2022 State Convention | NAACP: The Urgency of Now, 2023 Virginia NAACP Legislative Priorities, Copyright 2023 Charles Jackson French, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully at the age of 77 on June 17th, 2020. Ted Carlson, commander of Naval Base San Diego, which makes this recognition of Charles (Jackson) Frenchs heroic actions even more significant.. Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French was an American hero who gave his life in service of his country. He was particularly noted for his work on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in Maryland, a major engineering feat of its time. Itwould ef. Little is known of his earliest days. He told Adrian, Just keep telling me if Im going the right way. Once daylight broke, the raft was spotted by a scout plane, and a landing crew was sent out to rescue them. This blog was created to share a passion for all things Southern. He is shown here later in his career, as a lieutenant commander. To see this mini-series, click here. Ive always felt glad to be a proud American, Harris said. The ships first class is the Petty Officer 1st Class. Miller wasnt the only African-American hero of World War II, though. To comment or make suggestions on future posts, use Contact Us. Darn guys a stud. He was only referred to as French on the card, though. These sailors and soldiers were welcomed back to American soil with signs that pointed one way for Whites and the other way for Blacks. French was a swimmer who performed a. 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. Author and Navy veteran Malcolm Nance got the services attention Sunday when he tagged several official accounts in a Twitter post about French. He pulled off his clothes, had his shipmates help tie a rope around his waist, and dove into the water. Rep. Don Bacon Honors Navy Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French, Immortal Valor: The Black Medal of Honor Winners of World War II. Former Virginia State Conference (Virginia NAACP) President Linda Thomas put forth a resolution for two Black Veterans who should be awarded the Medal of Honor for their committed acts of extreme valor and heroism but were denied consideration solely because of their race. Charles Jackson French with his sister, Viola, at a Creighton University football game on Oct. 31, 1942, at which he was honored. In June 2022, the President Joe 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. Ted Carlson, commander of Naval Base San Diego. French, who moved to Omaha as a teen, first enlisted in the US Navy in 1937. Ensign Robert Adrian realized that the currents were pulling the lifeboat back towards a Japanese-held island. U.S. Navy Capt. GET LOCAL BREAKING NEWS ALERTS Apparently part of the reason that he did not receive an award was that the Navy was reluctant to give him a medal equal or higher to what his ships commander received, and he was killed in the action. The wording of the letter follows. Brown noted that, with Frenchs name and photo attached to the Navy pool, his story will be told well into the future. Read the full statement. Name a warship after this Hero. On January 11, 1945, French was serving aboard the USS Bunker Hill, an aircraft carrier that was involved in the Battle of Okinawa. Chester French, nephew of Charles Jackson French, shares remarks at the Hero of the Heartland event. The event, held Feb. 9, 2023 in UNO's Milo Bail Student Center, honored Petty Officer 1 st Class Charles Jackson French for his tremendous bravery and efforts in World War II. It is a fact that the victors in battle or those in power in peace write the history of past events to support their views of what should have happened versus the cold hard facts. 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. . The publication for writers and readers to create and read amazing content, Actress, Stage playwright, Author, Motivational Speaker, Teacher Fitness Coach. French towed a raft loaded with his wounded shipmates. I say MOH. 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. Charles Jackson French, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully at the age of 77 on June 17th, 2020. The ensign told French the plan was crazy, that they were surrounded by sharks and he would only get himself killed. American sailors attempted to separate French from the men he had rescued, but they rebelled, and the American sailors relented. Nothing of value. Still, a letter of commendation is completely inadequate for what French did and I dont buy that this cant be considered combat. His wife, Linda, called the event just awesome., It makes you want to cry, she said. He remembers meeting his uncle during World War II just after the famous rescue and being inspired to learn to swim. 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Charles Jackson French, a Black Navy swimmer and petty officer finally gets recognition for his courage to save his White teammates during World War II. While the ship attempted to fight back, the enemy fire was too much. Within days, French, 22, reenlisted. The link to these posts is here. Continue to scroll for fascinating Videos and Books to enhance your learning experience. French was the first black swimmer to earn the Navy Medal for his heroism in 1943. A little more than a week after Thomas first called the Senators office, Kaine wrote letters to President Joe Biden concerning Miller and French. His story was largely forgotten until Bruce Wigo, a former director of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, unearthed it several years ago. www.epmcknight.wixsite.epfitspiration Follow me: Tiktok, imdb.me/epmcknight. A man who served and re-enlisted again when we entered World War II. Charles Jackson French was an incredible pioneer in the field of civil engineering. The story of Charles Jackson French's valor was told in newspapers, on radio dramas, in comics, on a bubble gum card and on this World War II calendar. Inaction has been a great injustice to the goodly Sergeants bravery and sacrifice, for him and his Troops. He exemplified our core values and faced adversity with unwavering grit and selflessness. A 1943 "True Comics" account of the valor of Charles Jackson French after his ship was sunk at Guadalcanal. Future Hero of the Heartland events may be held during other heritage months to celebrate heroes among a broad array of diverse ethnic groups. Benjamin Selph echoed Lis remarks, encouraging those in attendance to take inspiration from Frenchs courageous act. Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French was an American hero who gave his life in service of his country. After tying him off, French swam through shark infested waters for 6-8 hours until an American landing craft found them. 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. This is his jaw-dropping story. 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. We also did a mini-series on the Schomburg Center for Research a most amazing collection of Black history and culture. As a result, he is an inspiring example of the bravery and commitment of our youth. French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. 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, a Black man from Foreman, Arkansas, worked as a mess attendant on a destroyer transport ship named the USS Gregory, according to a 1943 Associated Press article. 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 is not necessary to purchase the item in the link. Charles Jackson French is another unsung Black veteran who demonstrated extreme heroism after his ship was attacked in the early morning of September 5, 1942. He was 37 years old when he died on November 7, 1956, in San Diego, California. You can read more about the Virginia NAACPs work and our six Game Changer issue areas by visiting NAACPVA.org. Thats when French a 22-year-old sailor in the racially segregated messman branch volunteered to tow them to safety, the article states. In 2022, the Navy announced that they would name a pool at their San Diego base in Frenchs honor. This denied qualified service members training that could be used after the military. The story of Charles Jackson French is little known and marred by the inevitable racism that permeates our history in America. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). He will be missed dearly by his family and friends. 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 bill, sponsored by Rep. Don Bacon,cleared the House of Representatives in March. Either wouldeasilybe warranted in my opinion. Adrian also recommended him for a Navy Cross, the Navys second-highest award for valor, but he received only a letter of commendation. Weeks later, he told the story of a heroic mess attendant named "French" who towed a raft full of about 15 wounded sailors including Adrian all night through shark-filled waters until they were rescued. As one of the survivors, French found himself in the water on a life raft. You can use a link to tennis shoes to buy a refrigerator or anything else. Now, 80 years later, the Navy is finally catching up. All DragonDen media is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. His work has been featured in psfk.com, foxsports.com, politicususa.com and hillreporter.com. He was also featured in a 1943 comic book and was honored at halftime during a Creighton University football game. Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French swam through shark-infested waters for hours while towing a raft loaded with 15 of his wounded USS Gregory shipmates. Valor of Charles Jackson French, shares remarks at the hero of the,! 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charles jackson french medal of honor