French swam against the current for between six and eight hours. Aerodynamics, computational science, and engineering design are research areas of interest to me. Former Virginia State Conference (Virginia NAACP) President Linda Thomas put forth a resolution for two Black Veterans who should be awarded the Medal of Honor for their committed acts of extreme valor and heroism but were denied consideration solely because of their race. 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. . Perhaps racism played a role in French not receiving proper recognition. In 2011, the National Board of the NAACP passed a resolution requesting the Medal Of Honor for Doris (Dorie) Miller. In May 2022, the Navy finally presented French'srelatives with a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal in recognition of his heroics. During this time, the military followed the segregation laws that were prevalent in the nation. During World War II Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French swam 68 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. French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroic actions in 1942. Author and Navy veteran Malcolm Nance got the services attention Sunday when he tagged several official accounts in a Twitter post about French. Aboard a lift raft with several other sailors and drifting towards enemy-held islands, French volunteered to tow the raft himself by swimming. He died in 1956, at age 37, of depression and alcoholism from untreated post-traumatic stress, family members say. He was a powerful swimmer and towed the raft for somewhere between six and eight hours throughout the night, until a landing craft discovered and rescued them. A man who served and re-enlisted again when we entered World War II. When he is not sitting in front of a laptop, Todd enjoys soaking up everything the Jersey Shore has to offer with his wife, two sons and American Foxhound, Wally. But French said he wasnt afraid. For generations, those of us native to the South have taken great pride in our heritage, our traditions, and in the telling of our stories. 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. 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. The event was held as part of events hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs in observance of Black History Month. He received an honorable discharge on November 11, 1941, but re-enlisted after Pearl Harbor. Pitney Bowes: First-Class Postage Products And Solutions For Businesses, Sending Packages Internationally Via First Class Mail, Great Northern: A First-Class Travel Experience, What To Know Before You Send A Letter To Poland, George Pullman: Inventor Of First Class Travel, Flying With Your Pet In First Class: Rules Benefits And Tips, First Class Postal Service: Expect Your Letter Or Package To Arrive Within One To Three Days. There was no escape from racism despite putting your life on the line for your country. 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 saved the lives 15 Sailorsall of them whiteby pulling them on a raft behind him as he swam for hours through shark-infested waters. Soon Frenchs name will be immortalized in Omaha, too. [2] The information that we present to everyone is extremely important, and a small donation can help us keep it that way. French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. Charles Jackson French saved 15 men from the USS Gregory in September of 1942. This was one of the few assignments available to Black troops and included stevedores, stewards. He was a generous and kind soul who was always willing to lend a helping hand. According to the U.S. Navy Press Office, French had moved to Omaha from Arkansas, but re-enlisted in the Navy days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Dorie Miller is the most well-known African American hero of World War II. It seems a travesty that he never received a medal after such a courageous single-handed act of bravery saving 15 men. 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. All DragonDen media is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. This might be the first time I agree with Malcolm Nance. It took so long.. 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. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, he noted that part of his job is to make sure that our veterans receive the recognition they deserve for their courage and dedication to our country. Did Charles Jackson French receive the Medal of Honor? The story of Charles Jackson French's World War II valor was told and retold, especially in Black newspapers. He told the story frequently to family and tried for the rest of his life to get Charles Jackson French, the mess attendant, who was from Omaha, the valor award he was denied during the war. The event, held Feb. 9, 2023 in UNOs Milo Bail Student Center, honored Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French for his tremendous bravery and efforts in World War II. Read the full statement. It read: 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. He deserves a higher award, and a destroyer named in his honor. Thats a portrait of a hero. 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. To see the full listing of over 250 posts, click on our Blog listWe post weekly, so check often, For Black History Month 2020, we posted daily. Nothing of value. Despite the fact that more than one million African Americans served, not a single Black soldier received the Medal of Honor. Notably, the letter reduced the hours French spent swimming from six-eight to two. 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Retroactive to 7 December 1941, the criteria and procedure for award of the medal were likely not yet formalized when word of Frenchs heroics came in. Information from ISHOF, military.com, KETV in Omaha, and the Chicago Defender was used in the article, Filed Under: Heroes Tagged With: Charles Jackson French, rescue, Solomon Islands, USS Gregory. Schomburg dedicated his life to proving that teacher wrong and Schomburg did an amazing job with his collection. He swam six to eight hours in shark-infested waters before being rescued by marines on a navy landing craft. The son of a Black minister and a woman who would not admit she was White, James McBride grew up in orchestrated chaos with his 11 siblings in the poor, all-Black projects of Red Hook, Brooklyn. Ive always felt glad to be a proud American, Harris said. He pulled off his clothes, had his shipmates help tie a rope around his waist, and dove into the water. Keith Station, deputy chief of staff for diversity, equity, & inclusion for the City of Omaha, shares remarks at the Hero of the Heartland event. French was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal in recognition of his bravery and combat action. During the battle, the Bunker Hill was struck by two kamikaze planes which caused the ship to suffer a massive explosion. It is the service's highest award for noncombat heroism . The publication for writers and readers to create and read amazing content, Actress, Stage playwright, Author, Motivational Speaker, Teacher Fitness Coach. French, who moved to Omaha as a teen, first enlisted in the US Navy in 1937. We also posted a 5 part mini-series on the 100th anniversary of one of the most horrific massacres in the history of America. Bacon, R-Neb., had written a letter to the acting secretary of the Navy a year ago, asking for a review of Frenchs file to determine whether he had received the proper awards. https://chng.it/F8y8w5n2 via @Change His innovative methods of construction and design, along with his exceptional organizational skills, made him a highly sought-after engineer across the United States. The VSC NAACP is in full support of Thomass campaign. After he began swimming, he soon encountered sharks. 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. Ted Carlson, commander of Naval Base San Diego, which makes this recognition of Charles (Jackson) Frenchs heroic actions even more significant.. Todd Neikirk is a New Jersey-based politics, entertainment and history writer. He went into the service as a mess attendant, the only rate then available to a Black man. His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service. Linda Thomas of Bowling Green, Virginia, wants President Joe Biden to award the Medal of Honor to Black World War II Navy heroes Doris Miller and Charles Jackson French. 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While the sailors in the life raft were off the burning ship, they were still in deep trouble. The waters were shark-infested. French was also the only African American to appear on World War II patriotic trading cards issued by GUM, Inc. He enjoys sports, politics, comic books, and anything that has to do with history. The nation's 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. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Lets get this HERO the Medal of Honor, Forgotten: The Untold Story of D-days Black Heroes, at Home and at War. To see the posts, click here. The inaugural Hero of the Heartland event, hosted by UNOs Office of Multicultural Affairs and UNOs Military-Connected Resource Center, honored a World War II hero whose acts have been largely forgotten for decades. Born in a small town in California, Charles was a man of many talents. Miller wasnt the only African-American hero of World War II, though. 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. Despite the fact that the Medal of Honor is extremely rare, it can be received twice. In Omaha, French was honored at a Creighton University football game and was selected to lead a crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance at an Armistice Day (now called Veterans Day) event. He was awarded both the Army and Navy Medal of Honor, the French Mdaille militaire and Croix de Guerre as well as decorations from Italy, Montenegro and Portugal. Itwould ef. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has continued its advocacy work in the Commonwealth of Virginia since 1935 through the Virginia State Conference. Weeks later, he told the story of a heroic mess attendant named "French" who towed a raft full of about 15 wounded sailors including Adrian all night through shark-filled waters until they were rescued. French finished a four-year Navy tour in November 1941 and was visiting family in Omaha when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. In this story can be found the heretofore-unwritten chapters of one phase of the Negroes march toward freedom in America, written by a man who participated in it. Jobs People Learning Dismiss Dismiss. One member of the 320th would be nominated for the Medal of Honor, an award he would never receive because the nations highest decoration was not given to black soldiers in World War II. 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. Racism preventing awarding a medal? Im proud we could come together to recognize his legacy of service and sacrifice.. You can use a link to tennis shoes to buy a refrigerator or anything else. To comment or make suggestions on future posts, use Contact Us. 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. 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. Dismiss. 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. 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. 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. 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 . He also had a passion for gardening and was an avid reader. French was the first black swimmer to earn the Navy Medal for his heroism in 1943. That inquiry helped bring about last weeks award ceremony. 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 filled a position as a Mess Attendant 1st Classone of the only positions available to black men at the time. According to the U.S. Navy Press Office, French had moved to Omaha from Arkansas, but re-enlisted in the Navy days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The Virginia NAACP is anticipating their favorable response. The wording of the letter follows. It would seem to me well past the point to review Frenchs case. Ensign Robert Adrian realized that the currents were pulling the lifeboat back towards a Japanese-held island. The omission remained on the record for more than four decades. Charles Jackson French, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully at the age of 77 on June 17th, 2020. Dismiss. Its the kind of narrative that captures your imagination regardless of which side of the aisle you are on., Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia has supported Thomas request. For Black History Month 2022 we focused on Health and Wellness in the Black Community. Continue for more information on the site and posts that may be of interest. 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. Yet, history has overlooked him. He was a true patriot whose dedication and dedication to country served as a model for future generations. He was 37 years old when he died on November 7, 1956, in San Diego, California. Copyrighted content researched and produced by DragonDen Productions ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. French had only been out of the Navy for a couple of months when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. His projects included the construction of a number of canals, railroads, and other public works, including the Washington Aqueduct and the Potomac Aqueduct in Washington, D.C. Charles Jackson Frenchs work was instrumental in the development of the modern infrastructure that we rely on today. Virginia State Conference NAACP, Doris (Dorie) Miller, is a Black veteran, who demonstrated such dedication to his duty on December 7, 1941, when his ship was attacked in Pearl Harbor, Doris Miller showed little regard for his safety when he dragged his wounded captain and several shipmates to safety before manning an anti-aircraft gun that he had never been trained to use, and brought down several Japanese planes, but was not recommended for the Medal of Honor. In the early hours of June 6, 1944, the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, a unit of African American soldiers, landed on the beaches of France. Thomas has also been in communication with other senators and members of Congress asking them to support this effort. The living quarters were strictly segregated as was housing for family members. A Black sailor swam against sharks to save his White shipmates. Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French was an American hero who gave his life in service of his country. He was a talented carpenter, a skilled handyman, and a master of DIY projects. Still, a letter of commendation is completely inadequate for what French did and I dont buy that this cant be considered combat. Either wouldeasilybe warranted in my opinion. The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its education programs or activities, including admissions and employment. You have permission to edit this article. 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. BZ PO1 French! The story of Frenchs bravery was celebrated at the time but then largely forgotten for decades. Within days, French, 22, reenlisted. Omahans during World War II knew a strong-swimming, shark-defying, human tugboat of a hero when they saw one, regardless of the color ofCha, An African American sailor from Omaha was hailed as a hero during World War II for swimming through shark-infested waters to rescue his wounde, The full House approved HR 4168 to rename the facility at 6223 Maple St. the Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French Post Office., The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency said identifications of the 92nd Infantry members, known as "Buffalo Soldiers," have beendifficult beca, Lt. Vernon Baker of Clarinda, Iowa, is part of a series of graphic novels about recipients of the Medal of Honor, the nations highest award f, A 36-year Air Force missile and space officer has been nominated as the next commander of Offutt-based U.S. Strategic Command, the Pentagon an, Eighty years ago, Nebraska set the pace for the nation in launching a scrap metal drive to support the World War II effort. He exemplified our core values and faced adversity with unwavering grit and selflessness. Its a story of the best of who we are.. 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. French successfully brought the men to safety on the shores of the Solomon Islands. Thems the devils fish. He will be missed dearly by his family and friends. A letter of commendation? 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