Learn more about managing a memorial . O6z ` ~+ On September 5, 1942, United States Navy Messman 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. French, one of the only uninjured sailors, discarded his waterlogged clothing, tied a rope around his waist, and started to swim. After a Japanese attack in the Pacific during WWII, the Navy petty officer swam through shark-infested waters towing a life raft that was tied around his waist. Along with stevedore and steward, mess attendant was one of the few occupations open to African American men in the navy. French successfully brought the men to safety on the shores of the Solomon Islands. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Jackson French was a 23 year-old orphan from Foreman, Arkansas who had enlisted in the navy in 1937. Its surviving men were plunged into shark-infested waters as the Japanese fired on them. French saved the lives of more than a dozen Sailors by swimming through the night, dragging a raft full of injured shipmates through shark-infested waters. 0000003092 00000 n Its a story of the best of who we are.. May we all proceed and help others with the courage and strength of Messman Charles Jackson French, a name that will never be forgotten. His main claim to fame (sounds strange to say that about a king of . After turning 18, he joined the Navy and was a mess attendant, one of the few jobs that Black sailors were regulated too. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. Hearing voices, he found a life raft filled with 15 wounded men. French was one of six Sailors who swam through the night and up to eight hours, rescuing all but 11 members of Gregorys crew. endstream endobj 265 0 obj <> endobj 266 0 obj [285 0 R] endobj 267 0 obj <>stream Born Sept. 25, 1919, French died on Nov. 7, 1956, at 37. The pilot dispatched a Marine landing craft to pick them up. m>5(hWbr09kl~UY_+`/Nm3nkJ@/9ByIm%*lnQylK1i%{#iptztv2l#1!@9P zk2zdhCF d8znYGE(0Lt(C5M3F+|tx$Cwp5rqbCL lHo5V}U; GW@OV-'ig%}6;]/kUuFX=ue` ^ At the time, Black and white pools were segregated, making it difficult for Black people to find opportunities to learn to swim. Similar read: Meet Frank Emi, a WWII Hero You Need To Know. He was buried in Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery Section N Site 490, San Diego, California. Year should not be greater than current year. During World War II,[1] messmate French swam 68 hours in shark-infested waters near Guadalcanal while towing a life raft with 15 USSGregory(DD-82) survivors of an attack by the Japanese Imperial Navy. Try again. Outside of searching through keyword data and creating blogs, he enjoys creating cocktails, cooking, and enjoying the Beautiful Game. French was assigned to the mess (kitchen) as an attendant. STEWARDS MATE 1/C US NAVY WORLD WAR II On September 5, 1942, United States Navy Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French, of Omaha Nebraska, 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 USS Gregory was hit by Japanese naval fire near Guadalcanal. He was a powerful swimmer, and swam all night, 6 to 8 hours, until they were eventually saved by a landing craft. French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. French saved the lives of more than a dozen Sailors by swimming through the night, dragging a raft full of injured shipmates through shark-infested waters. 4th of July 2022: Celebrating the Birth of Our Nation & Its Heroes, Military Appreciation Month 2022: Saluting Those Who Serve, Veterans Day 2022: Celebrating Those Whove Served, Meet Frank Emi, a WWII Hero You Need To Know, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the all-Black female 6888th Central Postal Battalion, demand a Congressional Medal of Honor for Petty Officer Charles Jackson French, New Study Surfaces Detailing Racial Discrimination in the Military, Here are 200 Remote Jobs for Veterans in 2023. 0000110683 00000 n Adrian, though superficially wounded, was able to hang on. French rescued 15 wounded sailors after the ship he was on was bombed. French was the first black swimmer to earn the Navy Medal for his heroism in 1943. Charles Jackson French, an African-American orphan, and championship-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. In 1956, French died in San Diego at age 37, outlets report . Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. [8] The commendation stated: 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. Wounded and dying, the skipper ordered two companions to leave him and go to the aid of another crewman who was yelling for help, historians wrote. Oops, something didn't work. But Frenchs ordeal didnt end there. 0000004154 00000 n Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. He had first enlisted in the Navy in 1937[1] and had completed his enlistment, moving to Omaha, Nebraska where he had family. Adrian told him it was impossible that he would only be giving himself up to the sharks that surrounded them "French responded that he was not afraid. Since 2018 there has been renewed interest in recognizing Charles Frenchs heroism more appropriately. By. Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French passed away on November 7th, 1956 at the age of 37. Thanks for your help! H\n0Fy The first was an enlistment was in 1937 when he served four years before receiving an honorable discharge in 1941. And white soldiers and local white residents routinely slurred and harassed them.. HUKo0WEo@-0cmVbHJO40`~H#)QzU2:A./nnIyU$"b}V$9,%,L3SBC.F6k*\f0tJ-. Charles French was born on September 25, 1919, in Foreman, Arkansas. 0000002550 00000 n You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. 0000000016 00000 n #wzCa3H'HnmBfOhS9A^dexl(wu%pp; /[GL] E$ * 0000002403 00000 n This conversation with Charles Jackson French occurred shortly after the Korean War. Black Past reports that he suffered from alcoholism and depression, and passed away on Nov. 7, 1956, in San Diego, California. based on information from your browser. Ive always felt glad to be a proud American, his nephew, Roscoe Harris, told the Omaha World-Herald, after attending his uncles medal ceremony. With heavy hearts, we announce the death of Charles Gilpin Jackson (Downingtown, Pennsylvania), who passed away on February 23, 2023 at the age of 73. . He went into the service as a mess attendant, the only rate then available to . Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. The ensign told French the plan was crazy, that. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. zH#mAqtI endstream endobj 268 0 obj <>stream At sunrise, an American scout finally spotted him and the others and sent rescue. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Growing Up and Early Naval Days. Charles Jackson French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. nv]Ps;d4=;.%6HF>|m}hQIk5C).vH x3F:D0efNyh>x?EKJR1Vr #i DD2o0P_zsYje!o,V For the next six to eight hours, French tirelessly swam as sharks got so close that they sometimes brushed against his legs. Charles Jackson French - Unknown Hero. When Adrian told French that the current was carrying them toward the Japanese occupied island, French. It wasnt until 1988 that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was promoted by President Ronald Reagan to the cabinet executive level. John H. Murphy, Sr., a former enslaved man founded the AFRO in 1892 with $200 from his wife, Martha Howard Murphy. Seer. "Omaha Negro Hero of Ship Disaster," (Columbus, Neb. He received an honorable discharge on November 11, 1941, but re-enlisted after Pearl Harbor. In 1776, one vote gave America the English language instead of German. Story highlights. After decades of fighting, right when the French cause seemed the most lost, she led Charles's forces to victory after victory. The 23-year-old helped injured sailors onto a makeshift raft and when U.S. Navy Ensign Robert Adrian told him that the current would pull the raft toward a Japanese-occupied island volunteered to jump in the water and pull the raft in the other direction. 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 the . Charles Jackson French (September 25, 1919 November 7, 1956) was a United States Navy sailor. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Charles VII, byname Charles The Well-served, orThe Victorious, French Charles Le Bien-servi, orLe Victorieux, (born Feb. 22, 1403, Parisdied July 22, 1461, Mehun-sur-Yvre, Fr. And by the time he was 18, French decided to strike out on his own and enlist in the U.S. Navy. On the French side was Philip VI, first cousin of Charles IV. However he learned to swim, Frenchs days in Foreman were numbered. TwitterCharles Jackson French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his bravery. z:RA" ERAZC@ She graduated from Oberlin College, where she earned a double degree in American History and French. The 89-year-old added: I was happy to see that, as an American Black man, (French) got recognized.. 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. "Abandon ship!" Many of the bases and training facilities were located in the South, in addition to the largest military installation for Black soldiers, Fort Huachuca, located in Arizona. Adrian and other white Americans owe their LIVES to a black man whom he identified as a mess attendant named French,' the Pittsburgh Courier, a Black newspaper, wrote after French was identified. Some speculate that alcoholism played a role, as there are some reports of French having to deal with the stresses of returning from war alone. French successfully brought the men to safety on the shores of the Solomon Islands. The waters were shark-infested. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. We conducted nine more studies with nearly 5,500 participants, mostly . Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. After his parents died, he moved to Omaha, Nebraska, to live with his sister. His mission was to rescue fellow soldiers. Still, the man that we know and remember is one whos a testament to doing the right thing even when its not easy and putting others before yourself. Charles Jackson French was memorialized on War Gum trading cards, in syndicated comic strips, on calendars, and The Chicago Defender named him Hero of the Year. French has been honored in other ways, too. This is the family of Charles Jackson French. Joinhere! DEFENCE attorney and CNN legal analyst Midwin Charles died at the age of 47. Once Charles Jackson French was identified, he became a national hero. Charles De Gaulle in Algiers, Algeria, June 1958, where he made an ambiguous and broad emotional appeal to all inhabitants, declaring "Je vous ai compris" (I have understood you). This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. 0000010122 00000 n Towards the end of his life, he was admitted to the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital in Saranac Lake, New York after a relapse of tuberculosis. 1. 0000164266 00000 n Fearing that the raft would drift toward the shore where Japanese troops were located, French towed the raft of wounded survivors toward a different island. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. After sunrise, French and his fellow Sailors were spotted and eventually rescued. -- The story of Charles Jackson French captured the attention of Omaha in the weeks ahead of the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials. Charles Jackson French, an African American orphan, and championship-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 was the first black swimmer to earn the Navy Medal for his heroism in 1943. Francis II was born in 1544. . On September 5, 1942, USS Gregory was hit by Japanese naval fire near Guadalcanal and sank. Dr. Frances Toni Draper announces retirement from pastorship at Freedom Temple AME Zion Church, 130 years of excellence: AFRO Gala set to kick anniversary celebration into high gear. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Following the death of his parents, Louis' tutors provided him with poor interpersonal skills. He was serving as a mess man on the USS Gregory when it was sunk by Japanese forces near the Solomon Islands . The newspaper continued: Although Mess Attendant Charles Jackson French of Arkansas was not in a heroic job, he MADE a heroic job out of it. He was only 37 years old. "Then French volunteered to swim the raft away from shore. But finally, after six decades, his heroic acts during World War II are finally being recognized and rewarded. French was born in Foreman, Arkansas in about 1920. He was never seen again. But, while his heroic story was later made public, Charles Jackson French received little recognition during his life. Adrian, though superficially wounded, was able to hang on. Sadly, it wasn't much of a fight. After his parents died, he left Arkansas and moved in with his married, older sister Viola in Omaha, Nebraska. 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