charles jackson french biography

During World War II Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French swam 6-8 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. As the attacks continued and the ship began to sink, many Sailors suffered injuries. Sorry! [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]. Ensign Adrian was the only one on the bridge to survive and floated over into the water as the ship sank below him. The first is unexpected: on a leisurely ride in 1916, Jackson's older sister and younger brother are killed when a train strikes their car. Try again later. [2] His family moved to Newark, New York in 1907, and nine years later his older sister, Thelma, and younger brother, Richard, were killed while riding in a car that was struck by an express train. 0000106326 00000 n Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Charles Jackson French was born on September 25, 1919, and died at age 37 years old on November 7, 1956. [3] I get the chance to remember the Share yesterday to connect today & preserve tomorrow, Copyright 1999-2023 AncientFaces, Inc. All Rights Reserved, ADVERTISEMENT Historian Julian Jackson, author of a major new biography of Charles de Gaulle, offers a fresh take on the iconic French leader, exploring his role in World War Two and decolonisation, among other things. Four days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, French reenlisted into the Navy and was assigned to Gregory in March 1942. He served in the Navy, becoming a true war hero in 1942. Charles Jackson French (25 September 1919 to 07 November 1956) was a United States Navy sailor. Black WW2 hero's story of pulling 15 men to safety through shark-infested waters gets a new audience. [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. French, a United States Navy Messman, swam through shark-infested waters for six to eight hours on the night of September 5, 1942 pulling a raft of 15 surviving sailors with a rope around his . During World War II,[1] messmate French swam 68 hours in shark-infested waters near Guadalcanal while towing a life raft with 15 USSGregory(DD-82) survivors of an attack by the Japanese Imperial Navy. Help paint a picture of Charles so that he is always remembered. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Undoubtedly, there were other forms of racism and discrimination that also accompanied such treatment. He asked for help to tie a rope around his waist and towed them to safety." 0000190805 00000 n Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? 0000010538 00000 n Add to your scrapbook. Charles Jackson French (September 25, 1919 - November 7, 1956) was a United States Navy sailor. Buddy Blouin is a content writer that loves creating through the written word. Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French passed away on November 7th, 1956 at the age of 37. Charles Jackson French of Foreman, Arkansas, became a national hero after the destroyer Gregory was sunk Sept. 5, 1942, by Japanese warships near Guadalcanal. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. There was an error deleting this problem. 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. Welcome to AncientFaces, a com "Thank you for helping me find my family & friends again so many years after I lost them. After his . we begin to Show & Tell who they were during particular moments in their lives. Chuck was born February 15, 1947 in Waco to Charlie and Dottie French. endstream endobj 265 0 obj <> endobj 266 0 obj [285 0 R] endobj 267 0 obj <>stream He went into the service as a mess attendant, the only rate then available to . Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. 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. 0000005539 00000 n [6][7] For this action, French received a letter of commendation from Adm. William F. Halsey Jr. in May 1943. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. Photograph: JEAN-JACQUES LEVY/AP Charles Jackson French. 0000189418 00000 n Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. 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. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. 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. 0000012928 00000 n Uline Arena Building 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. Try again. Unlock the mysteries of your family history and explore the rich tapestry of your past with AncientFaces. ). 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. French was an unassuming 58 and 195 pounds when Navy Ensign Robert Adrian, with injuries in his legs and blast fragments in his eyes, regained consciousness and saw French swimming around and gathering injured shipmates to pile onto a raft. 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 . For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. 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. TIL about Navy Seaman Charles Jackson French who, after his ship the USS Gregory was sunk in WWII, swam for 6-8 hours towing a raft of 15 survivors through shark-infested waters. 0000163762 00000 n Ferdinand Mount, London Review of Books "Jackson's riveting biography of Charles de Gaulleportrays a divisive, self-contradictory but still legendary figure; the book also vividly profiles twentieth-century France from the disillusionment of the First World War to the dislocations of the 1960s." Charles Jackson French was an American war hero from Foreman, Arkansas. Jackson received his M.D. And white soldiers and local white residents routinely slurred and harassed them.. 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. Thinking the flashes came from Japanese submarines, the pilot dropped a line of five flares in the water. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men were adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. SOURCE INTERNET SEARCH. Charles R. Jackson. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Charles French (72213738)? (U.S. Navy) CITATION: PUBLIC DOMAIN BY U S NAVY. 0000012382 00000 n z:RA" ERAZC@ This is a carousel with slides. Who were the people in Charles' life? He gave his country two decades of prosperity under a stable, authoritarian government but . French enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1937 and served four years. Share what Charles did for a living or if he had a career or profession. 0000003649 00000 n 0000007046 00000 n Charles Jackson French (September 25, 1919 - November 7, 1956) was a United States Navy sailor. Charles "Chuck" French passed away April 21, 2021, at the age of 74. For his actions, French received a letter of commendation from the commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet, Adm. William F. Bull Halsey. French was memorialized on War Gum trading cards, in syndicated comic strips, on calendars, and The Chicago Defender named him Hero of the Year. In 1956, in the year of Charles Jackson French's passing, on May 20th, the U.S. tested the first hydrogen bomb dropped from a plane over Bikini Atoll. Along with stevedore and steward, mess attendant was one of the few occupations open to African American men in the navy. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Charles Jackson French. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Pictured is Charles with his sister Viola during a public appearance at a football game in Omaha, Nebraska,1943. 0000003885 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. On September 5, 1942, United States Navy Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson Fr. 0000010122 00000 n For this heroic action, in saving the lives of 15 US Sailors, Petty Officer French, an African American, recieved little more than a simple letter of commendation in his . cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. This browser does not support getting your location. A Navy messman, French courageously acted after the Japanese navy struck a U.S. ship in the South Pacific during the . [6] Adm. Halsey was then commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet. Charles Jackson French (September 25, 1919 November 7, 1956) was a United States Navy sailor. The award was presented on May 21, 2022, at Naval Base San Diego, at a ceremony in which the base's rescue swimmer training pool was dedicated in French's honor. #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? We havent even mentioned the racism yet. 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. He grew up as an orphan and enlisted in 1937. 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. Pictured is Charles with his sister Viola during a public appearance at a football game in Omaha, Nebraska,1943. 0000110718 00000 n Posted by 1 year ago. ), Interment Control Forms, 19281962. This was during a period of American history when segregation was active, which means black men and white men were not permitted to swim together, even during Navy swim calls in the ocean. 0000008519 00000 n A depiction of French's heroic actions was included in the WWII Commemorative Card Set produced by Gum Inc., based in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. 4,972 birth, 734 death, 390 marriage, 86 divorce, View Mess Attendant 1st Class Charles Jackson French, known only at the time by his last name, was on Gregory that night. The night was black as ink and a haze was obscuring any landmarks, so the crews of Gregory and her sister ship USS Little (APD 4) were patrolling the area between Savo Island and Guadalcanal. 4=yDZ &yK[ #x+T.$P"> Ty\I @44mP_dFI+ O6z ` ~+ Adrian attempted to talk French into getting out of the shark-infested waters, but French responded that he was more afraid of the Japanese than he was of the sharks. She flew over 2,000 miles in just under 15 hours. Adrian, though superficially wounded, was able to hang on. In addition to the War Gum trading card, his story was told in syndicated comic strips, on calendars and he made public appearances across the country to promote the sale of War Bonds. HUKo0WEo@-0cmVbHJO40`~H#)QzU2:A./nnIyU$"b}V$9,%,L3SBC.F6k*\f0tJ-. He appeared before enthusiastic crowds at It was an act of bravery for which his shipmates thought Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French deserved the Medal of Honor. 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. It wasnt until 1988 that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was promoted by President Ronald Reagan to the cabinet executive level. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. 0000189970 00000 n His father skipped out on the family when he was 10 and the boy completed his elementary education in Newark, then began college at Syracuse University but abruptly quit. 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. 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. r\a W+Y f%`VY f%`V Four days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, French reenlisted into the Navy and was assigned to Gregory in March 1942. [3], French was an orphan from Foreman, Arkansas[4] who learned to swim in the Red River at the age of eight.[5]. Jump in and swim for two hours straight, then come back and tell us how you feel. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 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. He was serving as a mess man on the USS Gregory when it was sunk by Japanese forces near the Solomon Islands in September of 1942. 0000002403 00000 n based on information from your browser. 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. A small donation would help us keep this available to all. The U.S. Navy Ship the U.S.S. In many ways, Navy Messman Charles Jackson French remains an unsung hero of World War II. 25, 1919 November 7, 1956 at the age of 37 small donation would help us keep available..., this family history and explore the rich tapestry of your location be. 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