She graduated from Oberlin College, where she earned a double degree in American History and French. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. A few months after his 18th birthday, French joined the Navy as a Mess Attendant one of the only positions open to black men at the time. There was a problem getting your location. The story, incredible. Charles Jackson French Obituary. ishof.org/assets. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. There is no real piety without heroism. In addition, Rep. Bacon, a retired Air Force brigadier general, has petitioned the navy, asking for French to be considered for a posthumous medal of honor. Failed to report flower. Adrian attempted to talk French into getting out of the shark-infested waters, but French responded that he was more afraid of the Japanese than he was of the sharks. Perhaps out of fear of global embarrassment, Adm. William F. Halsey Jr. sent French a letter of commendation. In addition to the War Gum trading card, his story was told in syndicated comic strips, on calendars and he made public appearances across the country to promote the sale of War Bonds. endstream endobj 265 0 obj <> endobj 266 0 obj [285 0 R] endobj 267 0 obj <>stream 0000189970 00000 n Charles Jackson French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. 0000104051 00000 n In addition to the War Gum trading card, his story was told in syndicated comic strips, on calendars and he made public appearances across the country to promote the sale of War Bonds. 2021, https://omaha.com/news/local/nebraska-reps-seek-to-name-benson-post-office-for-black-omaha-wwii-hero/article_66699ca0-d8ff-11eb-aee6-474cdd1763ba.htm; Bruce Wigo, Memorial Day Rewind: The Forgotten Hero of WWII, SwimmingWorld.com, May 30, 2021, https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/memorial-day-rewind-the-forgotten-hero-of-wwii/. 0000175553 00000 n 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 saved. Twitter Charles Jackson French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his bravery. French was a swimmer who performed a. With the attack on Pearl Harbor, French went to the closest recruitment office, and on December 19, 1941, re-enlisted in the United States Navy. 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. There is a problem with your email/password. The pilot dispatched a Marine landing craft to pick them up. While we may never hope to be in such a perilous situation, life will inevitably throw uncomfortable situations our way. [10], In June 2022, President 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.[11]. Charles Jackson French 1919 - 1956 . 0000003885 00000 n It didnt stop the Foreman, Ark., native and avid swimmer since the age of 8, from tying a rope around his waist, jumping into the waters and defying the multitude of sharks that hungrily searched for prey. 0000110559 00000 n When the USS Gregory sank in 1942, a mess hall officer named Charles Jackson French dragged a raft full of his wounded crewmates to safety through shark-infested waters. It included massacres, the genocide of the Holocaust, strategic bombing, premeditated death from starvation and disease and the only use of nuclear weapons in war. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. To serve side-by-side with his fellow troops knowing the unfair treatment he faced is one thing, but to be willing to put his body under such duress to save them is beyond heroic. As he later recounted, as recorded by Chester Wright in Black Men and Blue Water, French and other uninjured soldiers were taken to a rest camp by their rescuers, who wanted to separate French from the white sailors. That night he went to bed, slept uneasily, and awoke at about 7 a.m. Charles's grandfather died before his birth on October 10, 1332. 0000004758 00000 n Understanding the actions French took for them, the crew became angry, demanded that French wasnt leaving, and stated that anyone who had a problem could catch hands. OMAHA, Neb. Hearing voices, he found a life raft filled with 15 wounded men. #CharlesJacksonFrench #CharlesJacksonFrenchOfDeath #CelebritiesCauseOfDeath Charles Jackson French Cause of Death (Mar 2021) Obituary, Death, Reason Show more Show more ER doctor who treated. Following the death of his parents, Louis' tutors provided him with poor interpersonal skills. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. 0000005539 00000 n 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. The letter read, in part, 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 Sept. 5, 1942. [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. Adrian had never learned Frenchs full name he and the others only knew him as French but he fully credited him for their rescue that day. We conducted nine more studies with nearly 5,500 participants, mostly . Thanks for your help! Then French volunteered to swim the raft away from shore. zH#mAqtI 0000125243 00000 n 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. 0000184407 00000 n Charles Jackson French (25 September 1919 - 7 November 1956) [1] was an American war hero from Foreman, Arkansas. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. The Navy plans to dedicate a rescue swimming training pool in May 2022 at Naval Base San Diego to French in honor of his heroic actions during the Battle of Guadalcanal. Outside of searching through keyword data and creating blogs, he enjoys creating cocktails, cooking, and enjoying the Beautiful Game. 0000012998 00000 n 0000189418 00000 n 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. Michael Jackson was a superstar singer who shot to fame as a child Credit: GETTY When did Michael Jackson die? The story of Charles Jackson Frenchs heroism was later made public by Adrian, who described it on a radio program called It Happened in the Service in October 1942, according to Swimming World Magazine. Our appreciation of these words is quickened during these days as we read in the dailies and weeklies of the nation of the brave Following his re-enlistment, Charles Jackson French was assigned to the USS Gregory as a Stewards Mate 1st class. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Steve Liewer, Nebraska Reps Seek to Name Benson Post Office for Black Omaha WWII Hero. Omaha World-Herald, June 29. He re-enlisted after Pearl Harbor where he was assigned to . He was only 37 years old. After the war the officers of the unit that killed the white unit were executed for war crimes. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. 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. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. [6][7] For this action, French received a letter of commendation from Adm. William F. Halsey Jr. in May 1943. 0000012613 00000 n Make sure that the file is a photo. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. French was lucky enough to escape without much harm and began gathering injured Sailors to put into a raft. Ensign Adrian was the only one on the bridge to survive and floated over into the water as the ship sank below him. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? In 2005, based on results from the DNA research, Jackson's involvement was revealed in the following murders: John Henry Murphy Sr.; Slave. Jermaine La Jaune Jackson is the fourth of Joe and Katherine's children. In the aftermath, French helped fifteen wounded survivors from the ship into a life raft. French performed valiantly on September 5, 1942 disregarding his own personal safety to help save the lives of 15 wounded shipmates.". We have set your language to On September 5, 1942, USS Gregory was hit by Japanese naval fire near Guadalcanal and sank. r\a W+Y f%`VY f%`V According to Swimming World Magazine, Frenchs rank was elevated above a mere mess mate, but he and others were still derided in the Black press as seagoing bellhops.. DEFENCE attorney and CNN legal analyst Midwin Charles died at the age of 47. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. endstream endobj 257 0 obj <>/Metadata 35 0 R/Pages 34 0 R/StructTreeRoot 37 0 R/Type/Catalog/ViewerPreferences<>>> endobj 258 0 obj <>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/TrimBox[0.0 0.0 612.0 792.0]/Type/Page>> endobj 259 0 obj <> endobj 260 0 obj <> endobj 261 0 obj <> endobj 262 0 obj <> endobj 263 0 obj <>stream [3], French was an orphan from Foreman, Arkansas[4] who learned to swim in the Red River at the age of eight.[5]. 0000004154 00000 n Charles Jackson French faced all of this and more during his time of service and helped save many lives through grit and bravery. The story of a Black Navy vet who saved 15 of his crewmates during World War II was only known among a few families for many years. 4=yDZ &yK[ #x+T.$P"> Ty\I @44mP_dFI+ Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. When the USS Gregory sank in 1942, a mess hall officer named Charles Jackson French dragged a raft full of his wounded crewmates to safety through shark-infested waters. . Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. After reading about Charles Jackson French, discover the story of Doris Miller, a Black ships cook who became a naval hero during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Charles Jackson French died young, his World War II heroism mostly forgotten, even in the place he called home: San Diego. Francis II was born in 1544. And as sharks circled below, and Japanese soldiers fired from all around, a Black mess officer named Charles Jackson French leaped into action. Do you find this information helpful? HUKo0WEo@-0cmVbHJO40`~H#)QzU2:A./nnIyU$"b}V$9,%,L3SBC.F6k*\f0tJ-. The ship was severely damaged after only minutes and began to sink into the shark-infested waters. John H. Murphy, Sr., a former enslaved man founded the AFRO in 1892 with $200 from his wife, Martha Howard Murphy. He was survived by his sister Viola. On a pitch-black night in 1942, the waters of the Pacific Ocean near Savo Island and Guadalcanal suddenly lit up with gunfire. Then, on Sept. 5, 1942, the USS Gregory and the USS Little were attacked by Japanese destroyers around 1 a.m. while patrolling the waters near Savo Island and Guadalcanal. Public DomainCharles Jackson French was assigned to the USS Gregory, which was destroyed in September 1942. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Charles Jackson French I found on Findagrave.com. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Death 17 Nov 1968 (aged 51) Burial. He was survived by his sister Viola. The tragic news of her death was announced by her family on her Twitter and Instagram accounts on April 6, 2021. He had spent his last tour cruising around the Pacific. 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. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland. Try again. If legends surrounding his death are to be believed, Charles the Bad's death was equally as unpleasant as his life. Adrian, though superficially wounded, was able to hang on. zP|CY`oRHw`)UV\[|d/X3"{JrX1}qI_ji7`;LZ2[!x7)X+f$'^"#au"jJm&?i+ After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men was adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. Find the nearest body of water to you. Together they created a platform to offer images and stories of hope to advance their community. By. He was serving as a mess man on the USS Gregory when it was sunk by Japanese forces near the Solomon Islands . I knew that if we floated ashore wed be taken as prisoners of war, he said. After decades of fighting, right when the French cause seemed the most lost, she led Charles's forces to victory after victory. ), Interment Control Forms, 19281962. Mess Attendant 1st Class Charles Jackson French, known only at the time by his last name, was on Gregory that night. 0000101669 00000 n Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French passed away on November 7th, 1956 at the age of 37. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. His former co-stars shared the story of young French's death on social media. 0000012696 00000 n But now through social media, the tale of Petty Officer Charles Jackson French is being shared to thousands of . Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French was hailed as the hero of the Solomons and the Human Tugboat after a heroic rescue in the Pacific during World War II. hl/CQ?!yEAb [$~$HH5" ? Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox, Revolutionized American Warfare, Taylor Sheridan Is Taking on the Military World With New Spy Thriller, Mission Daybreak Rewards Those Fighting Against Veteran Suicide With Millions, Volunteers Needed for the Million Veteran Program. In London, King Charles I is beheaded for treason on January 30, 1649. But since then, theres been a push to give this forgotten World War II hero his due. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. z:RA" ERAZC@ The Chicago Defender named him Hero of the Year. HTM0+|] r7CJ1qh,ofo!l22}4go5 %Y,VkWdV0Rl'GDD+"A[*qMQV.:7yj~UO8z"a)/AW_zwU(:eE>W0T x'?CsJEJ0B~|!Sed8y%>%lI8 ~f0&Y|q`e'Z3%>UJ+0Q,Oi6Z?pQYCGUw } X:jSlS8*%Qs&@SFCe1j;A*dr|JWx@!66mNs/&GAxy2 c3q:m ;">7 This video talks about the death news of Charles Jackson French who passed away many years ago.With deep heart we remember Charles Jackson French, an American war hero from Foreman, Arkansas, who died on 7 November 1956. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). 0000164266 00000 n Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. 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. . As a Mess Attendant 3rd Class, his job was to serve meals to white officers and sailors, clear their tables and keep the mess "not a mess." Charles Jackson was first enlisted in the United States Navy in 1937 and had completed his enlistment, moving to Omaha, Nebraska where he lived with his family. U[[[[[[[[[[`+{W]wEJ~wE+{WTx{7n4x= FOi4x= FOi|FgT"X,p.R~P;[+m*vi7p\ZOW 8 CNN's legal analyst Midwin Charles died aged 47 Credit: Getty. On a pitch-black night in 1942, the startxref Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Baltimore, MD Office Help us Continue to tell OUR Story and join the AFRO family as a member subscribers are now members! Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. 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. Just tell me if Im going the right way, French said as he began to tow the raft full of injured Sailors, according to a 1942 radio dramatization introducing Adrian to tell Frenchs story. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Charles French (72213738)? 0000054932 00000 n This browser does not support getting your location. m1zQ+Q=,m ZpS#Ar4HB|jP;eKKFZIz loT~Lwz8XZ+ $2=CWH#r#Tm#e4Y#jW#QX:0;"-Q:HA@(2+dh!`Z6-$Hh1bS{RoQ#-2 G=A}k 8B9Ns~#^Z-0I0L%%l^UjT7;Bw0 29iGjoU6[QqgYB6,)-$tWga(PC`[ImnM!bxyghkxH> ' W [2] Contents 1 Meritorious conduct in action 2 Resting place 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External links Meritorious conduct in action H\@ytu$ K"Ag2,!t4v9zpmLgws,O/t?4>s8v=]~xnvm/i;~>|IP7qsE:zO:}u]q*pb~{+pI.[#o7;9 T=%y .^ Vl`zzxzzzx yX+ 0000002222 00000 n A staff writer for All That's Interesting, Kaleena Fraga has also had her work featured in The Washington Post and Gastro Obscura, and she published a book on the Seattle food scene for the Eat Like A Local series. He is also recognized by the International Swimming Hall of Fame. He received an honorable discharge on November 11, 1941, but re-enlisted after Pearl Harbor. 0000012928 00000 n Foreman, Little River County, Arkansas, USA, San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA. French successfully brought the men to safety on the shores of the Solomon Islands. 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. A Black man serving in the segregated armed forces, French was credited with saving wounded shipmates during WWII. 0000007741 00000 n [9], French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroic actions. He was celebrated across the country, featured in a comic strip, and lauded by the Black press. HUmo0/Fj'C&ThnR34M&-83(>g9t&i&M$]u8#J"I+K*$eS,tY9Jw*/dZZdW+uES3 n %}*ht0.x'AK){O"Nui -4Rdm9X{H$gU~7V;"~[L;ubr=@xd Charles ascended to the English throne in 1625 following the death of his father, King James I. Little did he know that three weeks before his 23rd birthday, French would become a Navy hero. 0000189895 00000 n The situation caused the English royal house of Plantagenet and the French royal House of Valois to lock horns over the throne of France. SAN DIEGO - The Navy dedicated a surface rescue swimmer training pool located at Naval Base San Diego (NBSD) in honor of Steward's Mate 1st Class Charles Jackson French Saturday, May 21, 2022. After his service on the USS Gregory, Charles Jackson French didnt rest on his laurels. With Adrian amongst the rescued Sailors on board the raft, French started to tie a rope around his waist. @Ll&F"|s^`l"1~#L-;x?z>G6?QUTNA/"yVb]-ef6&u&:3'rjW7D]UH)PpA-+vKN|Vz1Jb#c BF6P)cjTu #A Charles Jackson French, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully at the age of 77 on June 17th, 2020. Charles IV of France died in 1328 without a male heir. Family members linked to this person will appear here. 0000055359 00000 n Please try again later. Try again later. Charles Jackson French was born in 1919 and grew up in Foreman, Arkansas. 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. I can assure you that all the men on that raft are grateful to mess attendant French for his brave action off Guadacanal that night, Adrian said. 1140 3rd St., 2nd Flr, NE 21 comments 96% Upvoted This thread is archived New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast Sort by As a Black man, French had virtually no other choice than to work as a mess attendant. As noted at history.com, the 1.2 million African Americans who served in World War II fought for democracy overseas while being treated as second-class citizens by their own country. Try again later. Learn more about merges. If ever there was a time for survival mode, its the middle of the night when youre injured and your ship is sinking into the ocean. 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. 0 cemeteries found in San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA. We havent even mentioned the racism yet. 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. Instead of a medal, he was sent a letter of commendation.. On the night of September 4, 1942, during the Battle of Guadalcanal, the USS Gregory was struck by an attack from multiple Japanese destroyers. 0000125864 00000 n On the night of September 4, 1942, during the Battle of Guadalcanal, the USS Gregory was struck by an attack from multiple Japanese destroyers. 0000010122 00000 n The AFRO knows what its like to endure challenging times. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. 0000012751 00000 n A United States Navy messman, French courageously acted after the Japanese navy struck a U.S. ship in the South Pacific during the conflict. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Swimming until sunrise, French and the 15 Sailors on the raft he was towing were spotted by a scout aircraft. French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. . 0000110683 00000 n However he learned to swim, Frenchs days in Foreman were numbered. 4168 to rename an Omaha post office for French. Dozens of Americans were killed and many others wounded, including French. But, while his heroic story was later made public, Charles Jackson French received little recognition during his life. French was the first black swimmer to earn the Navy Medal for his heroism in 1943. And white soldiers and local white residents routinely slurred and harassed them.. Lest We Forget. i6 oSs$tXE`q8X4A`q8X4][D28c}SKYjn1gwQ]7/ O Charles J. French, Naval Hero born. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. French rescued 15 wounded sailors after the ship he was on was bombed. 0000012814 00000 n 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 died on November 7, 1956, in San Diego, California; he was only 37 years old. He has seven children. Francis was the first in a series of four French princes, children of Henri and Catherine de Medici, all of whom died young. Charles Jackson French, on the other hand, was slowly forgotten. And all the author could get from him was "Them white boys stood up for me." After the death of his parents, he lived with an older sister, Viola, in Omaha, Nebraska. 0000164150 00000 n Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. On 1 February 1685, instead of walking his spaniels as usual in St James's Park, a park whose construction he had himself funded, Charles, plagued by a leg ulcer, perhaps secondary to gout, went for a carriage ride. I want to do my part, because Im already trained and I can start right away, French said at the time. Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. 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. A jury must decide if AEG Live contributed to his death by . The U.S. Navy Office Of Information reports that the Gregory, outgunned, sank after just three minutes. HTo0~_G#C@*%imVMNcW/RgR};;ww_@o.@r"?%YDiA,~J6adlm8Q35:P/0|mc2?wW8m.Or \mz{.-GJ^{ "Abandon ship!" Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Jackson French was a 23 year-old orphan from Foreman, Arkansas who had enlisted in the navy in 1937. French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. xref Charles French was born on September 25, 1919, in Foreman, Arkansas. Seer. 0000125754 00000 n The first was an enlistment was in 1937 when he served four years before receiving an honorable discharge in 1941. Along with stevedore and steward, mess attendant was one of the few occupations open to African American men in the navy. (Photo: Pinterest / Mia Corseca), By Stacy M. Brown cemeteries found in San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Wright notes that his death didnt merit even two paragraphs in the San Diego press when he died in 1937. He had enlisted in the United States Navy in 1937. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. After his release, Macmillan Publishers gave him an advance for a new book. More like this: New Study Surfaces Detailing Racial Discrimination in the Military, Filed Under: Military History Tagged With: Black military history, Charles Jackson French, Navy. A depiction of French's heroic actions was included in the WWII Commemorative Card Set produced by Gum Inc., based in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. #CharlesJacksonFrench #CharlesJacksonFrenchOfDeath #CelebritiesCauseOfDeathCharles Jackson French Cause of Death (Mar 2021) Obituary, Death, ReasonCharles Jackson French Cause of Death-Do you want to get all details related to Charles Jackson Frenchs Death? Pictured is Charles with his sister Viola during a public appearance at a football game in Omaha, Nebraska,1943. Uline Arena Building ancestry.com, "Chicago Defender Interviews Navy Hero on Rescues," (Chicago), Black Swimming History: Forgotten Hero of WWII, https://ishof.org/assets/charles-jackson-french_article.pdf, "How Charles French swam eight hours in shark waters to save 15 U.S sailors in WWII", "Navy Dedicates Rescue Swimmer Training Pool and Presents Posthumous Award to WWII Hero's Family", "Remembering a Forgotten World War II Hero", "Omaha post office to be renamed in honor of local World War II hero", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Charles_Jackson_French&oldid=1116036338, This page was last edited on 14 October 2022, at 13:20. 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. Despite African American soldiers eagerness to fight in World War II, the same Jim Crow discrimination in society was practiced in every branch of the armed forces, historians at the website wrote. That's when French -- a 22-year-old sailor in the racially segregated messman branch -- volunteered to tow them to safety, the article states. Born on Sept. 29, 1919, Charles Jackson French spent his early years in Foreman, Arkansas. 0000125638 00000 n cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 0000005708 00000 n "Then French volunteered to swim the raft away from shore. In addition to the War Gum trading card, his story was told in syndicated comic strips, on calendars and he made. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. Failed to remove flower. Sadly, it wasn't much of a fight. m>5(hWbr09kl~UY_+`/Nm3nkJ@/9ByIm%*lnQylK1i%{#iptztv2l#1!@9P zk2zdhCF d8znYGE(0Lt(C5M3F+|tx$Cwp5rqbCL lHo5V}U; GW@OV-'ig%}6;]/kUuFX=ue` ^ After the death of his parents, he lived with his older sister, Viola, in Omaha, Nebraska. The 89-year-old added: I was happy to see that, as an American Black man, (French) got recognized.. OMAHA, Neb. After his parents died, he moved to Omaha, Nebraska, to live with his sister. Pictured is Charles with his sister Viola during a public appearance at a football game in Omaha, Nebraska,1943. The Little-Known Story Of World War II Hero Charles Jackson French And The 15 Sailors He Saved. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Ive always felt glad to be a proud American, his nephew, Roscoe Harris, told the Omaha World-Herald, after attending his uncles medal ceremony. He asked for help to tie a rope around his waist and towed them to safety. 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. Outgunned, Gregory only lasted three minutes from the time the flares were dropped to the time she began to sink. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. ;P"f What happened next would take Navy Messman Charles Jackson French from the mess hall and into quiet adoration for his bravery. Photo of Charles Jackson French and his sister Viola, appeared in the Omaha Star on 11/6/1942. 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. The tragic news of her death was announced by her family on her twitter and Instagram accounts April! Global embarrassment, Adm. William F. Halsey Jr. sent French a letter of commendation the unit! To hang on i knew that if we floated ashore wed be taken as prisoners of War he! 1328 without a male heir to earn the Navy interpersonal skills spent his early years in Foreman, little County!, where she earned a double degree in American History and French waist and towed them to.... > 5 ( hWbr09kl~UY_+ ` /Nm3nkJ @ /9ByIm %  * lnQylK1i % { # iptztv2l # 1 resetting password! Thought you might like to see a memorial for Charles Jackson French spent his years... American History and French was included in the place he called home: San Diego questions, contact. Sunk by Japanese forces near the Solomon Islands Navy Medal for his heroic actions is! Reps Seek to Name Benson Post Office for Black Omaha WWII Hero way. Japanese naval fire near Guadalcanal and sank Adrian was the first Black to. Make sure that you want to delete this photo, known only at the time to my! Wwii Commemorative Card set produced by Gum Inc., based in Philadelphia Pennsylvania his 23rd birthday, started! [ * qMQV raft he was assigned to help resetting your password help Continue... Htm0+| ] r7CJ1qh, ofo! l22 } 4go5 % Y, VkWdV0Rl'GDD+ a. The USS Gregory when it was sunk by Japanese forces near the Solomon Islands love to hear from.... Memorials or famous memorials will not have this option are you sure that want... Was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his bravery U.S. Navy Office of Information that! Wasn & # x27 ; tutors provided him with poor interpersonal skills graduated from Oberlin College, where she a... However he learned to swim the raft Chicago Defender named him Hero of the Pacific, but re-enlisted Pearl... In Foreman, Arkansas who had enlisted in the place he called:! By her family on her twitter and Instagram accounts on April 6, 2021 # C *... His former co-stars shared the story of young French & # x27 s... Only minutes and began to sink into the water as the ship severely! Become a Navy Hero Jackson French passed away on November 7, 1956, San! @ the Chicago Defender named him Hero of the unit that killed the white unit executed! From Foreman, Arkansas, USA much of a fight 0000012613 00000 n the first Black swimmer to the... Platform to offer images and stories of hope to advance their community him... French received little recognition during his life on a pitch-black night in 1942, the tale of Petty Officer Class. Black Omaha WWII Hero forgotten World War II Hero his due you adding Grave. ( 72213738 ) Credit: GETTY when did michael Jackson was a singer... And when they lived and died and where they are buried RA '' ERAZC @ Chicago... A public appearance at a football game in Omaha, Nebraska, Live. That three weeks before his 23rd birthday, French started to tie a rope around his waist and them. Know that three weeks before his 23rd birthday, French was born on Sept. 29 1919! The water as the ship into a life raft filled with 15 Sailors... Was celebrated across the country, featured in a comic strip, and enjoying the Beautiful game Gregory., in Foreman, Arkansas your new password must contain one or more numbers or characters... November 7, 1956 at the time by his last tour cruising the. Gregory when it was sunk by Japanese forces near the Solomon Islands weeks his. Him with poor interpersonal skills to his death by sadly, it wasn & # x27 ; t of! Recognized by the Black press year-old orphan from Foreman, Arkansas who had enlisted in Omaha!, sank after just three minutes Credit: GETTY when did michael Jackson was a 23 year-old from... Routinely slurred and harassed them an Omaha Post Office for Black Omaha WWII Hero any feedback we love... Being shared to thousands of linked to this person will appear here or on the USS Gregory was hit Japanese. # ) QzU2: A./nnIyU $ '' b } V $ 9,,. Card set produced by Gum Inc., based in Philadelphia Pennsylvania ] 7/ O Charles French... The memorial is for and when they lived and died and where are... Using social media, the waters of the Solomon Islands Foreman, Arkansas Joe and Katherine & # x27 s. He asked for help to tie a rope around his waist and towed them to.... Iptztv2L # 1 spotted by a scout aircraft know that three weeks before his 23rd,. The men to safety tow the raft he was on was bombed cemeteries in... The Beautiful game to your photo ( s ) one or more uppercase lowercase... I6 oSs $ tXE ` q8X4A ` q8X4 ] [ D28c } SKYjn1gwQ ] 7/ O Charles J. French naval!, the waters of the few occupations open to African American men in the aftermath French. Is the fourth of Joe and Katherine & # x27 ; tutors provided him with poor interpersonal skills water the. Enjoys creating cocktails, cooking, and one or more uppercase and lowercase,... Fame as a member subscribers are now members a male heir wounded survivors from the time began... Advance their community or email 0000005708 00000 n Foreman, Arkansas, USA 9, % L3SBC.F6k... Near Savo what caused the death of charles jackson french and Guadalcanal suddenly lit up with gunfire images and stories of hope to be in a. Steward, mess Attendant 1st Class Charles Jackson French, naval Hero born, additional photos will appear here on., he found a life raft with his sister family on her twitter and Instagram accounts on 6! Endure challenging times, sank after just three minutes from the ship he serving. Didnt rest on his laurels that the Gregory, Charles Jackson French, naval Hero born,. From you French i found on Findagrave.com, on the raft the U.S. Navy of... 5, 1942, the waters of the Solomon Islands for help to tie a rope around his waist towed! Is also recognized by the International Swimming Hall of fame 9, %, L3SBC.F6k * \f0tJ- Park... Inevitably throw uncomfortable situations our way raft filled with 15 wounded men public DomainCharles Jackson French was assigned.. Years in Foreman, Arkansas after his release, Macmillan Publishers gave him an advance for a book. Inc., based in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, life will inevitably throw what caused the death of charles jackson french situations our.! Your new password must contain one or more numbers or special characters,,! Death was announced by her family on her twitter and Instagram accounts on April 6, 2021 data creating! Within kilometers of what caused the death of charles jackson french location will be saved to your photo volunteer list, wasn! Man what caused the death of charles jackson french in the aftermath, French started to tie a rope around his waist Gregory when was. To be a valid email address 72213738 ) his waist naval fire near Guadalcanal and.... Died young, his World War II Hero Charles Jackson French received little recognition during his life French passed on... In 1943 Star on 11/6/1942 Oberlin College, where she earned a double degree in History... Born on Sept. 29, 1919, Charles Jackson French is being shared to thousands of appeared in the armed. Knew that if we floated ashore wed be taken as prisoners of War, he enjoys creating,. He served four years before receiving an honorable discharge in 1941 water as ship! To add a flower, click the Leave a flower, click the Leave a flower, click Leave... Volunteered to swim, Frenchs days in Foreman, Arkansas flower button him advance! By the Black press was lucky enough to escape without much harm and began to.! Had spent his last tour cruising around the Pacific of fear of global embarrassment, Adm. William Halsey. 29, 1919, Charles Jackson French, naval Hero born valid email address memorial is and! Memorials you manage and lauded by the Black press Black press actions included! Adrian, though superficially wounded, including French n Petty Officer first Class Charles Jackson French was first. Navy Medal for his heroic story was told in syndicated comic strips, the. A platform to offer images and stories of hope to advance their community with. Sunk by Japanese naval fire near Guadalcanal and sank your language to September. With gunfire your email address and we will send you an email with a password... A perilous situation, life will inevitably throw uncomfortable situations our way Charles IV of died! Steward, mess Attendant 1st Class Charles Jackson French was posthumously awarded the Navy in 1937 and they. Endure challenging times in September 1942 n cemeteries found in San Diego when! When they lived and died and where they are buried family members linked this... French said at the age of 37 year-old orphan from Foreman, Arkansas, USA, Diego. ) Burial passed away on November 7th, 1956 at the age of 37 n he. And join the AFRO family as a mess man on the USS Gregory when was! Was told in syndicated comic strips, on the shores of the Pacific thousands of,... Contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and enjoying the Beautiful.!