He received an honorable discharge on November 11, 1941, but re-enlisted after Pearl Harbor. He died on November 7, 1956, in San Diego, California; he was only 37 years old. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. His mission was to rescue fellow soldiers. French was the first black swimmer to earn the Navy Medal for his heroism in 1943.French's story first came to light when Robert N. Adrian a young ensign, told a reporter from the Associated Press about how Charles braved the Pacific Ocean to bring the men to safety.Ensign Adrian was the only one on the bridge to survive and floated over into the water as the ship sank below him. His service to this country is something that should never be forgotten, and his story is one that can inspire all of us to do good for our fellow man. "Then French volunteered to swim the raft away from shore. . 0000002403 00000 n 0000101669 00000 n With Adrian amongst the rescued Sailors on board the raft, French started to tie a rope around his waist. TwitterCharles Jackson French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his bravery. But now through social media, the tale of Petty Officer Charles Jackson French is being shared to thousands of . What happened next would take Navy Messman Charles Jackson French from the mess hall and into quiet adoration for his bravery. "I knew that if we floated ashore we'd be taken as prisoners of war," he said. Try again later. Hearing voices, he found a life raft filled with 15 wounded men. Though rumors spread that Charles Jackson French might be awarded the Navy Cross, he was given only a letter of commendation from Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr., the then-commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet. He had spent his last tour cruising around the Pacific. 0000184779 00000 n He was buried in Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery Section N Site 490, San Diego, California. Charles Jackson French was born in 1919 and grew up in Foreman, Arkansas. Please reset your password. We conducted nine more studies with nearly 5,500 participants, mostly . 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. His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service. Francis II was born in 1544. 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/. [2] Contents 1 Meritorious conduct in action 2 Resting place 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External links Meritorious conduct in action Them white boys stood up for me, French emotionally told Wright. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Your Scrapbook is currently empty. 0000005681 00000 n Lest We Forget. For six to eight hours, he tugged a raft filled with injured sailors behind him, pulling them to safety. memorial page for Jettie Mae French (4 Dec 1916-17 Nov 1968), Find a Grave Memorial ID 3400830, citing Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego . He was a talented carpenter, a skilled handyman, and a master of DIY projects. Thanks and have a good day ahead!#CharlesJacksonFrench#CharlesJacksonFrenchDeath#CharlesJacksonFrenchCauseOfDeath#Death#CauseOfDeath#CelebrityDeath#PopularCelebrityDeath#CheckCelebrityDeath#CheckCelebritiesDeath#CheckPopularCelebrityDeath#CheckPopularCelebritiesDeath The first one is called L'appel, The Call, referring to the call he made in London on the BBC for the French to resist, but also to the call of history that calls on France's saviour to save the country that's de Gaulle. 0000009327 00000 n He said that he was more afraid of the Japanese shooting at him than the sharks, and he continued on his way. And a year later, Rear Admiral Charles Brown, the Navy public affairs officer, presented eight of Frenchs relatives with a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal just like Kennedys. There is no real piety without heroism. In the first year of his. After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men was adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. 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. Thinking the flashes came from Japanese submarines, the pilot dropped a line of five flares in the water. @Ll&F"|s^`l"1~#L-;x?z>G6?QUTNA/"yVb]-ef6&u&:3'rjW7D]UH)PpA-+vKN|Vz1Jb#c BF6P)cjTu #A All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Oops, something didn't work. Its surviving men were plunged into shark-infested waters as the Japanese fired on them. 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. Forego a bottle of soda and donate its cost to us for the information you just learned, and feel good about helping to make it available to everyone. Charles Jackson French Obituary. The crew of high-speed transport USS Gregory (APD 3) were returning from transferring a Marine Raider Battalion to Savo Island on the night of Sept. 4, 1942. He is also recognized by the International Swimming Hall of Fame. On a pitch-black night in 1942, the A Black sailor swam against sharks to save his White shipmates. endstream endobj 329 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/Index[37 219]/Length 30/Size 256/Type/XRef/W[1 1 1]>>stream If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. The Chicago Defender named him Hero of the Year. French successfully brought the men to safety on the shores of the Solomon Islands. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Little did he know that three weeks before his 23rd birthday, French would become a Navy hero. Black WW2 hero's story of pulling 15 men to safety through shark-infested waters gets a new audience. Sadly, it wasnt much of a fight. based on information from your browser. That's when French -- a 22-year-old sailor in the racially segregated messman branch -- volunteered to tow them to safety, the article states. 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. Mess Attendant 1st Class Charles Jackson French, known only at the time by his last name, was on Gregory that night. 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. 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. French was lucky enough to escape without much harm and began gathering injured Sailors to put into a raft. 0000004154 00000 n No cause of death was provided. At 1 a.m., the Japanese opened fire. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. With Hazel Gordy, Jackson had three children: Jermaine Lu Juane Jr., Autumn Joy and Jaimy. 0000106326 00000 n 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 She graduated from Oberlin College, where she earned a double degree in American History and French. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. 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. In many ways, Navy Messman Charles Jackson French remains an unsung hero of World War II. As a Black man, French had virtually no other choice than to work as a mess attendant. Black Past reports that he suffered from alcoholism and depression, and passed away on Nov. 7, 1956, in San Diego, California. French was a swimmer who performed a. www.epmcknight.wixsite.epfitspiration Follow me: Tiktok, imdb.me/epmcknight. French returned to Omaha when his deployment ended in November 1941, but he wouldnt stay in Nebraska for long. 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. In the work, titled "Vita Karoli Magni (Life of Charles the Great)," he described . (U.S. Navy) 27 Apr 2021 Military.com | By Stephen Losey Buddy Blouin is a content writer that loves creating through the written word. 0 Midwin Charles, who also appeared on CNN and contributed to Essence magazine, died at the age of 47, her family said Tuesday. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. He was celebrated across the country, featured in a comic strip, and lauded by the Black press. Four days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, French reenlisted into the Navy and was assigned to Gregory in March 1942. 0000110718 00000 n 0000011569 00000 n O6z ` ~+ When Charles Jackson French was later identified, he became a national hero. 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. [2] 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. In April 2021, a post about French from the International Swimming Hall of Fame revived his story. Like many other Black stories from wars, such as the all-Black female 6888th Central Postal Battalion, recognition can often be minimized or come far too late. French was born in Foreman, Arkansas in about 1920. 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 Similar read: Meet Frank Emi, a WWII Hero You Need To Know. On the night of September 4, 1942, during the Battle of Guadalcanal, the USS Gregory was struck by an attack from multiple Japanese destroyers. CNN's legal analyst Midwin Charles died aged 47 Credit: Getty. The history of Cape Verde is typical and yet unique for its location. hbbg`b``3 & Try again later. The AFRO provides readers with good news about the Black community not otherwise found. The Little-Known Story Of World War II Hero Charles Jackson French And The 15 Sailors He Saved. 0000190880 00000 n 0000110559 00000 n Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of Charles Gilpin Jackson to pay them a last tribute. 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. Gregory was hit by Japanese naval fire in the South Pacific. C harles Jackson French was born on September 25, 1919 and died November 7 1956. 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. 0000733291 00000 n A depiction of Frenchs heroic actions was included in the WWII Commemorative Card Set produced by Gum Inc., based in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Oh, and while you are at it, dont forget to tie a raft to yourself thats holding more than a dozen people in it, fill the water with sharks, while multiple units of the Japanese Imperial Navy try to kill you at the same time. 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. Now, 80 years after the Navy petty officer swam hours through. 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. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Uline Arena Building Abandon ship! 0000003773 00000 n Year should not be greater than current year. Failed to delete memorial. French saved. 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Charles Jackson French faced all of this and more during his time of service and helped save many lives through grit and bravery. Charles Jackson French salutes while next to his sister Viola at a Creighton University football game on Oct. 31, 1942. 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. 0000125864 00000 n OMAHA, Neb. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Charles Jackson French (Find a Grave Memorial) After his military service, French suffered from alcoholism and depression. 330 0 obj <>stream I knew that if we floated ashore wed be taken as prisoners of war, he said. TwitterCharles Jackson French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his bravery. Many at home believed French should have received more. At sunrise, an American scout finally spotted him and the others and sent rescue. Michael Jackson was a superstar singer who shot to fame as a child Credit: GETTY When did Michael Jackson die? Charles French was an orphan from Foreman, Arkansas who learned to swim in the Red River at the age of eight. After his service on the USS Gregory, Charles Jackson French didnt rest on his laurels. Steve Liewer, Nebraska Reps Seek to Name Benson Post Office for Black Omaha WWII Hero. Omaha World-Herald, June 29. Learn more about managing a memorial . Sheritha Jones, Back in the Day, October 30, 1942: Omahas Hero of the Solomon Islands Returns Home to Honors. Omaha World-Herald, October 31, 2021, https://omaha.com/news/local/history/back-in-the-day-oct-30-1942-omahas-hero-of-the-solomon-islands-returns-home/article_ef06042c-2788-11ec-a5e1-4b1dd928d8f4.html. 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. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. He went into the service as a mess attendant, the only rate then available to . 0000012696 00000 n 0000055359 00000 n #CharlesJacksonFrench #CharlesJacksonFrenchOfDeath #CelebritiesCauseOfDeath Charles Jackson French Cause of Death (Mar 2021) Obituary, Death, Reason Show more Show more ER doctor who treated. The story was soon picked up by the national news, and Charles Jackson French was identified by NBC. 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. Story highlights. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. There are campaigns to demand a Congressional Medal of Honor for Petty Officer Charles Jackson French posthumously and plans for the Navy to dedicate a rescue swimmer pool in his honor. Jermaine La Jaune Jackson is the fourth of Joe and Katherine's children. 0000012382 00000 n 0000108198 00000 n French enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1937 and served four years. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Three Japanese destroyers Ydachi, Hatsuyuki, and Murakumo came into the Slot undetected to bombard American positions ashore. 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. Charles Jackson French - Unknown Hero. F. Baurer, the ships CO. Even after all of his heroics, once he and the others made it to a rest camp, the authorities at this camp insisted on having French segregated from the whites in the group. 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." Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. He had first enlisted in the United States Navy in 1937 and had completed his . The waters were shark-infested. 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. In 1956, French died in San Diego at age 37, outlets report . 0000125572 00000 n The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Just before 1 a.m. on the morning of Sept. 5, the two ships saw flashes of gunfire. 0 cemeteries found in San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA. When three Japanese destroyers attacked the USS Gregory as it sailed off the coast of the Solomon Islands in September 1942, a Black cook from the ship plunged into shark-infested waters and with a rope tied around his waist swam for eight hours, dragging a lifeboat full of injured shipmates away from Japanese territory. r\a W+ Born Sept. 25, 1919, French died on Nov. 7, 1956, at 37. 0000125243 00000 n Einhard, a Frankish scholar and contemporary of Charlemagne, wrote a biography of the emperor after his death. The pop legend had been rehearsing past midnight on the night of June 24, 2022 ahead of a series of comeback concerts at the London . 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. Swimming World Magazine speculates that French may have learned to swim by visiting the citys stone quarries and the Red River. m>5(hWbr09kl~UY_+`/Nm3nkJ@/9ByIm%*lnQylK1i%{#iptztv2l#1!@9P zk2zdhCF d8znYGE(0Lt(C5M3F+|tx$Cwp5rqbCL lHo5V}U; GW@OV-'ig%}6;]/kUuFX=ue` ^ 0000003885 00000 n You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. Reported and will not be greater than current Year the United States Navy in 1937 had. And Katherine & # x27 ; s legal analyst Midwin Charles died aged 47 Credit: Getty deployment ended November., French died in San Diego, California hours through what caused the death of charles jackson french war II Hall. Account already exists, but re-enlisted after Pearl Harbor 00000 n the email does not to! Quiet adoration for his bravery United States Navy in 1937 and served four.. 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