Try again later. Its a shame that so many who served our country were left to face the mental and physical ailments war may bring in solitude. startxref But the Omaha World-Herald noted some decades later that future president John F. Kennedy had been given the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for a similar act of bravery. 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. . Outside of searching through keyword data and creating blogs, he enjoys creating cocktails, cooking, and enjoying the Beautiful Game. Twitter Charles Jackson French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his bravery. He was survived by his sister Viola. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. The nations hierarchy denied French the Medal of Honor and did not consider him for a Silver Star, two of the highest honors bestowed for such self-sacrificing bravery. French was the first black swimmer to earn the Navy Medal for his heroism in 1943. 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. 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 was celebrated in the black press and was even the subject of a syndicated comic strip. By Navy standards, it would be nearly unprecedented for a subordinate to receive a higher decoration for an act of heroism comparable to that of a superior.. [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 Obituary. Resend Activation Email. 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. During his youth, he would often swim in the Red River and became quite adept at it. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. No cause of death was provided. 0000003649 00000 n After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men were adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. In June 2021, he was honored by USA Swimming at the Olympics Swim Trials in Omaha. But French leaped into action. Failed to remove flower. But finally, after six decades, his heroic acts during World War II are finally being recognized and rewarded. War Gum Trading Card CompanyA depiction of Charles Jackson Frenchs heroism from the. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. 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. A depiction of Frenchs heroic actions was included in the WWII Commemorative Card Set produced by Gum Inc., based in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. The first was an enlistment was in 1937 when he served four years before receiving an honorable discharge in 1941. (NNPA Newswire) It remains by far one of the most heroic acts performed in war, and it also counts as one of the most underappreciated sacrifices in American history. With Adrian amongst the rescued Sailors on board the raft, French started to tie a rope around his waist. African American History: Research Guides & Websites, Global African History: Research Guides & Websites, African American Scientists and Technicians of the Manhattan Project, Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors, 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, 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, https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/memorial-day-rewind-the-forgotten-hero-of-wwii/, Foundation, Organization, and Corporate Supporters. Help us Continue to tell OUR Story and join the AFRO family as a member subscribers are now members! or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. 0000190880 00000 n Media maven. If legends surrounding his death are to be believed, Charles the Bad's death was equally as unpleasant as his life. The memoirs are in three volumes that came out successively in 1954, 1956, and 1959. After decades of fighting, right when the French cause seemed the most lost, she led Charles's forces to victory after victory. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. He had spent his last tour cruising around the Pacific. 0000125638 00000 n Dozens of Americans were killed and many others wounded, including French. 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. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Following his re-enlistment, Charles Jackson French was assigned to the USS Gregory as a Stewards Mate 1st class. 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He appeared before enthusiastic crowds at bond rallies, and a high decoration seemed assured. Search above to list available cemeteries. [3], French was an orphan from Foreman, Arkansas[4] who learned to swim in the Red River at the age of eight.[5]. H\n0Fy Just tell me if Im going the right way, French said. hl/CQ?!yEAb [$~$HH5" ? 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. At sunrise, an American scout finally spotted him and the others and sent rescue. U[[[[[[[[[[`+{W]wEJ~wE+{WTx{7n4x= FOi4x= FOi|FgT"X,p.R~P;[+m*vi7p\ZOW 8 k! As is the case with many African Americans who served America during the time, Charles Jackson French is a name that more people should know. He served his four years in the Navy working the mess decks of Hawaii-based heavy cruiser USS Houston (CA-30) and returned home to Nebraska in 1941. 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. Swimming until sunrise, French and the 15 Sailors on the raft he was towing were spotted by a scout aircraft. #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? Drag images here or select from your computer for Charles Jackson French memorial. That night he went to bed, slept uneasily, and awoke at about 7 a.m. French, according to Adrian, replied: Just keep telling me if Im goin the right way.. This is the family of Charles Jackson French. 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. 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. 0000106326 00000 n There was an error deleting this problem. 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. French is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California. He died on November 7, 1956, in San Diego, California; he was only 37 years old. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. 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. May we all proceed and help others with the courage and strength of Messman Charles Jackson French, a name that will never be forgotten. 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. Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French passed away on November 7th, 1956 at the age of 37. 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. Frenchs 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. 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. Baltimore, MD Office 0000007046 00000 n By. His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service.. 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. 0000164150 00000 n Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. r\a W+Y f%`VY f%`V Share this memorial using social media sites or email. 233 E. Redwood Street Suite 600G But now through social media, the tale of Petty Officer Charles Jackson French is being shared to thousands of . In 1956, French died in San Diego at age 37, outlets report . The story of Charles Jackson French takes an interesting turn once he and his fellow survivors reached safety. 0000000016 00000 n 0000190535 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. 0000175553 00000 n 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. z:RA" ERAZC@ On the English side was King Edward III, son of Charles IV's sister Isabella. Along with stevedore and steward, mess attendant was one of the few occupations open to African American men in the navy. 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. ishof.org/assets. 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. CNN's legal analyst Midwin Charles died aged 47 Credit: Getty. 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. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. 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. 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. He received an honorable discharge on November 11, 1941, but re-enlisted after Pearl Harbor. 0000163762 00000 n His main claim to fame (sounds strange to say that about a king of . Charles Jackson French, on the other hand, was slowly forgotten. ;P"f A Black sailor swam against sharks to save his White shipmates. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. A group of black soldiers had the misfortune to be captured by an SS unit and were tortured to death. 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. Charles J. French, Naval Hero born. HUn0+B-Q[5PtU@$ And by the time he was 18, French decided to strike out on his own and enlist in the U.S. Navy. Michael Jackson was a superstar singer who shot to fame as a child Credit: GETTY When did Michael Jackson die? With Hazel Gordy, Jackson had three children: Jermaine Lu Juane Jr., Autumn Joy and Jaimy. But Frenchs ordeal didnt end there. The ship was severely damaged after only minutes and began to sink into the shark-infested waters. HUmo0/Fj'C&ThnR34M&-83(>g9t&i&M$]u8#J"I+K*$eS,tY9Jw*/dZZdW+uES3 n %}*ht0.x'AK){O"Nui -4Rdm9X{H$gU~7V;"~[L;ubr=@xd The tragic news of her death was announced by her family on her Twitter and Instagram accounts on April 6, 2021. The story of Charles Jackson Frenchs heroism was later made public by Adrian, who described it on a radio program called It Happened in the Service in October 1942, according to Swimming World Magazine. To serve side-by-side with his fellow troops knowing the unfair treatment he faced is one thing, but to be willing to put his body under such duress to save them is beyond heroic. 0000732899 00000 n And all the author could get from him was "Them white boys stood up for me." There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. . To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. French rescued 15 wounded sailors after the ship he was on was bombed. 0000110683 00000 n Charles French (and family) *Charles Jackson French was born on this date in 1919. With Joan leading from the front, the French crushed the English in battle, drove them back for the first time in years, and got Charles officially crowned the King of France in 1429. . *(*B)$wHHB3Mg 256 75 French was memorialized on War Gum trading cards, in syndicated comic strips, on calendars, and The Chicago Defender named him Hero of the Year. Try again later. 0000010538 00000 n If you are interested, you are suggested to go through this video, Charles Jackson French Cause of Death.Post going through the entire video, you will get a better idea about the real and accurate news. 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