For Black History Month 2021, we focused on Black Medical Achievements, Inventors and Scientists.To see those posts, click here. charles jackson french swam 6-8 hours in 1942nd a saved 15 of his crewmates and died in 1956. UNOs Hero of the Heartland event continued the long overdue recognition of Frenchs heroism. French saved. The rescued men angrily reacted to this decision, threatening a fight if it wasnt reversed. His work has been featured in psfk.com, foxsports.com, politicususa.com and hillreporter.com. French, who moved to Omaha as a teen, first enlisted in the US Navy in 1937. French was an African American serving at a time when prejudice and discrimination were ever-present in our Armed Forces and society, said Capt. 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French was also the only African American to appear on World War II patriotic trading cards issued by GUM, Inc. It was amplified on social media in spring 2021, prompting USA Swimming to honor him during the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials in Omaha last June. 6001 Dodge Street, Born in a small town in California, Charles was a man of many talents. I was elated, said Chester French Jr. of Omaha, Charles nephew, who attended along with several other French family members. Adrian also recommended him for a Navy Cross, the Navys second-highest award for valor, but he received only a letter of commendation. His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service. There was a problem saving your notification. French was a swimmer who performed a heroic act that gave others another chance at life. Frenchs story was soon told by the War Gum Trading Card Company. Tucked away from Asheville, North Carolina's busy [Read More] about The Little Mountain Escape-The Biltmore House, As a youngster studying American History, we [Read More] about A Hero, Virtually Unknown to History, Was a Vital Part of Our Nations Independence, Copyright 2023 TheSouthern.Life Site design by: weblotech.com, about The Little Mountain Escape-The Biltmore House, about A Hero, Virtually Unknown to History, Was a Vital Part of Our Nations Independence, Read the story of Paul Bolden, Medal of Honor recipient from Alabama, Read the story of John Pruitt, WWI recipient of two Medals of Honor, The Little Mountain Escape-The Biltmore House, A Hero, Virtually Unknown to History, Was a Vital Part of Our Nations Independence. 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. Dismiss. Additionally, it has continued to pursue advocacy objectives that are in line with policies and plans pertaining to veterans of African heritage. According to VSC President Robert Barnette, black veterans have made important contributions over the years to the military might of this country. The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) launched a new series to recognize the courage and heroic deeds of the heroes who call the Omaha area home. 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. On January 11, 1945, French was serving aboard the USS Bunker Hill, an aircraft carrier that was involved in the Battle of Okinawa. Im glad I waited til the evening to read this, its beer:30 hours at Fort Roh-Dog and this cold one is hoisted to the deeds of Messman Charles French. A pool used to train rescue swimmers at Naval Base San Diego also was named in Frenchs honor at the ceremony. He served two stints in the Navy. 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. French was a swimmer who performed a. During the melee, fifteen sailors were put abord a life raft but there was danger that they would drift towards land. These are the least desired jobs possible and beneath the White troops. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Don Bacon,cleared the House of Representatives in March. During his service, he received a letter of commendation from the commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet, Adm. William F. Halsey, Jr. I say MOH. No medal. It is time to honor those who deserve honor! His wife, Linda, called the event just awesome., It makes you want to cry, she said. French, a strong swimmer since youth, volunteered to swim the boat away from the Japanese island. It has been reported that Charles Jackson French simply asked his injured crewmates, Just tell me if Im going the right way. Frenchs example shows that everyone has within themselves the capacity for great bravery. U.S. Navy Capt. C harles Jackson French, a Black Navy swimmer and petty officer finally gets recognition for his courage to save his White teammates during World War II. It is the service's highest award for noncombat heroism . As the 10th State Command Chief Master Sergeant of the Virginia Air National Guard, I take great personal pride in supporting French and Millers application for the Medal of Honor. Jobs People Learning Dismiss Dismiss. During the attack on the USS Gregory, a destroyer, he was aboard in 1943. French was the first black swimmer to earn the Navy Medal for his heroism in 1943. Charles French was born on September 25, 1919, in Foreman, Arkansas. Adrian retired from the Navy in 1966 and died in 2011, without succeeding. He was responsible for the development and construction of hundreds of public works projects during his career. As one of the survivors, French found himself in the water on a life raft. The New York Times best-selling story from the author of The Good Lord Bird, winner of the 2013 National Book Award for Fiction. Now many feel that a letter of commendation for a heroic eight hour swim through sharks and enemy shell fire is not enough. Or even going back to the 90s when a lot of this (blacks finally getting the awards they deserve) started to happen. French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroic actions in 1942. His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service.. This request was also forwarded to the National NAACP office asking for a resolution to be adopted. It took so long.. He pulled off his clothes, had his shipmates help tie a rope around his waist, and dove into the water. Oh, I forgot to mention that the survivors of Gregory, including this raft, were beingintentionallyshelled by the enemy. The waters were shark-infested. 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. Several San Diego Navy leaders spoke. 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. Schomburg dedicated his life to proving that teacher wrong and Schomburg did an amazing job with his collection. You can cancel at any time. Inspiring Stories of Black History and Achievement. During World War II, he served as a U.S. sailor. ABOUT THE VIRGINIA NAACPFounded in 1935, the Virginia State Conference of NAACP Branches (Virginia NAACP) is the oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization in the Commonwealth, overseeing over 100 NAACP branches, youth councils, and college chapters. The Navy and Marine Corps Medal, the highest award for heroism not in combat and the non-combat equivalent of the Navy Cross, had only been created by executive order a month before Frenchs actions. French became famous after his commander, Ensign Robert Adrian, told the story on a radio program broadcast across the country. 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. The first was an enlistment was in 1937 when he served four years before receiving an honorable discharge in 1941. While the ship attempted to fight back, the enemy fire was too much. French swam against the current for between six and eight hours. The Chicago Defender named him Hero of the Year. A BILL TO NAME A U.S. POST OFCEFI JUST PAST THE U.S. SENATE. BZ PO1 French! French had been hailed as the hero of the Solomon Islands after the sinking of his ship, the USS Gregory, on Sept. 5, 1942, near Guadalcanal. Rear Adm. Charles Brown presented eight of Frenchs relatives with a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal on May 21 in San Diego. Charles Jackson French was an incredible pioneer in the field of civil engineering. 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. Todd Neikirk is a New Jersey-based politics, entertainment and history writer. His story was retold in comic strips and trading cards, and he traveled the country to help sell war bonds before enthusiastic crowds. He deserves at least the Navy Cross. You must know this HERO Charles Jackson French, Charles Jackson French survived the destruction of the USS Gregory and then swam for hours dragging a life raft full of his shipmates through Shark infested waters. Rear Adm. Charles Brown presented eight of French's relatives with a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal on May 21 in San Diego. I was happy to see that, as an American Black man, (French) got recognized.. U.S. Navy Capt. French was memorialized on War gum trading cards and in a comic strip. 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. 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. 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. Yeah, I know, not with this illegitimate regime in place. 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. Both Miller and French have been highly decorated for their service, but Thomas wants to see them awarded the top honor. We see many examples of prisoners of war being treated with greater dignity than soldiers wearing American uniforms after suffering injuries, physical, emotional, mental, and even watched death. Charles French managed to load fifteen injured crew members onto a life raft and then tied a rope to the raft and secured the other end to his waist, after which he swam for eight hours through shark-infested water until they were rescued, but received no recommendation for the Medal of Honor. 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 VSC NAACP is in full support of Thomass campaign. Ensign Adrian fought for French to receive the Medal of Honor for his heroic rescue. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Future Hero of the Heartland events may be held during other heritage months to celebrate heroes among a broad array of diverse ethnic groups. Ive always felt glad to be a proud American, Harris said. 2023 A Month of Tribute to 31 Women We Should All Know, Rosewood A Typical Race Riot in America. French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. French was memorialized on War gum trading cards and in a comic strip. He re-enlisted after Pearl Harbor where he was assigned to be a mess attendant. Although he demonstrated extreme bravery, instead of the Medal of Honor, all French received was a nice letter from the U. S. Navy. Little is known of his earliest days. Rep. Don Bacon Honors Navy Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French, Immortal Valor: The Black Medal of Honor Winners of World War II. He was only referred to as French on the card, though. We depend on your support and thank you for it! Ensign Robert Adrian realized that the currents were pulling the lifeboat back towards a Japanese-held island. www.epmcknight.wixsite.epfitspiration Follow me: Tiktok, imdb.me/epmcknight. Growing Up and Early Naval Days. 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. We remember Charles Jackson French, winner of the Navy medal, who swam through the Pacific after his vessel sunk in WWII. When Is The Best Time To Buy First Class Airline Tickets? Charles Jackson French is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. 1603) On June 20, 2022, President Biden signed it into law. If they floated ashore, an ensign on the raft later said, they would be taken as prisoners of war, according to an article on the International Swimming Hall of Fames website. GET LOCAL BREAKING NEWS ALERTS 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. The mess attended tied a rope around his waist and the boat and began the journey. 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. 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