charles jackson french medal of honor
French was a swimmer who performed a. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. This petition starter stood up and took action. Keith Station, deputy chief of staff for diversity, equity, & inclusion for the City of Omaha, shares remarks at the Hero of the Heartland event. There is no way a man with a set of brass balls the size of what PO1 French possessed could float, let alone tow a raft. On May 21, 2022, a dedication ceremony for the bases rescue swimmer training pool in Frenchs honor was held at Naval Base San Diego, during which the award was presented. During World War II Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French swam 68 hours in shark-infested waters near Guadalcanal while towing a life raft with 15 USS Gregory survivors of an attack by the Japanese Imperial Navy. The first was an enlistment was in 1937 when he served four years before receiving an honorable discharge in 1941. This man did as much if not more than a medic often does to save 15 of his comrades from capture, while being actively shelled, in shark infested waters. We also posted a 5 part mini-series on the 100th anniversary of one of the most horrific massacres in the history of America. The bravery that he demonstrated serves as a reminder of the sacrifices that can be made at any age. If you have a story idea, news tip, or other question, please email the UNO News team at unonews@unomaha.edu. But French said he wasnt afraid. Inaction has been a great injustice to the goodly Sergeants bravery and sacrifice, for him and his Troops. His story was largely forgotten until Bruce Wigo, a former director of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, unearthed it several years ago. Charles Jackson French and his sister, Viola, were honored at a Creighton football game in Omaha on Oct. 31, 1942. The Omaha World-Herald reported that Frenchs story was brought back to prominence through a social media post by the International Swimming Hall of Fame. A Black sailor swam against sharks to save his White shipmates. 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. Well, that was the racism of the times, one has to admit. French would go on to earn the name "The Human Tugboat" and garner immense respect from his fellow military peers. French received no medal, only a letter of commendation. Charles Jackson French (September 25, 1919 - November 7, 1956) was a United States Navy sailor. Despite the fact that he did not receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, French was awarded the second highest honor, just below the Congressional Medal of Honor, which had been given to Doris Miller. In 2011, the National Board of the NAACP passed a resolution requesting the Medal Of Honor for Doris (Dorie) Miller. According to the U.S. Navy Press Office, French had moved to Omaha from Arkansas, but re-enlisted in the Navy days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The information that we present to everyone is extremely important, and a small donation can help us keep it that way. 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 story of the men who fought and served under trying circumstances. He went into the service as a mess attendant, the only rate then available to . A letter of commendation? I like TOWs suggestion too. During his youth, he would often swim in the Red River and became quite adept at it. The Navy dedicated a pool there to French. Her husband, Floyd, has served on the Caroline Board of Supervisors for. The award was presented on May 21, 2022, at Naval Base San Diego, at a ceremony in which the bases rescue swimmer training pool was dedicated in his honor. This to the scientific notationed! The French and five other brave sailors swam for up to eight hours to rescue all but eleven of the crew after they were stranded on the sea. Thomas has also been in communication with other senators and members of Congress asking them to support this effort. He certainly earned a much higher award than he was given. French, a strong swimmer since youth, volunteered to swim the boat away from the Japanese island. www.epmcknight.wixsite.epfitspiration Follow me: Tiktok, imdb.me/epmcknight. A 1943 "True Comics" account of the valor of Charles Jackson French after his ship was sunk at Guadalcanal. French had been hailed as the hero of the Solomon Islands after the sinking of his ship, the USS Gregory, on Sept. 5, 1942, near Guadalcanal. Charles Jackson French, an African American orphan, and championship-caliber swimmer navigated shark infested waters for about eight hours during. Thats a portrait of a hero. A world class collection of Black History inspired by a 5th grade teacher who told Arturo Schomburg that there was NO African history. Of the many acts of bravery among the men of Gregory during its final battle (including the mortally wounded skipper ordering his crew to abandon him and help other wounded, never to be seen again) was Charles French. UNOs Hero of the Heartland event continued the long overdue recognition of Frenchs heroism. The ships first class is the Petty Officer 1st Class. Generations of Sailors will train [at the pool] and never forget the values and legacy of such a brave American hero.. 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. And while were at it can we please award Alwyn Cashes family his much deserved MOH.please. The event was held as part of events hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs in observance of Black History Month. Continue to scroll for fascinating Videos and Books to enhance your learning experience. It has been reported that Charles Jackson French simply asked his injured crewmates, Just tell me if Im going the right way. Frenchs example shows that everyone has within themselves the capacity for great bravery. U.S. Navy Capt. Additionally, it has continued to pursue advocacy objectives that are in line with policies and plans pertaining to veterans of African heritage. According to VSC President Robert Barnette, black veterans have made important contributions over the years to the military might of this country. 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. He was a generous and kind soul who was always willing to lend a helping hand. When Adrian told him that the swim would be arduous and the water was full of sharks, French responded that he was more afraid of the Japanese than he was of the sharks. Yet, history has overlooked him. French, who moved to Omaha as a teen, first enlisted in the US Navy in 1937. In this story can be found the heretofore-unwritten chapters of one phase of the Negroes march toward freedom in America, written by a man who participated in it. While the ship attempted to fight back, the enemy fire was too much. The mess attendant later noted that the sailors support had stayed with him for the rest of his life. Award of a Medal of Honor would require congressional intervention, but award of a Navy Cross or a Navy and Marine Corps Medal would not. You can cancel at any time. To see these posts, click this link, For Womens History Month 2022 we featured 31 amazing Black women we should all know. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has continued its advocacy work in the Commonwealth of Virginia since 1935 through the Virginia State Conference. I nearly peed on myself when one of them sharks [touched] my feet. James McBride, journalist, musician, and son, explores his mothers past, as well as his own upbringing and heritage, in a poignant and powerful debut, The Color of Water: A Black Mans Tribute to His White Mother. Charles Jackson French was discharged from the Navy on Nov. 13, 1941, but reenlisted a month later after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. As the 10th State Command Chief Master Sergeant of the Virginia Air National Guard, I take great personal pride in supporting French and Millers application for the Medal of Honor. Charles Jackson French, an African American orphan and champion-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. Omahans during World War II knew a strong-swimming, shark-defying, human tugboat of a hero when they saw one, regardless of the color ofCha, An African American sailor from Omaha was hailed as a hero during World War II for swimming through shark-infested waters to rescue his wounde, The full House approved HR 4168 to rename the facility at 6223 Maple St. the Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French Post Office., The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency said identifications of the 92nd Infantry members, known as "Buffalo Soldiers," have beendifficult beca, Lt. Vernon Baker of Clarinda, Iowa, is part of a series of graphic novels about recipients of the Medal of Honor, the nations highest award f, A 36-year Air Force missile and space officer has been nominated as the next commander of Offutt-based U.S. Strategic Command, the Pentagon an, Eighty years ago, Nebraska set the pace for the nation in launching a scrap metal drive to support the World War II effort. Its a story of the best of who we are.. The Chicago Defender named him Hero of the Year. Dismiss. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. French was memorialized on War gum trading cards and in a comic strip. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Japanese destroyers sank the ship he was on, the USS Gregory, in the South Pacific in September 1942. French was a swimmer who performed a heroic act that gave others another chance at life. This might be the first time I agree with Malcolm Nance. I guess Pedo Joe has already forgotten about Alwyn Cashe. It would seem to me well past the point to review Frenchs case. This activity includes urging President Biden to posthumously confer the Medals of Honor on Doris Miller and Charles French.. One member of the 320th would be nominated for the Medal of Honor, an award he would never receive because the nations highest decoration was not given to black soldiers in World War II. Navy officials escorted members of Frenchs family to his gravesite at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, on San Diegos Point Loma peninsula. Born in a small town in California, Charles was a man of many talents. The Hero of the Heartland event will honor additional local heroes in the coming years. Who is Ruth McBride Jordan? After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men were adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces.
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