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. There was a problem saving your notification. Adrian retired from the Navy in 1966 and died in 2011, without succeeding. He certainly earned a much higher award than he was given. Bloomsbury presents Immortal Valor by Robert Child, read by Vaughn Johseph. This blog was created to share a passion for all things Southern. The server is misbehaving. 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. On November 7, 1956, in San Diego, California, Charles Jackson French, 37 at the time, died. 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. Little is known of his earliest days. French, who moved to Omaha as a teen, first enlisted in the US Navy in 1937. 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. Growing Up and Early Naval Days. He also had a passion for gardening and was an avid reader. Future Hero of the Heartland events may be held during other heritage months to celebrate heroes among a broad array of diverse ethnic groups. After the death of his parents, he lived with his older sister, Viola, in Omaha, Nebraska. 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. A self-declared light-skinned woman evasive about her ethnicity, yet steadfast in her love for her 12 Black children. If the Navy and Marine Corps Medal is appropriate for Frenchs action, and by any objective measure it would be, then he ought to get the Navy Cross of MOH. To comment or make suggestions on future posts, use Contact Us. In her pitch, Thomas said, to politicians: If ever youve needed a moment that says, I can look past party and politics and everything else going on in the world, this is it. That led to recognition during the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials held in Omaha in 2021. He swam six to eight hours in shark-infested waters before being rescued by marines on a navy landing craft. 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. Charles Jackson French was born in 1919 and grew up in Foreman, Arkansas. Todd Neikirk is a New Jersey-based politics, entertainment and history writer. S. House of Representatives: Demand a Congressional Medal of Honor for Petty Officer Charles Jackson French - Sign the Petition! French was the first black swimmer to earn the Navy Medal for his heroism in 1943. Continue for more information on the site and posts that may be of interest. The award was presented on May 21, 2022, at Naval Base San Diego, at a ceremony in which the bases rescue swimmer training pool was dedicated in his honor. Perhaps it was that he wasnt considered to be in combat. On Thursday, a billto rename the Benson postal facility at 6223 Maple St. the Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French Post Office cleared the Senate by a unanimous vote. Continue scrolling down for more amazing information, videos, books and value items. French became famous after his commander, Ensign Robert Adrian, told the story on a radio program broadcast across the country. It is not necessary to purchase the item in the link. The rescued men angrily reacted to this decision, threatening a fight if it wasnt reversed. He was born in Foreman, Arkansas on September 25, 1919. 1 of 5. 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. 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. The bravery that he demonstrated serves as a reminder of the sacrifices that can be made at any age. In 2022, the Navy announced that they would name a pool at their San Diego base in Frenchs honor. Generations of Sailors will train [at the pool] and never forget the values and legacy of such a brave American hero.. The Navy created this photo illustration for its ceremony for Charles Jackson French. On May 21, 2022, a dedication ceremony for the bases rescue swimmer training pool in Frenchs honor was held at Naval Base San Diego, during which the award was presented. He re-enlisted after Pearl Harbor where he was assigned to be a mess attendant. For Black History Month 2021, we focused on Black Medical Achievements, Inventors and Scientists.To see those posts, click here. A world class collection of Black History inspired by a 5th grade teacher who told Arturo Schomburg that there was NO African history. Bonus- The Story of Charles Jackson French. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. There is a campaign requesting a Congressional Medal of Honor is awarded to French. During his service, he received a letter of commendation from the commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet, Adm. William F. Halsey, Jr. It is time to honor those who deserve honor! French made public appearances after the rescue, including attending a Creighton University football game with his sister in 1942. Inaction has been a great injustice to the goodly Sergeants bravery and sacrifice, for him and his Troops. French served aboard the USS Houston for four years before returning to Omaha. The publication for writers and readers to create and read amazing content, Actress, Stage playwright, Author, Motivational Speaker, Teacher Fitness Coach. In the end, there were fifteen additional sailors on the raft with the mess attendant. Charles Jackson French is what makes America great. This is the story of Charles Jackson French, who rescued several soldiers during the Battle of Guadalcanal. Aboard a lift raft with several other sailors and drifting towards enemy-held islands, French volunteered to tow the raft himself by swimming. Virginia NAACP President Robert Barnette was pleased to have his Executive Committee give its unanimous support to Mrs. Thomas effort. I guess Pedo Joe has already forgotten about Alwyn Cashe. www.epmcknight.wixsite.epfitspiration Follow me: Tiktok, imdb.me/epmcknight. Dorie Miller is the most well-known African American hero of World War II. French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. Despite the fact that more than one million African Americans served, not a single Black soldier received the Medal of Honor. Charles French was born on September 25, 1919, in Foreman, Arkansas. Required fields are marked *. He told the story to the Associated Press which he also did on NBC radio program It Happened in the Service., Ensign Robert N. Adrian was awarded the Purple Heart and the man who rescued him got a letter meritorious conduct in action. Their orders were to man a curtain of armed balloons meant to deter enemy aircraft. https://chng.it/F8y8w5n2 via @Change He was a talented carpenter, a skilled handyman, and a master of DIY projects. In cases where you shop at Amazon for example you are encouraged to use our links anytime you shop there. The Color of Water: A Black Mans Tribute to His White Mother. French was a swimmer who performed a. 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. While the sailors in the life raft were off the burning ship, they were still in deep trouble. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Schomburg dedicated his life to proving that teacher wrong and Schomburg did an amazing job with his collection. 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. French stayed in the military until the end of the war, then took a civilian job with the Navy in San Diego. towing a boat of wounded survivors by himself i.imgur.com/P1mQDe. French was born in Arkansas in 1919, but moved to Omaha as a youth to live with his married older sister, Viola. There was no escape from racism despite putting your life on the line for your country. 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. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Follow him on Twitter @SteveLiewer. You have permission to edit this article. Ive always felt glad to be a proud American, Harris said. Correction: This story has been corrected to state that the bill passed by the Senate was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Don Bacon. They were spotted and rescued by friendly forces when racism reared its ugly head. Rear Adm. Charles Brown presented eight of French's relatives with a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal on May 21 in San Diego. 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. Thats when French a 22-year-old sailor in the racially segregated messman branch volunteered to tow them to safety, the article states. 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 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. French was honored at the U.S. Olympic swim trials in 2021. Copyrighted content researched and produced by DragonDen Productions ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. For Black History Month 2022 we focused on Health and Wellness in the Black Community. Another of Frenchs nephews, 89-year-old Roscoe Harris of Omaha, also attended, along with two of his own sons and three of his grandsons. Willie Johnson, the youngest person to receive the Medal of Honor, is also the youngest person to receive the medal. Use our links to Amazon anytime you shop Amazon. Thems the devils fish. 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 . The Navy dedicated a pool there to French. His story was largely forgotten until Bruce Wigo, a former director of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, unearthed it several years ago. 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. French enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1937 and served four years. Yet, history has overlooked him. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. He received an honorable discharge on November 11, 1941, but re-enlisted after Pearl Harbor. The Virginia NAACP is focused on being the preeminent voice of Black Virginians and advocating for policies and programs to benefit Blacks and people of color. French, who was manning the anti-aircraft guns, was killed in the ensuing explosion, making him one of the first casualties of the battle. Thats a portrait of a hero. 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. After the rescued ensign recounted the story to The Associated Press and on the radio, French became nationally known as the Human Tugboat. He received a heros welcome in his sisters hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. Person to receive the Medal of Honor for Petty Officer Charles Jackson French was the first swimmer... 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