[10], In June 2022, President Biden signed into law (H.R.4168) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6223 Maple Street, in Omaha, Nebraska, as the Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French Post Office.[11]. Charles Jackson French's name might not be a household one, but he was once named the Hero of the Year by the Chicago Defender.. French, a United States Navy Messman, swam through shark-infested . For his actions, French received a letter of commendation from the commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet, Adm. William F. Bull Halsey. Soldier. 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 . 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. 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 . 0000164266 00000 n Search above to list available cemeteries. 0000190880 00000 n He was celebrated in the black press and was even the subject of a syndicated comic strip. Subject specific information for the media, Events or announcements of note for the media, An official website of the United States government. He makes comedy sketches on his YouTube channel. 0000125638 00000 n Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. Learn more about managing a memorial . #CharlesJacksonFrench #CharlesJacksonFrenchOfDeath #CelebritiesCauseOfDeathCharles Jackson French Cause of Death (Mar 2021) Obituary, Death, ReasonCharles Ja. Discover how our Uncovering Our Shared Memories: An Introduction to the Community Standards at AncientFaces After six months at sea, however, French would prove that he was much more than a bellhop seagoing . H\n0Fy 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. Sorry! 0000164084 00000 n French performed valiantly on September . On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. After the death of his parents, he lived with his older sister, Viola, in Omaha, Nebraska. 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 . Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Pictured is Charles with his sister Viola during a public appearance at a football game in Omaha, Nebraska,1943. 0000184704 00000 n k! This account has been disabled. 0000189418 00000 n Posted by 1 year ago. I swear, our ancestors were built different Military.com article Navy May Recognize Black WWII Sailor Who Towed Wounded Shipmates Through Shark-Infested Waters Charles Jackson French of Foreman, Arkansas, became a national hero after the destroyer Gregory was sunk Sept. 5, 1942, by. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. As is the case with many African Americans who served America during the time, Charles Jackson French is a name that more people should know. 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. Undoubtedly, there were other forms of racism and discrimination that also accompanied such treatment. Her boilers had burst and her mess decks were aflame. Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox, Revolutionized American Warfare, Taylor Sheridan Is Taking on the Military World With New Spy Thriller, Mission Daybreak Rewards Those Fighting Against Veteran Suicide With Millions, Volunteers Needed for the Million Veteran Program. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. He died on November 7, 1956, in San Diego, California; he was only 37 years old. Charles R. Jackson was born in Summit, New Jersey on April 6, 1903, the son of Frederick George and Sarah Williams Jackson. Dozens of Americans were killed and many others wounded, including French. A Navy messman, French courageously acted after the Japanese navy struck a U.S. ship in the South Pacific during the . Drag images here or select from your computer for Charles Jackson French memorial. F. Baurer, the ships CO. BY ANCESTRY.COM, Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery When you share, or just show that you care, the heart He asked for help to tie a rope around his waist and towed them to safety." 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. and you'll be alerted when others do the same. 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. He enlisted in the Navy shortly after turning 18. According to Swimming World Magazine, French's rank was elevated above a mere mess mate, but he and others were still derided in the Black press as "seagoing bellhops.". xref Instead, he received a letter of commendation from Adm. William F. Halsey, Jr. in May 1943. For his actions, French received a letter of commendation from the commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet, Adm. William F. Bull Halsey. (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. He later received the Navy Cross. [6][7] For this action, French received a letter of commendation from Adm. William F. Halsey Jr. in May 1943. In the aftermath, French helped fifteen wounded survivors from the ship into a life raft. Fearing that the raft would drift toward the shore where Japanese troops were located, French towed the raft of wounded survivors toward a different island. As the attacks continued and the ship began to sink, many Sailors suffered injuries. Little did he know that three weeks before his 23rd birthday, French would become a Navy hero. At 1 a.m., the Japanese opened fire. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. SAN DIEGO - The Navy announced plans today to dedicate a rescue swimming training pool at Naval Base San Diego to Mess Attendant First Class Charles Jackson French in honor of . His father skipped out on the family when he was 10 and the boy completed his elementary education in Newark, then began college at Syracuse University but abruptly quit. 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. Charles Jackson French was an American war hero from Foreman, Arkansas. Halsey was then commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet. 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. 0000003092 00000 n 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. STEWARDS MATE 1/C US NAVY WORLD WAR II 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. 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. 0000011569 00000 n Contributor: Judy Borden Soos (46958020) Try again later. Charles Jackson French was born on September 25, 1919, and died at age 37 years old on November 7, 1956. 0000101669 00000 n %PDF-1.4 % Thanks and have a good day ahead!#CharlesJacksonFrench#CharlesJacksonFrenchDeath#CharlesJacksonFrenchCauseOfDeath#Death#CauseOfDeath#CelebrityDeath#PopularCelebrityDeath#CheckCelebrityDeath#CheckCelebritiesDeath#CheckPopularCelebrityDeath#CheckPopularCelebritiesDeath STEWARDS MATE 1/C US NAVY WORLD WAR II 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. She flew over 2,000 miles in just under 15 hours. When 2 or more people share their unique perspectives, ), Interment Control Forms, 19281962. He continued his medical studies at the University of Paris, also attending lectures on geology at the Royal School of Mines. A photo of French is shown outside the building at 63rd and Maple Streets. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? French, a United States Navy Messman, swam through shark-infested waters for six to eight hours on the night of September 5, 1942 pulling a raft of 15 surviving sailors with a rope around his . How Charles Jackson French Became "The Human Tugboat". (Photo: Pinterest / Mia Corseca), By Stacy M. Brown A depiction of French's heroic actions was included in the WWII Commemorative Card Set produced by Gum Inc., based in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. He was serving as a mess man on the USS Gregory when it was sunk by Japanese forces near the Solomon Islands in September of 1942. What is Charles' ethnicity and where did his parents, grandparents & great-grandparents come from? French, an orphan described as a human tugboat, received a royal welcome from citizens of all races in his sister Violas hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. A former Playboy model killed herself and her 7-year-old son after jumping from a hotel in Midtown New York City on Friday morning. Seer. 0000189970 00000 n Introduction. Four days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, French reenlisted into the Navy and was assigned to Gregory in March 1942. 4=yDZ &yK[ #x+T.$P"> Ty\I @44mP_dFI+ Pictured is Charles with his sister Viola during a public appearance at a football game in Omaha, Nebraska,1943. Men who were returning from World War I needed jobs and there was competition for those jobs among the races. The leader of the Free French had arrived in Paris the previous evening, a day after his advancing . 0000193082 00000 n 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. Make sure that the file is a photo. 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 . 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. When we share what we know, together we discover more. Charles Jackson French of Foreman, Arkansas, became a national hero after the destroyer Gregory was sunk Sept. 5, 1942, by Japanese warships near Guadalcanal. Regardless of the region, at all the bases there were separate blood banks, hospitals or wards, medical staff, barracks and recreational facilities for Black soldiers. French was one of six Sailors who swam through the night and up to eight hours, rescuing all but 11 members of Gregorys crew. He had first enlisted in the navy in 1937 and had completed his enlistment, moving to Omaha, Nebraska where he had family. Photograph: JEAN-JACQUES LEVY/AP Share what Charles did for a living or if he had a career or profession. 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 relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Once Charles Jackson French was identified, he became a national hero. He made his first comedy sketch "What I Would Love To Hear In Class" on February 6, 2016 . Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Charles French was born on September 25, 1919, in Foreman, Arkansas. French was a black man born in Foreman, Arkansas, Sept. 25, 1919. Thinking the flashes came from Japanese submarines, the pilot dropped a line of five flares in the water. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. He received an honorable discharge on November 11, 1941, but re-enlisted after Pearl Harbor. French was the first black swimmer to earn the Navy Medal for his heroism in 1943.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.Ensign Adrian was the only one on the bridge to survive and floated over into the water as the ship sank below him. r\a W+Y f%`VY f%`V Biographies are our place to remember and discover more about the people important to us. [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. Section N Site 490 P.o. 0000189895 00000 n Newspaper clipping of Naval Hero, Charles Jackson French. Where was Charles born and where did he live? Add Charles' family friends, and his friends from childhood through adulthood. 0000184779 00000 n O6z ` ~+ (U.S. Navy) 27 Apr 2021 His service to this country is something that should never be forgotten, and his story is one that can inspire all of us to do good for our fellow man. The average age of For his bravery, Navy Messman Charles Jackson French was provided a letter of commendation from Adm. William F. Bull Halsey, the Commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet, and the Navy Cross, the second-highest award available. After his parents died, he moved to Omaha, Nebraska, to live with his sister. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. 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. Interview by . [3], French was an orphan from Foreman, Arkansas[4] who learned to swim in the Red River at the age of eight.[5]. During his youth, he would often swim in the Red River and became quite adept at it. ). He also recounted the narrative on the NBC radio program, It Happened in the Service. Although Ensign Adrian received the Purple Heart for being wounded in action during the attack, French received a letter of commendation for meritorious conduct in action instead of a medal. French was memorialized on War Gum trading cards, in syndicated comic strips, on calendars, and The Chicago Defender named him Hero of the Year. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. 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. zP|CY`oRHw`)UV\[|d/X3"{JrX1}qI_ji7`;LZ2[!x7)X+f$'^"#au"jJm&?i+ If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Hearing voices, he found a life raft filled with 15 wounded men. De Gaulle biographer and one of Britain's leading historians of modern France, Julian Jackson, talks us through some key books to get a sense of France's wartime leader and president, Charles de Gaulle. Charles Jackson French was a United States Navy sailor. After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men was adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. Charles Jackson was born in 1903 into a wholly dysfunctional family in Summit, New Jersey. Thank you for your service and your valor, Mr. French. Jump in and swim for two hours straight, then come back and tell us how you feel. hl/CQ?!yEAb [$~$HH5" ? Unlock the mysteries of your family history and explore the rich tapestry of your past with AncientFaces. becomes full In addition, Rep. Bacon, a retired Air Force brigadier general, has petitioned the navy, asking for French to be considered for a posthumous medal of honor. The AFRO provides readers with good news about the Black community not otherwise found. Hearing voices, he found a life raft filled with 15 wounded men. In 1937 he enlisted in the Navy. Viola during a public appearance at a football game in Omaha, Nebraska clipping of Naval,. Tapestry of your past with AncientFaces across from the article title 1903 into a wholly dysfunctional family Summit... 1941, but re-enlisted after Pearl Harbor, French received a letter of commendation from the article title man in... War hero from Foreman, Arkansas, Sept. 25, 1919, and his friends childhood! 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