N. Adrian a young ensign, told a reporter from the Associated Press about how Charles braved the Pacific Ocean to bring the men to safety. endstream endobj 269 0 obj <>stream i6 oSs$tXE`q8X4A`q8X4][D28c}SKYjn1gwQ]7/ O French saved the lives of more than a dozen Sailors by swimming through the night, dragging a raft full of injured shipmates through shark-infested waters. He served in the Navy, becoming a true war hero in 1942. HUn0+B-Q[5PtU@$ . zH#mAqtI Aside from the Bible, it became the best selling book of the 20th century. There is a problem with your email/password. Arkansas born, African American, Petty Officer First Class, Charles Jackson French didn't imagine he would be completing such a feat at just the age of 23 years-old. To use this feature, use a newer browser. 0000000016 00000 n Just before 1 a.m. on the morning of Sept. 5, the two ships saw flashes of gunfire. He continued his medical studies at the University of Paris, also attending lectures on geology at the Royal School of Mines. French, who moved to Omaha as a teen, first enlisted in the US Navy in 1937. He gave his country two decades of prosperity under a stable, authoritarian government but . awesome reading . During World War II Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French swam 6-8 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. Gregory was hit by Japanese naval fire in the South Pacific. The average age of While we may never hope to be in such a perilous situation, life will inevitably throw uncomfortable situations our way. 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. Since 2018 there has been renewed interest in recognizing Charles Frenchs heroism more appropriately. French successfully brought these men to safety on the shores of The Solomon Islands. "It has been reported that Charles Jackson French . Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. On September 5, 1942, United States Navy Messman Charles Jackson French 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. [9], French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroic actions. 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. A small donation would help us keep this available to all. Seer. Link to family and friends whose lives he impacted. This account has been disabled. 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. 0000104051 00000 n He was survived by his sister Viola. 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. French enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1937 and served four years. 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 was discharged from the Navy Nov. 13, 1941, but re-enlisted a month later after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Lest We Forget. French enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1937 and served four years. 0000003773 00000 n French was a black man born in Foreman, Arkansas, Sept. 25, 1919. Sorry! Charles Jackson French passed away on November 7, 1956 at age 37. He swam between six and eight hours in shark-infested water before being rescued by marines in a navy landing craft. 0000005681 00000 n 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 . Born Sept. 25, 1919, French died on Nov. 7, 1956, at 37. Please reset your password. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Failed to remove flower. endstream endobj 270 0 obj <>stream 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. This he was denied, though for a brief moment in the mid-1940s . You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Historian Julian Jackson, author of a major new biography of Charles de Gaulle, offers a fresh take on the iconic French leader, exploring his role in World War Two and decolonisation, among other things. Charles Jackson French was memorialized on War Gum trading cards, in syndicated comic strips, on calendars, and The Chicago Defender named him Hero of the Year. Unlock the mysteries of your family history and explore the rich tapestry of your past with AncientFaces. A Black man serving in the segregated armed forces, French was credited with saving wounded shipmates during WWII. Charles Jackson French of Foreman, Arkansas, became a national hero after the destroyer Gregory was sunk Sept. 5, 1942, by Japanese warships near Guadalcanal. Washington, DC 20002, Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent, AFRO endorsements for the 2022 midterm elections, A time to dance: Rev. Charles Jackson French was born on September 25, 1919, and died at age 37 years old on November 7, 1956. 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. Close. endstream endobj 265 0 obj <> endobj 266 0 obj [285 0 R] endobj 267 0 obj <>stream After the death of his parents, he lived with his older sister, Viola, in Omaha, Nebraska. Where we share as we remember & make discoveries and connect with others to help answer questions. 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. To serve side-by-side with his fellow troops knowing the unfair treatment he faced is one thing, but to be willing to put his body under such duress to save them is beyond heroic. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Mini Bio (1) Charles Jackson was born in 1903 into a wholly dysfunctional family in Summit, New Jersey. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. 0000110683 00000 n Box 6237, in San Diego, California 92166. Share what Charles did for a living or if he had a career or profession. 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. Many at home believed French should have received more. ;P"f 0000164084 00000 n 0000184407 00000 n ), American physician, chemist, and pioneer geologist and mineralogist. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Charles French (72213738)? . Pictured is Charles with his sister Viola during a public appearance at a football game in Omaha, Nebraska,1943. On the night of September 4, 1942, during the Battle of Guadalcanal, the USS Gregory was struck by an attack from multiple Japanese destroyers. Section N Site 490, San Diego, California. Swimming until sunrise, French and the 15 Sailors on the raft he was towing were spotted by a scout aircraft. 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 . 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. He said that he was more afraid of the Japanese shooting at him than the sharks, and he continued on his way. Add Charles' family friends, and his friends from childhood through adulthood. z:RA" ERAZC@ Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. What schools or universities did Charles attend? Posted by 1 year ago. and you'll be alerted when others do the same. GET LOCAL BREAKING NEWS ALERTS 4168 to name the U.S. Post Office in Omaha's Benson area, 6223 Maple St., after Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French, a World War II hero with ties to Omaha, who rescued fifteen of his injured shipmates by swimming for hours through shark-infested waters . cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. John H. Murphy, Sr., a former enslaved man founded the AFRO in 1892 with $200 from his wife, Martha Howard Murphy. French family member is 72. Who is Charles French to you? Described as a "human tugboat," he received a royal welcome from citizens of all races in his sister Viola's hometown of Oma-ha, Nebraska. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. 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. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. After the death of his parents, he lived with his older sister, Viola, in Omaha, Nebraska. zP|CY`oRHw`)UV\[|d/X3"{JrX1}qI_ji7`;LZ2[!x7)X+f$'^"#au"jJm&?i+ Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. In 1932, Charles was merely 13 years old when five years to the day after Lindbergh crossed the Atlantic, Amelia Earhart flew solo from Newfoundland to Ireland, the first woman to cross the Atlantic solo and the first to replicate Lindbergh's feat. Verify and try again. [3] 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 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. He died on November 7, 1956, in San Diego, California; he was only 37 years old. 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. r\a W+Y f%`VY f%`V Sadly, it wasnt much of a fight. 0000108198 00000 n 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. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland. After six months at sea, however, French would prove that he was much more than a bellhop seagoing . The nations hierarchy denied French the Medal of Honor and did not consider him for a Silver Star, two of the highest honors bestowed for such self-sacrificing bravery. With gunfire continuing all around them, French, a nearly 23-year-old Black man who wasnt even permitted to swim with his fellow white Sailors during training, tied a rope around his waist, tied the rope to the raft, and began to swim. 256 75 0000002550 00000 n French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. 0000102129 00000 n Drag images here or select from your computer for Charles Jackson French memorial. 734 death records, 32 followers 14.9k+ favorites. Fellow troops tried to talk him out of the desperate move, to take cover and escape the shark-infested waters, but French wouldnt listen. H\@ytu$ K"Ag2,!t4v9zpmLgws,O/t?4>s8v=]~xnvm/i;~>|IP7qsE:zO:}u]q*pb~{+pI.[#o7;9 T=%y .^ Vl`zzxzzzx yX+ You need a Find a Grave account to continue. the world learned more about the heroic swimmer. GREAT NEWS! Four days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, French reenlisted into the Navy and was assigned to Gregory in March 1942. 0000125243 00000 n Outgunned, Gregory only lasted three minutes from the time the flares were dropped to the time she began to sink. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. (Photo: Pinterest / Mia Corseca), By Stacy M. Brown French was a black man born in Foreman, Arkansas, Sept. 25, 1919. Do you find this information helpful? After his . Discover how our Uncovering Our Shared Memories: An Introduction to the Community Standards at AncientFaces Little did he know that three weeks before his 23rd birthday, French would become a Navy hero. [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. 4th of July 2022: Celebrating the Birth of Our Nation & Its Heroes, Military Appreciation Month 2022: Saluting Those Who Serve, Veterans Day 2022: Celebrating Those Whove Served, Meet Frank Emi, a WWII Hero You Need To Know, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the all-Black female 6888th Central Postal Battalion, demand a Congressional Medal of Honor for Petty Officer Charles Jackson French, New Study Surfaces Detailing Racial Discrimination in the Military, Here are 200 Remote Jobs for Veterans in 2023. endstream endobj 257 0 obj <>/Metadata 35 0 R/Pages 34 0 R/StructTreeRoot 37 0 R/Type/Catalog/ViewerPreferences<>>> endobj 258 0 obj <>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/TrimBox[0.0 0.0 612.0 792.0]/Type/Page>> endobj 259 0 obj <> endobj 260 0 obj <> endobj 261 0 obj <> endobj 262 0 obj <> endobj 263 0 obj <>stream 0000008519 00000 n charles jackson french swam 6-8 hours in 1942nd a saved 15 of his crewmates and died in 1956. Charles Jackson French was born on 25 Sep 1919. 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. The story, incredible. 0000054932 00000 n It was called the "Red Summer". 0000190880 00000 n If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. 0000002403 00000 n Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Charles French was buried at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery Section N Site 490 P.o. He asked for help to tie a rope around his waist and towed them to safety." Dr. Frances Toni Draper announces retirement from pastorship at Freedom Temple AME Zion Church, 130 years of excellence: AFRO Gala set to kick anniversary celebration into high gear. "Omaha Negro Hero of Ship Disaster," (Columbus, Neb. His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service. 0000190805 00000 n How Charles Jackson French Became "The Human Tugboat". French would go on to earn the name The Human Tugboat and garner immense respect from his fellow military peers. Four days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, French reenlisted into the Navy and was assigned to Gregory in March 1942. 563. These flares became a backdrop for the silhouettes of Gregory and Little who now became the targets of the Japanese destroyers and a Japanese cruiser that had joined them. 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. Abandon ship! recommended by Julian Jackson. Joinhere! He asked for help to tie a rope around his waist and towed them to safety." #"4d*2 LC` [6][7] For this action, French received a letter of commendation from Adm. William F. Halsey Jr. in May 1943. 0000184704 00000 n He received an honorable discharge on November 11, 1941, but re-enlisted after Pearl Harbor. He appeared before enthusiastic crowds at Three Japanese destroyers Ydachi, Hatsuyuki, and Murakumo came into the Slot undetected to bombard American positions ashore. Some speculate that alcoholism played a role, as there are some reports of French having to deal with the stresses of returning from war alone. He grew up as an orphan and enlisted in 1937. a Sadly, it wasn't much of a fight. 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. 0000101669 00000 n After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men were adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. On the night of September 5, 1942, French was on board the U.S.S. Interview by . The letter read, in part, 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 Sept. 5, 1942. Pictured is Charles with his sister Viola during a public appearance at a football game in Omaha, Nebraska,1943. Along with stevedore and steward, mess attendant was one of the few occupations open to African American men in the navy. O6z ` ~+ Section N Site 490 P.o. 0000125864 00000 n French was memorialized on War Gum trading cards, in syndicated comic strips, on calendars, and The Chicago Defender named him Hero of the Year. For his actions, French received a letter of commendation from the commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet, Adm. William F. Bull Halsey. Weve updated the security on the site. AncientFaces is a place where our memories live. Perhaps out of fear of global embarrassment, Adm. William F. Halsey Jr. sent French a letter of commendation. The 22-year-old saved the lives of 15 sailors . 0000004154 00000 n Despite African American soldiers eagerness to fight in World War II, the same Jim Crow discrimination in society was practiced in every branch of the armed forces, historians at the website wrote. Try again. Her boilers had burst and her mess decks were aflame. At 1 a.m., the Japanese opened fire. <<4EEFF01CF8009C438CF4B522CFC4463C>]/Prev 1234002/XRefStm 2222>> Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. He had first enlisted in the Navy in 1937[1] and had completed his enlistment, moving to Omaha, Nebraska where he had family. The unfortunate truth is that, while we know that French passed away at the age of 37 and is buried in the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery located in San Diego, CA, things are blurry. Previously, hydrogen bombs had only been tested on the ground. we begin to Show & Tell who they were during particular moments in their lives. 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