Ensign Robert Adrian realized that the currents were pulling the lifeboat back towards a Japanese-held island. 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. He swam six to eight hours in shark-infested waters before being rescued by marines on a navy landing craft. In time it was learned that Charles Jackson French stood 5'8" tall and weighed 195 pounds. The bravery that he demonstrated serves as a reminder of the sacrifices that can be made at any age. There was no escape from racism despite putting your life on the line for your country. The Chicago Defender named him Hero of the Year. urging Congress and President Joe Biden to posthumously award French the Medal of Honor . As one of the survivors, French found himself in the water on a life raft. 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. 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. More at the source. . French was a swimmer who performed a. When Is The Best Time To Buy First Class Airline Tickets? Author and Navy veteran Malcolm Nance got the services attention Sunday when he tagged several official accounts in a Twitter post about French. 80 years later, Omaha hero who swam in shark-infested waters receives Navy honor. This sounds horrendous and it was, but it is just one example of the horrors of war that greeted Black soldiers who had risked their lives for their country with the goal of making it an equitable society for all. The rescued men angrily reacted to this decision, threatening a fight if it wasnt reversed. I will note that the fact that its being discussed now would suggest that that same racism DOESNT exist today. French was the first black swimmer to earn the Navy Medal for his heroism in 1943. French received no medal, only a letter of commendation. This whole story violates the laws of physics. 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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. 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. 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. He pulled off his clothes, had his shipmates help tie a rope around his waist, and dove into the water. The story of Charles Jackson French is little known and marred by the inevitable racism that permeates our history in America. 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. 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. In cases where you shop at Amazon for example you are encouraged to use our links anytime you shop there. To comment or make suggestions on future posts, use Contact Us. Eric Ewing, executive director of the Great Plains Black History Museum, shares remarks at the Hero of the Heartland event. 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. To see the posts, click here. Future Hero of the Heartland events may be held during other heritage months to celebrate heroes among a broad array of diverse ethnic groups. Kind of sounds like it. 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. These are the least desired jobs possible and beneath the White troops. Charles Jackson French died in 1956 and is buried in Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California. As promising as that sounded, that was the most dangerous place to be for fear that they would be captured and executed. Charles Jackson French, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully at the age of 77 on June 17th, 2020. 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Her husband, Floyd, has served on the Caroline Board of Supervisors for. 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. Born in a small town in California, Charles was a man of many talents. In March of 1942, French was assigned to the USS Gregory (APD-3). Schomburg dedicated his life to proving that teacher wrong and Schomburg did an amazing job with his collection. 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. 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. 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. French may have been denied the medal because a Silver Star was awarded to one of his superiors and it was unprecedented to award a higher medal to a subordinate. Rear Adm. Charles Brown presented eight of Frenchs relatives with a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal on May 21 in San Diego. I read about this on Facebook some time ago. Charles Jackson French was a Navy Mess Specialist 1st Class Petty Officer the night the USS Gregory (APD 3) was sunk by Japanese destroyers during the Battle of Guadalcanal. 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. 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. 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. It took so long.. Organizations such as the National Coalition of Black Veteran Organizations have also shown their support. 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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. Ted Carlson, commander of Naval Base San Diego, which makes this recognition of Charles (Jackson) Frenchs heroic actions even more significant.. After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men were adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. 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. After his military service, French developed alcoholism and depression. Adrian also recommended him for a Navy Cross, the Navys second-highest award for valor, but he received only a letter of commendation. Charles Jackson French was an incredible pioneer in the field of civil engineering. UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, speaks to the bravery and courage of Charles Jackson French at the Hero of the Heartland event. No medal. charles jackson french swam 6-8 hours in 1942nd a saved 15 of his crewmates and died in 1956. Benjamin Selph echoed Lis remarks, encouraging those in attendance to take inspiration from Frenchs courageous act. This cartoon by Black artist Charles Alston for the U.S. Office of War Information celebrates the wartime valor of Charles Jackson French and two other Black sailors, Doris "Dorrie" Miller and Ervin Bell. I was elated, said Chester French Jr. of Omaha, Charles nephew, who attended along with several other French family members. Interspersed in these are items from partners with Amazing Black History that allow you to support our work without cost to you as we are paid a small royalty by the partner. Despite the fact that more than one million African Americans served, not a single Black soldier received the Medal of Honor. French saved. He was a talented carpenter, a skilled handyman, and a master of DIY projects. He was a true patriot whose dedication and dedication to country served as a model for future generations. On September 5, 1942, U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French navigated through shark-infested waters with a rope around his waist, towing 15 wounded sailors to safety from. Soon Frenchs name will be immortalized in Omaha, too. Charles Jackson French, an African American orphan, and championship-caliber swimmer navigated shark infested waters for about eight hours during. This is the story of the Stewards, Cooks and Messboys who manned that branch of naval service. He remembers meeting his uncle during World War II just after the famous rescue and being inspired to learn to swim. His wife, Linda, called the event just awesome., It makes you want to cry, she said. French successfully brought the men to safety on the shores of the Solomon Islands. His heroism was recognized in popular culture, though. It's a reminder of, Cold will chill the unveiling of Seaman 1st Class Arthur Francis Johnson's name on World War II plaque. A BILL TO NAME A U.S. POST OFCEFI JUST PAST THE U.S. SENATE. A pool and a letter of commendation dont seem like enough for this true American hero. Charles Jackson French was born in 1919 and grew up in Foreman, Arkansas. U.S. Navy Capt. This meant that if there were family members they had to live in ghettos like the general public. 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. A letter of commendation? 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. He was a mess steward, one of the few positions Black sailors were then allowed to fill in the military. Now many feel that a letter of commendation for a heroic eight hour swim through sharks and enemy shell fire is not enough. 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. 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. 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 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. Both Miller and French have been highly decorated for their service, but Thomas wants to see them awarded the top honor. The injustices of 1940s Jim Crow America are brought to life in this extraordinary blend of military and social history, an account that pays tribute to the valor of an all-black battalion whose crucial contributions at D-day have gone unrecognized to this day. Days later, he went down to his local recruitment office and reenlisted. His work has been featured in psfk.com, foxsports.com, politicususa.com and hillreporter.com. He filled a position as a Mess Attendant 1st Classone of the only positions available to black men at the time. Infested waters for about eight hours during line for your country not a Black. Foreman, Arkansas on future posts, use Contact Us possible and beneath the troops. 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