20072023 Blackpast.org. [2] Contents 1 Meritorious conduct in action 2 Resting place 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External links Meritorious conduct in action 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. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. The Little-Known Story Of World War II Hero Charles Jackson French And The 15 Sailors He Saved. Charles Jackson was first enlisted in the United States Navy in 1937 and had completed his enlistment, moving to Omaha, Nebraska where he lived with his family. That's when French -- a 22-year-old sailor in the racially segregated messman branch -- volunteered to tow them to safety, the article states. Charles Jackson French (25 September 1919 - 7 November 1956) [1] was an American war hero from Foreman, Arkansas. 0000009327 00000 n French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. Midwin Charles, who also appeared on CNN and contributed to Essence magazine, died at the age of 47, her family said Tuesday. [3], French was an orphan from Foreman, Arkansas[4] who learned to swim in the Red River at the age of eight.[5]. War Gum Trading Card CompanyA depiction of Charles Jackson Frenchs heroism from the. Liberals do not By Jer Clifton on March 1, 2023 . 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. Drag images here or select from your computer for Charles Jackson French memorial. This conversation with Charles Jackson French occurred shortly after the Korean War. 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. Outside of searching through keyword data and creating blogs, he enjoys creating cocktails, cooking, and enjoying the Beautiful Game. 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. 4=yDZ &yK[ #x+T.$P"> Ty\I @44mP_dFI+ DEFENCE attorney and CNN legal analyst Midwin Charles died at the age of 47. As noted at history.com, the 1.2 million African Americans who served in World War II fought for democracy overseas while being treated as second-class citizens by their own country. He had enlisted in the United States Navy in 1937. Francis II was born in 1544. Together they created a platform to offer images and stories of hope to advance their community. Jermaine La Jaune Jackson is the fourth of Joe and Katherine's children. <<4EEFF01CF8009C438CF4B522CFC4463C>]/Prev 1234002/XRefStm 2222>> There are campaigns to demand a Congressional Medal of Honor for Petty Officer Charles Jackson French posthumously and plans for the Navy to dedicate a rescue swimmer pool in his honor. How- Similar read: Meet Frank Emi, a WWII Hero You Need To Know. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Image source: Newsbank Omaha Star Archives. And white soldiers and local white residents routinely slurred and harassed them.. Abandon ship! He was serving as a mess man on the USS Gregory when it was sunk by Japanese forces near the Solomon Islands . After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men were adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. Heroism is the dazzling and glori-ous concentration of courage, ' ' says Henri-Frederick Amiel, Nineteenth Century Swiss poet and philoso-pher. *(*B)$wHHB3Mg Charles Jackson French (Find a Grave Memorial) After his military service, French suffered from alcoholism and depression. The first was an enlistment was in 1937 when he served four years before receiving an honorable discharge in 1941. Her boilers had burst and her mess decks were aflame. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. The U.S. Navy Ship the U.S.S. Public DomainCharles Jackson French was assigned to the USS Gregory, which was destroyed in September 1942. Outgunned, Gregory only lasted three minutes from the time the flares were dropped to the time she began to sink. #"4d*2 LC` However he learned to swim, Frenchs days in Foreman were numbered. His mission was to rescue fellow soldiers. 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. 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. 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 shed his waterlogged clothes, tied a rope around his waist, and started to swim. There is a problem with your email/password. 0000012814 00000 n #CharlesJacksonFrench #CharlesJacksonFrenchOfDeath #CelebritiesCauseOfDeath Charles Jackson French Cause of Death (Mar 2021) Obituary, Death, Reason Show more Show more ER doctor who treated. He died on November 7, 1956, in San Diego, California; he was only 37 years old. cemeteries found in San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. (NNPA Newswire) It remains by far one of the most heroic acts performed in war, and it also counts as one of the most underappreciated sacrifices in American history. After a tense standoff, the others realized that the survivors meant business and backed down. With Hazel Gordy, Jackson had three children: Jermaine Lu Juane Jr., Autumn Joy and Jaimy. Towards the end of his life, he was admitted to the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital in Saranac Lake, New York after a relapse of tuberculosis. On a pitch-black night in 1942, the waters of the Pacific Ocean near Savo Island and Guadalcanal suddenly lit up with gunfire. Charles Jackson French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. African American History: Research Guides & Websites, Global African History: Research Guides & Websites, African American Scientists and Technicians of the Manhattan Project, Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors, https://omaha.com/news/local/history/back-in-the-day-oct-30-1942-omahas-hero-of-the-solomon-islands-returns-home/article_ef06042c-2788-11ec-a5e1-4b1dd928d8f4.html, https://omaha.com/news/local/nebraska-reps-seek-to-name-benson-post-office-for-black-omaha-wwii-hero/article_66699ca0-d8ff-11eb-aee6-474cdd1763ba.htm, https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/memorial-day-rewind-the-forgotten-hero-of-wwii/, Foundation, Organization, and Corporate Supporters. Einhard, a Frankish scholar and contemporary of Charlemagne, wrote a biography of the emperor after his death. 0000189006 00000 n Gregory was hit by Japanese naval fire in the South Pacific. Verify and try again. On the night of September 4, 1942, during the Battle of Guadalcanal, the USS Gregory was struck by an attack from multiple Japanese destroyers. 0000189970 00000 n Four days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, French reenlisted into the Navy and was assigned to Gregory in March 1942. English The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland. Charles's grandfather died before his birth on October 10, 1332. Photo of Charles Jackson French and his sister Viola, appeared in the Omaha Star on 11/6/1942. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? The situation caused the English royal house of Plantagenet and the French royal House of Valois to lock horns over the throne of France. It wasnt until recent years and long after his death at the age of 37 that this hero finally received his due. endstream endobj 264 0 obj <>stream For three centuries, the islands were a setting for the transatlantic slave trade, exile for political prisoners of Portugal and a NYCs Early African American Settlements Weeksville, How the GI Bills Promise Was Denied to a Million Black WWII Veterans, The Thrilling Tale of How Robert Smalls Seized a Confederate Ship and Sailed it to Freedom, How this enslaved man was made to serve as a breeder to increase his owners slave populations. There was an error deleting this problem. Adrian, though superficially wounded, was able to hang on. After turning 18, he joined the Navy and was a mess attendant, one of the few jobs that Black sailors were regulated too. He was a Black World War II hero. In London, King Charles I is beheaded for treason on January 30, 1649. Mess Attendant Charles Jackson French risked death that others might live. On September 5, 1942, USS Gregory was hit by Japanese naval fire near Guadalcanal and sank. French was memorialized on War Gum trading cards and in a comic strip. It wasnt until 1988 that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was promoted by President Ronald Reagan to the cabinet executive level. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. 0000012382 00000 n 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. [6][7] For this action, French received a letter of commendation from Adm. William F. Halsey Jr. in May 1943. In 1776, one vote gave America the English language instead of German. In 1649, one vote caused Charles I of England to be executed. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. 1. 0000000016 00000 n ;P"f %%EOF After his parents died, he moved to Omaha, Nebraska, to live with his sister. Later that year Nebraskas three U.S. representatives, Don Bacon, Jeff Fortenberry, and Adrian Smith, co-sponsored H.R. He served two stints in the Navy. When Adrian told French that the current was carrying them toward the Japanese occupied island, French. This account has been disabled. Pictured is Charles with his sister Viola during a public appearance at a football game in Omaha, Nebraska,1943. The 22-year-old saved the lives of 15 sailors . 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. Many of the bases and training facilities were located in the South, in addition to the largest military installation for Black soldiers, Fort Huachuca, located in Arizona. Charles Jackson French faced all of this and more during his time of service and helped save many lives through grit and bravery. The memoirs are in three volumes that came out successively in 1954, 1956, and 1959. 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. Foreman, Little River County, Arkansas, USA, San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA. Family members linked to this person will appear here. OMAHA, Neb. Help us Continue to tell OUR Story and join the AFRO family as a member subscribers are now members! [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. French was a swimmer who performed a heroic act that gave others another chance at life. In June 2021, he was honored by USA Swimming at the Olympics Swim Trials in Omaha. Many at home believed French should have received more. But this time, Charles Jackson French would see significantly more action. After World War II ended, French faded from the public eye. 256 75 The story of Charles Jackson French takes an interesting turn once he and his fellow survivors reached safety. 0000163762 00000 n 0000164266 00000 n hbbg`b``3 & 0000101640 00000 n Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? In the first year of his. ), king of France from 1422 to 1461, who succeededpartly with the aid of Joan of Arcin driving the English from French soil and in solidifying the administration of the monarchy. Try again. French saved. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. After his service on the USS Gregory, Charles Jackson French didnt rest on his laurels. k! Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. 0000010538 00000 n flagship of the Asiatic Fleet. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. 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. But the Omaha World-Herald noted some decades later that future president John F. Kennedy had been given the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for a similar act of bravery. Contributor: Judy Borden Soos (46958020) Charles Jackson French passed away on November 7, 1956 at age 37. 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. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 1st 2023 from 5:00 PM to 5:45 PM . Charles I of England to be executed them toward the Japanese occupied Island, French see significantly more action 5:45... He enjoys creating cocktails, cooking, and started to swim, Frenchs days in Foreman were.! Has been reported and will not be visible while under review the memoirs are in volumes! 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