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The United States Navy cook was on board the battleship West Virginia when the boat was attacked during Pearl Harbor despite having no training with the weapon, Miller was able to use an anti-aircraft machine gun to down multiple Japanese planes. As a result, he is an inspiring example of the bravery and commitment of our youth. French was memorialized on War gum trading cards and in a comic strip. 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. This might be the first time I agree with Malcolm Nance. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. But after his parents died, he moved to. Im proud we could come together to recognize his legacy of service and sacrifice.. The information that we present to everyone is extremely important, and a small donation can help us keep it that way. Social media posts over the weekend began highlighting the story of Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French of Foreman, Arkansas, who became a national hero after the destroyer Gregory was sunk Sept. 5, 1942, by Japanese warships near Guadalcanal. This is a close as you can get to a system of slavery as it is forced on the service member. 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 New York Times best-selling story from the author of The Good Lord Bird, winner of the 2013 National Book Award for Fiction. A pool used to train rescue swimmers at Naval Base San Diego also was named in Frenchs honor at the ceremony. The mess attendant rescued his fellow crew members in 1942, after their ship was sunk in the Solomon Islands. Teachers are pumped. 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. He was a generous and kind soul who was always willing to lend a helping hand. Charles Jackson French was discharged from the Navy on Nov. 13, 1941, but reenlisted a month later after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Yet, history has overlooked him. 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. The University prohibits any form of retaliation taken against anyone for reporting discrimination, harassment, or retaliation for otherwise engaging in protected activity. I like TOWs suggestion too. For Black History Month 2022 we focused on Health and Wellness in the Black Community. During his youth, he would often swim in the Red River and became quite adept at it. Well, that was the racism of the times, one has to admit. The rescued men angrily reacted to this decision, threatening a fight if it wasnt reversed. 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. 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. Charles Jackson French, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully at the age of 77 on June 17th, 2020. This meant that if there were family members they had to live in ghettos like the general public. Military.com reports; A movement is gaining steam to recognize a heroic Black sailor from World War II, who towed a raftload of wounded shipmates through shark-infested waters after their ship was sunk in 1942. If you have a story idea, news tip, or other question, please email the UNO News team at unonews@unomaha.edu. Continue for more information on the site and posts that may be of interest. A world class collection of Black History inspired by a 5th grade teacher who told Arturo Schomburg that there was NO African history. We also did a mini-series on the Schomburg Center for Research a most amazing collection of Black history and culture. That inquiry helped bring about last weeks award ceremony. He was a mess steward, one of the few positions Black sailors were then allowed to fill in the military. During his service, he received a letter of commendation from the commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet, Adm. William F. Halsey, Jr. That led to recognition during the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials held in Omaha in 2021. 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. He had been born on Sept. 25, 1919, in Foreman, Arkansas. Future Hero of the Heartland events may be held during other heritage months to celebrate heroes among a broad array of diverse ethnic groups. 6001 Dodge Street, 2022 State Convention | NAACP: The Urgency of Now, 2023 Virginia NAACP Legislative Priorities, Copyright 2023 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. A letter of commendation? 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. 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. The gunfire hit two of the ships boilers and the Gregory was set ablaze by the fire. 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. 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. 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. He was particularly noted for his work on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in Maryland, a major engineering feat of its time. During World War I he served under the name Charles F. Hoffman. Virginia NAACP President Robert Barnette was pleased to have his Executive Committee give its unanimous support to Mrs. Thomas effort. In San Diego in 2022, French's family was presented with his posthumous Navy and Marine Corps medal. French, who moved to Omaha as a teen, first enlisted in the US Navy in 1937. 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. French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. 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. This story or history was written to correct one of the many wrongs in the recording of American History. On September 5, 1942, United States Navy Petty Officer First Class 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 after the ship on which he was serving, the USS Gregory, was hit by Japanese naval fire near Guadalcanal. Phone: 402-444-1186. Their orders were to man a curtain of armed balloons meant to deter enemy aircraft. 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 file. His family was presented with a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal, and a swimming pool used for training at the Naval Base San Diego was dedicated in his honor in May 2022. 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I was happy to see that, as an American Black man, (French) got recognized.. Copyrighted content researched and produced by DragonDen Productions ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 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. He was a true patriot whose dedication and dedication to country served as a model for future generations. I [just] froze and tried to surface and float, [get] my feet outta the water.. 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. 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. Maybe they can stop naming warships after politicians and go back to naming them after actual heroes? While the ship attempted to fight back, the enemy fire was too much. Days later, he went down to his local recruitment office and reenlisted. Took the thoughts right outa my head SFC D. And if the shark had of tried to bite this Hero in those big brass ones, the shark woulda broke off a few teeth. French received a letter of commendation from Admiral Bull Halsey that said; 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. To comment or make suggestions on future posts, use Contact Us. Enter your email address below to receive updates each time we publish new content. His wife, Linda, called the event just awesome., It makes you want to cry, she said. No medal. 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. And while were at it can we please award Alwyn Cashes family his much deserved MOH.please. 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. The ultimate insult! Rear Adm. Charles Brown presented eight of French's relatives with a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal on May 21 in San Diego. Bonus- The Story of Charles Jackson French. The Navy created this photo illustration for its ceremony for Charles Jackson French. Charles Jackson French was born in 1919 and grew up in Foreman, Arkansas. https://chng.it/F8y8w5n2 via @Change 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. 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! French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. On September 4th of 1942, the USS Gregory found itself under attack from Japanese destroyers. BZ PO1 French! The actions of the French will never be forgotten, as will their ultimate sacrifice. Ensign Robert Adrian was fresh out of the Naval Academy and a junior officer on the Navy destroyer USS Gregory when it was sunk near Guadalcanal on Sept. 5, 1942. It is not necessary to purchase the item in the link. This whole story violates the laws of physics. He was born in Foreman, Arkansas on September 25, 1919. French towed a raft loaded with his wounded shipmates. We remember Charles Jackson French, winner of the Navy medal, who swam through the Pacific after his vessel sunk in WWII. The publication for writers and readers to create and read amazing content, Actress, Stage playwright, Author, Motivational Speaker, Teacher Fitness Coach. Charles French was born on September 25, 1919, in Foreman, Arkansas. 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. Itwould ef. French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroic actions in 1942. Born in a small town in California, Charles was a man of many talents. The Hero of the Heartland event will honor additional local heroes in the coming years. Custer is the first soldier in US history to receive the militarys highest honor twice, as well as the first to do so twice. The Color of Water: A Black Mans Tribute to His White Mother. 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. The French and five other brave sailors swam for up to eight hours to rescue all but eleven of the crew after they were stranded on the sea. Schomburg dedicated his life to proving that teacher wrong and Schomburg did an amazing job with his collection. 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. To see the posts, click here. Ensign Robert Adrian realized that the currents were pulling the lifeboat back towards a Japanese-held island. 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. He deserves at least the Navy Cross. The Chicago Defender named him Hero of the Year. This post office renaming is important to his family, the community of Omaha, and the state of Nebraska. 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. 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. He died in 1956, at age 37, of depression and alcoholism from untreated post-traumatic stress, family members say. This is his jaw-dropping story. 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. Notably, the letter reduced the hours French spent swimming from six-eight to two. Thats a portrait of a hero. He pulled off his clothes, had his shipmates help tie a rope around his waist, and dove into the water.

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