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On Thursday, a billto rename the Benson postal facility at 6223 Maple St. the Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French Post Office cleared the Senate by a unanimous vote. The United States Navy cook was on board the battleship West Virginia when the boat was attacked during Pearl Harbor despite having no training with the weapon, Miller was able to use an anti-aircraft machine gun to down multiple Japanese planes. More at the source. To see these posts, click this link, For Womens History Month 2022 we featured 31 amazing Black women we should all know. He had been born on Sept. 25, 1919, in Foreman, Arkansas. The New York Times best-selling story from the author of The Good Lord Bird, winner of the 2013 National Book Award for Fiction. Story\Experience 43 comments 100% Upvoted This thread is archived New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast Sort by: best But after his parents died, he moved to. Rep. Don Bacon Honors Navy Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French, Immortal Valor: The Black Medal of Honor Winners of World War II. Bonus- The Story of Charles Jackson French. This sounds horrendous and it was, but it is just one example of the horrors of war that greeted Black soldiers who had risked their lives for their country with the goal of making it an equitable society for all. French was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal in recognition of his bravery and combat action. His projects included the construction of a number of canals, railroads, and other public works, including the Washington Aqueduct and the Potomac Aqueduct in Washington, D.C. Charles Jackson Frenchs work was instrumental in the development of the modern infrastructure that we rely on today. Charles Jackson French with his sister, Viola, at a Creighton football game on Oct. 31, 1942, at which he was honored. He deserves a higher award, and a destroyer named in his honor. After the rescued ensign recounted the story to The Associated Press and on the radio, French became nationally known as the Human Tugboat. He received a heros welcome in his sisters hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. Enter your email address below to receive updates each time we publish new content. The Navy and Marine Corps Medal, the highest award for heroism not in combat and the non-combat equivalent of the Navy Cross, had only been created by executive order a month before Frenchs actions. After he began swimming, he soon encountered sharks. It is the services highest award for noncombat heroism and the same award presented to Lt. John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the future U.S. president, for bravery under similar circumstances during World War II. ABOUT THE VIRGINIA NAACPFounded in 1935, the Virginia State Conference of NAACP Branches (Virginia NAACP) is the oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization in the Commonwealth, overseeing over 100 NAACP branches, youth councils, and college chapters. Adrian retired from the Navy in 1966 and died in 2011, without succeeding. A man who served and re-enlisted again when we entered World War II. 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. Retroactive to 7 December 1941, the criteria and procedure for award of the medal were likely not yet formalized when word of Frenchs heroics came in. BZ PO1 French! The wording of the letter follows. During this time, the military followed the segregation laws that were prevalent in the nation. 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. S. House of Representatives: Demand a Congressional Medal of Honor for Petty Officer Charles Jackson French - Sign the Petition! Continue scrolling down for more amazing information, videos, books and value items. Did Charles Jackson French receive the Medal of Honor? 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 . Little is known of his earliest days. Ted Carlson, commander of Naval Base San Diego, which makes this recognition of Charles (Jackson) Frenchs heroic actions even more significant.. He remembers meeting his uncle during World War II just after the famous rescue and being inspired to learn to swim. The VSC NAACP is in full support of Thomass campaign. Charles French managed to load fifteen injured crew members onto a life raft and then tied a rope to the raft and secured the other end to his waist, after which he swam for eight hours through shark-infested water until they were rescued, but received no recommendation for the Medal of Honor. Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French was an American hero who gave his life in service of his country. On September 5, 1942, United States Navy Petty Officer First Class 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 after the ship on which he was serving, the USS Gregory, was hit by Japanese naval fire near Guadalcanal. In San Diego in 2022, French's family was presented with his posthumous Navy and Marine Corps medal. We remember Charles Jackson French, winner of the Navy medal, who swam through the Pacific after his vessel sunk in WWII. Ted Carlson, commander of Naval Base San Diego. French enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1937 and served four years. He enjoys sports, politics, comic books, and anything that has to do with history. To see the posts, click here. During his service, he received a letter of commendation from the commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet, Adm. William F. Halsey, Jr. A world class collection of Black History inspired by a 5th grade teacher who told Arturo Schomburg that there was NO African history. 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. Author and Navy veteran Malcolm Nance got the services attention Sunday when he tagged several official accounts in a Twitter post about French. Willie Johnson, the youngest person to receive the Medal of Honor, is also the youngest person to receive the medal. 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. A Black sailor swam against sharks to save his White shipmates. Its a story of the best of who we are.. We, the undersigned, call upon Congress and the President of the United States to correct this travesty and give Petty Officer French the recognition he deserved for his selfless act of bravery. There is a campaign requesting a Congressional Medal of Honor is awarded to French. The mess attendant later noted that the sailors support had stayed with him for the rest of his life. Aerodynamics, computational science, and engineering design are research areas of interest to me. Despite the fact that more than one million African Americans served, not a single Black soldier received the Medal of Honor. Perhaps racism played a role in French not receiving proper recognition. The Navy created this photo illustration for its ceremony for Charles Jackson French. French saved. Join now . Born in a small town in California, Charles was a man of many talents. Now many feel that a letter of commendation for a heroic eight hour swim through sharks and enemy shell fire is not enough. While the ship attempted to fight back, the enemy fire was too much. From left are Navy public affairs officer Krishna Jackson, Samuel Harris, Chester French Jr., Michael Harris, Linda French, Christopher Harris, Roscoe Harris, Christopher Harris Jr., Mark Harris and Capt. This story or history was written to correct one of the many wrongs in the recording of American History. This is the story of Charles Jackson French, who rescued several soldiers during the Battle of Guadalcanal. French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroic actions in 1942. It was amplified on social media in spring 2021, prompting USA Swimming to honor him during the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials in Omaha last June. I think I would lean toward Medal of Honor just based on what I read here, but Im sure the details would sway me one way or the other. Pitney Bowes: First-Class Postage Products And Solutions For Businesses, Sending Packages Internationally Via First Class Mail, Great Northern: A First-Class Travel Experience, What To Know Before You Send A Letter To Poland, George Pullman: Inventor Of First Class Travel, Flying With Your Pet In First Class: Rules Benefits And Tips, First Class Postal Service: Expect Your Letter Or Package To Arrive Within One To Three Days. In the end, there were fifteen additional sailors on the raft with the mess attendant. He certainly earned a much higher award than he was given. My interest in improving aerodynamic efficiency in airplanes, cars, ships, and energy conversion devices led me to open this blog based on my expertise and desire to improve aerodynamic efficiency. Please subscribe to keep reading. Phone: 402-444-1186. Brown noted that, with Frenchs name and photo attached to the Navy pool, his story will be told well into the future. Charles Jackson French saved 15 men from the USS Gregory in September of 1942. French served aboard the USS Houston for four years before returning to Omaha. It's a reminder of, Cold will chill the unveiling of Seaman 1st Class Arthur Francis Johnson's name on World War II plaque. [2] He deserves at least the Navy Cross. His innovative methods of construction and design, along with his exceptional organizational skills, made him a highly sought-after engineer across the United States. French, a strong swimmer since youth, volunteered to swim the boat away from the Japanese island. French made public appearances after the rescue, including attending a Creighton University football game with his sister in 1942. These are the least desired jobs possible and beneath the White troops. The omission remained on the record for more than four decades. He went into the service as a mess attendant, the only rate then available to . This blog was created to share a passion for all things Southern. Since they were taking direct fire, Id feel the Navy Cross the more appropriate of the two. He told the story to the Associated Press which he also did on NBC radio program It Happened in the Service., Ensign Robert N. Adrian was awarded the Purple Heart and the man who rescued him got a letter meritorious conduct in action. A little more than a week after Thomas first called the Senators office, Kaine wrote letters to President Joe Biden concerning Miller and French. Darn guys a stud. The Arkansas native had moved to Omaha to live with his sister as a youth after his parents died, and he became one of the most famous Black war heroes of the 1940s. Charles Jackson French and his sister, Viola, were honored at a Creighton football game in Omaha on Oct. 31, 1942. He was a true patriot whose dedication and dedication to country served as a model for future generations. Ensign Robert Adrian was fresh out of the Naval Academy and a junior officer on the Navy destroyer USS Gregory when it was sunk near Guadalcanal on Sept. 5, 1942. Former Virginia State Conference (Virginia NAACP) President Linda Thomas put forth a resolution for two Black Veterans who should be awarded the Medal of Honor for their committed acts of extreme valor and heroism but were denied consideration solely because of their race. All DragonDen media is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. 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