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. Little is known of his earliest days. Days later, he went down to his local recruitment office and reenlisted. In his interview with Wright, French described the intense racism he encountered, even after he helped save his shipmates. These posts focus on the reality of Black life in America after the Civil War culminating in the landmark Brown v Board of Education that changed so many of the earlier practices. 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. While it is great to receive these honors think how much better it would have been to the generations who were denied knowledge and inspiration from a true hero! 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. For this heroic action, in saving the lives of 15 US Sailors, Petty Officer French, an African American, recieved little more than a simple letter of commendation in his file. The link to these posts is here. 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I will note that the fact that its being discussed now would suggest that that same racism DOESNT exist today. Miller wasnt the only African-American hero of World War II, though. On September 5, 1942, United States Navy Petty Officer First Class 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 after the ship on which he was serving, the USS Gregory, was hit by Japanese naval fire near Guadalcanal. As promising as that sounded, that was the most dangerous place to be for fear that they would be captured and executed. UNOs Hero of the Heartland event continued the long overdue recognition of Frenchs heroism. 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 waters were shark-infested. It is the services highest award for noncombat heroism and the same award presented to Lt. John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the future U.S. president, for bravery under similar circumstances during World War II. The actions of the French will never be forgotten, as will their ultimate sacrifice. On November 7, 1956, in San Diego, California, Charles Jackson French, 37 at the time, died. U.S. Navy Capt. 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. Charles Jackson French is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California. 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. Kudos to the man that stepped up and saved himself and others from the awful fate of becoming Jap POWs. Navy Chief of Information Rear Adm. Charles Brown retweeted the post, thanking Nance for highlighting Frenchs heroic story and promising to work with Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday to see whether the service could do anything more to recognize the sailor. In May 2022, the Navy finally presented French'srelatives with a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal in recognition of his heroics. Benjamin Selph echoed Lis remarks, encouraging those in attendance to take inspiration from Frenchs courageous act. In 1945, when Congress began reviewing the record of the most conspicuous acts of courage by American soldiers during World War II, they recommended awarding the Medal of Honor to 432 recipients. 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. The ensign told French the plan was crazy, that they were surrounded by sharks and he would only get himself killed. Despite the fact that he did not receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, French was awarded the second highest honor, just below the Congressional Medal of Honor, which had been given to Doris Miller. Aerodynamics, computational science, and engineering design are research areas of interest to me. This petition starter stood up and took action. 1603) On June 20, 2022, President Biden signed it into law. Perhaps it was that he wasnt considered to be in combat. Now many feel that a letter of commendation for a heroic eight hour swim through sharks and enemy shell fire is not enough. Dismiss. Instead, the Navy only issued a letter of commendation. Soon after, a bill passed the Nebraska legislature to name an Omaha post office for him. 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. 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. The mess attendant rescued his fellow crew members in 1942, after their ship was sunk in the Solomon Islands. The International Swimming Hall of Fame had this painting created of French, one of the most famous Black heroes of World War II. During his service, he received a letter of commendation from the commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet, Adm. William F. Halsey, Jr. After the death of his parents, he lived with an older sister, Viola, in Omaha, Nebraska. The wording of the letter follows. To see the posts, click here. towing a boat of wounded survivors by himself i.imgur.com/P1mQDe. He was born in Foreman, Arkansas on September 25, 1919. Of the many acts of bravery among the men of Gregory during its final battle (including the mortally wounded skipper ordering his crew to abandon him and help other wounded, never to be seen again) was Charles French. A self-declared light-skinned woman evasive about her ethnicity, yet steadfast in her love for her 12 Black children. French was also the only African American to appear on World War II patriotic trading cards issued by GUM, Inc. This request was also forwarded to the National NAACP office asking for a resolution to be adopted. I nearly peed on myself when one of them sharks [touched] my feet. Story\Experience 43 comments 100% Upvoted This thread is archived New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast Sort by: best This denied qualified service members training that could be used after the military. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. The ultimate insult! 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. He was only referred to as French on the card, though. Kind of sounds like it. Name a warship after this Hero. We receive a small royalty without cost to you. Ensign Robert Adrian was fresh out of the Naval Academy and a junior officer on the Navy destroyer USS Gregory when it was sunk near Guadalcanal on Sept. 5, 1942. Charles Jackson French, an African American orphan, and championship-caliber swimmer navigated shark infested waters for about eight hours during. 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. It is a fact that the victors in battle or those in power in peace write the history of past events to support their views of what should have happened versus the cold hard facts. We, the undersigned, call upon Congress and the President of the United States to correct this travesty and give Petty Officer French the recognition he deserved for his selfless act of bravery. Ive always felt glad to be a proud American, Harris said. 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. He was a talented carpenter, a skilled handyman, and a master of DIY projects. 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. 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. Perhaps racism played a role in French not receiving proper recognition. 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. This was one of the few assignments available to Black troops and included stevedores, stewards. 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. Will you do the same? Phone: 402-444-1186. 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. 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. Nothing of value. These sailors and soldiers were welcomed back to American soil with signs that pointed one way for Whites and the other way for Blacks. 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. 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 . We depend on your support and thank you for it! In addition to newspaper and radio accounts, his story was told in bubble gum cards, comic strips, a calendar, even a verse by a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet. The remarkable story of the seven African American soldiers ultimately awarded the World War II Medal of Honor, and the 50-year campaign to deny them their recognition. There is no way a man with a set of brass balls the size of what PO1 French possessed could float, let alone tow a raft. Charles Jackson French, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully at the age of 77 on June 17th, 2020. Sergeant Major Ernest August Janson (August 17, 1878 - May 14, 1930) was a United States Marine who was highly decorated for his heroic actions in World War I. "The country did . 80 years later, Omaha hero who swam in shark-infested waters receives Navy honor. The Hero of the Heartland event will honor additional local heroes in the coming years. Charles Jackson French and his sister, Viola, were honored at a Creighton football game in Omaha on Oct. 31, 1942. I was elated, said Chester French Jr. of Omaha, Charles nephew, who attended along with several other French family members. Either wouldeasilybe warranted in my opinion. Thems the devils fish. Future Hero of the Heartland events may be held during other heritage months to celebrate heroes among a broad array of diverse ethnic groups. French was a swimmer who performed a. Apparently part of the reason that he did not receive an award was that the Navy was reluctant to give him a medal equal or higher to what his ships commander received, and he was killed in the action. Notably, the letter reduced the hours French spent swimming from six-eight to two. It will inspire generations of sailors, he said. [2] Omaha, NE, 68182. Racism preventing awarding a medal? Dorie Miller is the most well-known African American hero of World War II. 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