Charles Jackson French

Charles Jackson French (September 25, 1919 – November 7, 1956) was a United States Navy sailor. He had first enlisted in the Navy in 1937[1] and had completed his enlistment, moving to Omaha, Nebraska where he had family.[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.[3]

Charles Jackson French
Born(1919-09-25)September 25, 1919
Foreman, Arkansas, US
DiedNovember 7, 1956(1956-11-07) (aged 37)
San Diego, California, US
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service1937–1946
RankPetty Officer First Class
USS Gregory in early 1942

Biography

French was an orphan from Foreman, Arkansas[4] who learned to swim in the Red River at the age of eight.[5]

During World War II,[1] messmate French swam 6–8 hours in shark-infested waters near Guadalcanal while towing a life raft with 15 USS Gregory (DD-82) survivors of an attack by the Japanese Imperial Navy.[6][7] For this action, French received a letter of commendation from Adm. William F. Halsey Jr. in May 1943.[6] Adm. Halsey was then commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet.[8] The commendation stated:

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 September 5, 1942. After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men was adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service.

French was memorialized on War Gum trading cards and in a comic strip. The Chicago Defender named him Hero of the Year.[9]

French was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroic actions. 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.[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]

French is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California.

References
  1. Black Swimming History: Forgotten Hero of WWII Bruce Wigo, Swimming World, February 5, 2018
  2. "Omaha Negro Hero of Ship Disaster," (Columbus, Neb.)Telegram, October 23, 1942, 1; newspapers.com.
  3. Interment Control Forms, 1928–1962. Interment Control Forms, A1 2110-B. Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774–1985, Record Group 92. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland. ancestry.com
  4. https://ishof.org/assets/charles-jackson-french_article.pdf
  5. "Chicago Defender Interviews Navy Hero on Rescues," (Chicago) Defender, November 7, 1942, 1
  6. The story of Charles Jackson French Bruce Wigo
  7. Wigo, Bruce. "The Story of Charles Jackson French" (PDF). ISHOF. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 20, 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  8. "How Charles French swam eight hours in shark waters to save 15 U.S sailors in WWII". Face2Face Africa. March 2, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  9. "Navy Dedicates Rescue Swimmer Training Pool and Presents Posthumous Award to WWII Hero's Family". The Washington Informer. February 23, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  10. "Remembering a Forgotten World War II Hero". www.navy.mil. May 21, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  11. "Omaha post office to be renamed in honor of local World War II hero". WOWT News 6. May 27, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
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