He exemplified our core values and faced adversity with unwavering grit and selflessness. Charles Denver Barger (June 3, 1892 - November 25, 1936) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in World War I.He earned the medal while serving as a Chauchat automatic rifle gunner during the Meuse-Argonne offensive, when he and another soldier, Jesse N. Funk, entered no man's land despite . He was born in Foreman, Arkansas on September 25, 1919. Enter your email address below to receive updates each time we publish new content. A Black sailor swam against sharks to save his White shipmates. He re-enlisted after Pearl Harbor where he was assigned to be a mess attendant. His story was retold in comic strips and trading cards, and he traveled the country to help sell war bonds before enthusiastic crowds. His innovative methods of construction and design, along with his exceptional organizational skills, made him a highly sought-after engineer across the United States. www.epmcknight.wixsite.epfitspiration Follow me: Tiktok, imdb.me/epmcknight. The bravery that he demonstrated serves as a reminder of the sacrifices that can be made at any age. Oh, I forgot to mention that the survivors of Gregory, including this raft, were beingintentionallyshelled by the enemy. BZ PO1 French! After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men were adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. We receive a small royalty without cost to you. Charles Jackson (MEng, DIS, MINCOSE) Expand search. The Virginia NAACP is anticipating their favorable response. In San Diego in 2022, French's family was presented with his posthumous Navy and Marine Corps medal. His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service. 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Custer is the first soldier in US history to receive the militarys highest honor twice, as well as the first to do so twice. The gunfire hit two of the ships boilers and the Gregory was set ablaze by the fire. 1603) On June 20, 2022, President Biden signed it into law. Name a warship after this Hero. After his military service, French developed alcoholism and depression. Continue to scroll for fascinating Videos and Books to enhance your learning experience. Information from ISHOF, military.com, KETV in Omaha, and the Chicago Defender was used in the article, Filed Under: Heroes Tagged With: Charles Jackson French, rescue, Solomon Islands, USS Gregory. Dismiss. When the sailors were rescued, the Master at Arms attempted to separate French from the men he had just saved. The actions of the French will never be forgotten, as will their ultimate sacrifice. Now many feel that a letter of commendation for a heroic eight hour swim through sharks and enemy shell fire is not enough. After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men were adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. The story of the men who fought and served under trying circumstances. Omaha hailed hometown hero Charles Jackson French back in 1942, when the African American mess steward saved the lives of his shipmates after their destroyer was sunk in the World War II battle of the Solomon Islands. He told Adrian, Just keep telling me if Im going the right way. Once daylight broke, the raft was spotted by a scout plane, and a landing crew was sent out to rescue them. On January 11, 1945, French was serving aboard the USS Bunker Hill, an aircraft carrier that was involved in the Battle of Okinawa. Social media posts over the weekend began highlighting the story of Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French of Foreman, Arkansas, who became a national hero after the destroyer Gregory was sunk Sept. 5, 1942, by Japanese warships near Guadalcanal. We know of this story because of the courage demonstrated by Ensign Robert N Adrian, the only officer from the bridge of the Gregory to survive. 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. 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. A man discriminated against by the country that he loved, was willing to put his life on the line for. He was a generous and kind soul who was always willing to lend a helping hand. Correction: This story has been corrected to state that the bill passed by the Senate was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Don Bacon. When bombs sank the. Itwould ef. French stayed in the military until the end of the war, then took a civilian job with the Navy in San Diego. You must know this HERO Charles Jackson French, Charles Jackson French survived the destruction of the USS Gregory and then swam for hours dragging a life raft full of his shipmates through Shark infested waters. In 1945, when Congress began reviewing the record of the most conspicuous acts of courage by American soldiers during World War II, they recommended awarding the Medal of Honor to 432 recipients. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The award was presented during a ceremony in which a pool used for training Navy rescue swimmers at Naval Base San Diego was renamed in Frenchs honor. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday said in a statement: The story of Charles Jackson French needs to be told and shared for generations to come. The rescued men angrily reacted to this decision, threatening a fight if it wasnt reversed. This post office renaming is important to his family, the community of Omaha, and the state of Nebraska. U . Who is Ruth McBride Jordan? Teachers are pumped. Mrs. Thomas requests the Medal of Honor for the following Black Veterans: More than 3500 Medals of Honor have been given out to date, according to the National Medal of Honor Museum, however, less than 100 of those recipients are African-American. Use our links to Amazon anytime you shop Amazon. The VSC NAACP is in full support of Thomass campaign. If you have a story idea, news tip, or other question, please email the UNO News team at unonews@unomaha.edu. 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. 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. Charles Jackson French with his sister, Viola, at a Creighton football game on Oct. 31, 1942, at which he was honored. Japanese destroyers sank the ship he was on, the USS Gregory, in the South Pacific in September 1942. He was a talented carpenter, a skilled handyman, and a master of DIY projects. The Southern.Life is a publication of Emerson Parker Press, which is owned and operated by Jim Harris and his wife, Marian. Thats a portrait of a hero. He was recognized locally in September 2022 with the renaming of a Benson post office in his honor. USA Swimming honored him at the finals of the 2021 Swim Trials in June. French would go on to earn the name "The Human Tugboat" and garner immense respect from his fellow military peers. I nearly peed on myself when one of them sharks [touched] my feet. 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. All DragonDen media is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. Hundreds of Blacks were slaughtered and 10,000 left homeless in this largely unknown event. Weeks later, he told the story of a heroic mess attendant named "French" who towed a raft full of about 15 wounded sailors including Adrian all night through shark-filled waters until they were rescued. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, he noted that part of his job is to make sure that our veterans receive the recognition they deserve for their courage and dedication to our country. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). French was memorialized on War gum trading cards and in a comic strip. Bloomsbury presents Immortal Valor by Robert Child, read by Vaughn Johseph. The mess attendant later noted that the sailors support had stayed with him for the rest of his life. French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. Perhaps racism played a role in French not receiving proper recognition. French was a swimmer who performed a heroic act that gave others another chance at life. Virginia State Conference NAACP, Doris (Dorie) Miller, is a Black veteran, who demonstrated such dedication to his duty on December 7, 1941, when his ship was attacked in Pearl Harbor, Doris Miller showed little regard for his safety when he dragged his wounded captain and several shipmates to safety before manning an anti-aircraft gun that he had never been trained to use, and brought down several Japanese planes, but was not recommended for the Medal of Honor. This is the story of the Stewards, Cooks and Messboys who manned that branch of naval service. French was an African American serving at a time when prejudice and discrimination were ever-present in our Armed Forces and society, said Capt. I guess Pedo Joe has already forgotten about Alwyn Cashe. Despite the fact that the Medal of Honor is extremely rare, it can be received twice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. [2] French, a strong swimmer since youth, volunteered to swim the boat away from the Japanese island. 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. Follow him on Twitter @SteveLiewer. Tucked away from Asheville, North Carolina's busy [Read More] about The Little Mountain Escape-The Biltmore House, As a youngster studying American History, we [Read More] about A Hero, Virtually Unknown to History, Was a Vital Part of Our Nations Independence, Copyright 2023 TheSouthern.Life Site design by: weblotech.com, about The Little Mountain Escape-The Biltmore House, about A Hero, Virtually Unknown to History, Was a Vital Part of Our Nations Independence, Read the story of Paul Bolden, Medal of Honor recipient from Alabama, Read the story of John Pruitt, WWI recipient of two Medals of Honor, The Little Mountain Escape-The Biltmore House, A Hero, Virtually Unknown to History, Was a Vital Part of Our Nations Independence. 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. I like TOWs suggestion too. C harles Jackson French, a Black Navy swimmer and petty officer finally gets recognition for his courage to save his White teammates during World War II. This petition starter stood up and took action. A man who served and re-enlisted again when we entered World War II. Frenchs story was soon told by the War Gum Trading Card Company. Did Charles Jackson French receive the Medal of Honor? The University prohibits any form of retaliation taken against anyone for reporting discrimination, harassment, or retaliation for otherwise engaging in protected activity. We also posted a 5 part mini-series on the 100th anniversary of one of the most horrific massacres in the history of America. Navy Chief of Information Rear Adm. Charles Brown retweeted the post, thanking Nance for highlighting Frenchs heroic story and promising to work with Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday to see whether the service could do anything more to recognize the sailor. ** UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, speaks to the bravery and courage of Charles Jackson French at the Hero of the Heartland event. Either wouldeasilybe warranted in my opinion. After he began swimming, he soon encountered sharks. 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. Now, 80 years later, the Navy is finally catching up. Charles Jackson French, an African American orphan, and championship-caliber swimmer navigated shark infested waters for about eight hours during. 2022 State Convention | NAACP: The Urgency of Now, 2023 Virginia NAACP Legislative Priorities, Copyright 2023 Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. In time it was learned that Charles Jackson French stood 5'8" tall and weighed 195 pounds. 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. Charles Jackson French with his sister, Viola, at a Creighton University football game on Oct. 31, 1942, at which he was honored. 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. Note: when French was in the Navy, it was not permitted for there to be Blacks and Whites in the water at the same time. Charles Jackson French was an American war hero from Foreman, Arkansas. Miller received the Navy Cross (the second-highest award for combat valor) and Bell received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal (the highest award for noncombat heroism). Yet, history has overlooked him. U.S. Navy sailor Charles Jackson French saved 15 shipmates by dragging a life raft through shark-infested waters after the Japanese sank the USS Gregory in 1942. . This story or history was written to correct one of the many wrongs in the recording of American History. Charles Jackson French is what makes America great. Inaction has been a great injustice to the goodly Sergeants bravery and sacrifice, for him and his Troops. The New York Times best-selling story from the author of The Good Lord Bird, winner of the 2013 National Book Award for Fiction. The Chicago Defender named him Hero of the Year. French was honored at the U.S. Olympic swim trials in 2021. Thats when French a 22-year-old sailor in the racially segregated messman branch volunteered to tow them to safety, the article states. Soon after, a bill passed the Nebraska legislature to name an Omaha post office for him. This meant that if there were family members they had to live in ghettos like the general public. If the Navy and Marine Corps Medal is appropriate for Frenchs action, and by any objective measure it would be, then he ought to get the Navy Cross of MOH. Yeah, I know, not with this illegitimate regime in place. 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. The above summary gives a view of Charles Jackson French, a man who deserves a place in history, but like many Blacks have been excluded. He was responsible for the development and construction of hundreds of public works projects during his career. This to the scientific notationed! He will be missed dearly by his family and friends. The story of men who served their country when to do so was to endure, or to appear to accept the humiliating admission of ones own inferiority. Both Miller and French have been highly decorated for their service, but Thomas wants to see them awarded the top honor. The son of a Black minister and a woman who would not admit she was White, James McBride grew up in orchestrated chaos with his 11 siblings in the poor, all-Black projects of Red Hook, Brooklyn. On November 7, 1956, in San Diego, California, Charles Jackson French, 37 at the time, died. It only took 3 minutes for the ship to sink. Charles Jackson French, a Black Navy swimmer and petty officer finally gets recognition for his courage to save his White teammates during World War II. I [just] froze and tried to surface and float, [get] my feet outta the water.. S. House of Representatives: Demand a Congressional Medal of Honor for Petty Officer Charles Jackson French - Sign the Petition! No medal. UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, spoke at the event, pointing to how his actions can inspire us all to be heroes in our own way. Charles Jackson French with his sister, Viola, at a Creighton University football game on Oct. 31, 1942, at which he was honored. This is his jaw-dropping story. There is a campaign requesting a Congressional Medal of Honor is awarded to French. A pool and a letter of commendation dont seem like enough for this true American hero. I read about this on Facebook some time ago. Kind of sounds like it. This button displays the currently selected search type. Thems the devils fish. Notably, the letter reduced the hours French spent swimming from six-eight to two. Growing Up and Early Naval Days. Lets get this HERO the Medal of Honor, Forgotten: The Untold Story of D-days Black Heroes, at Home and at War. 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. There are some that estimated the time at two hours but in any case, it was a tremendous physical act of courage, keeping in mind that the enemy was still searching for them with the intent of killing them. Copyrighted content researched and produced by DragonDen Productions ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. He died in 1956, at age 37, of depression and alcoholism from untreated post-traumatic stress, family members say. U.S. Navy Capt. He remembers meeting his uncle during World War II just after the famous rescue and being inspired to learn to swim. Thomas is also requesting support from the citizens as well as other groups and veterans organizations to ensure that Mr. Miller and Mr. French are properly recognized for their contributions to this country by making phone calls or sending letters to members of congress and the senate. The mess attended tied a rope around his waist and the boat and began the journey. Since they were taking direct fire, Id feel the Navy Cross the more appropriate of the two. 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. French, a Black man from Foreman, Arkansas, worked as a mess attendant on a destroyer transport ship named the USS Gregory, according to a 1943 Associated Press article. I say MOH. To see the posts, click here. In the end, there were fifteen additional sailors on the raft with the mess attendant. Ensign Robert Adrian realized that the currents were pulling the lifeboat back towards a Japanese-held island. 6001 Dodge Street, French was a swimmer who performed a heroic act that gave others another chance at life. He deserves a higher award, and a destroyer named in his honor. We encourage you to share the site on social media. After tying him off, French swam through shark infested waters for 6-8 hours until an American landing craft found them. Willie Johnson, the youngest person to receive the Medal of Honor, is also the youngest person to receive the medal. Another of Frenchs nephews, 89-year-old Roscoe Harris of Omaha, also attended, along with two of his own sons and three of his grandsons. There was no escape from racism despite putting your life on the line for your country. urging Congress and President Joe Biden to posthumously award French the Medal of Honor . In addition to newspaper and radio accounts, his story was told in bubble gum cards, comic strips, a calendar, even a verse by a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet. Instead, the Navy only issued a letter of commendation. To see the full listing of over 250 posts, click on our Blog listWe post weekly, so check often, For Black History Month 2020, we posted daily. The link to these posts is here. Bonus- The Story of Charles Jackson French. During the battle, the Bunker Hill was struck by two kamikaze planes which caused the ship to suffer a massive explosion. We remember Charles Jackson French, winner of the Navy medal, who swam through the Pacific after his vessel sunk in WWII. Or even going back to the 90s when a lot of this (blacks finally getting the awards they deserve) started to happen. We also did a mini-series on the Schomburg Center for Research a most amazing collection of Black history and culture. In the early hours of June 6, 1944, the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, a unit of African American soldiers, landed on the beaches of France. French, who moved to Omaha as a teen, first enlisted in the US Navy in 1937. The wording of the letter follows. Eric Ewing, executive director of the Great Plains Black History Museum, shares remarks at the Hero of the Heartland event. After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men was adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. Dorie Miller is the most well-known African American hero of World War II. Took the thoughts right outa my head SFC D. And if the shark had of tried to bite this Hero in those big brass ones, the shark woulda broke off a few teeth. On September 4th of 1942, the USS Gregory found itself under attack from Japanese destroyers. He was particularly noted for his work on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in Maryland, a major engineering feat of its time. This might be the first time I agree with Malcolm Nance. 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. It read: 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. The ship sailed on the Pacific Ocean heading towards Guadalcanal. This cartoon by Black artist Charles Alston for the U.S. Office of War Information celebrates the wartime valor of Charles Jackson French and two other Black sailors, Doris "Dorrie" Miller and Ervin Bell. His heroism was recognized in popular culture, though. Will you do the same? During this time, the military followed the segregation laws that were prevalent in the nation. Ted Carlson, commander of Naval Base San Diego. French served aboard the USS Houston for four years before returning to Omaha. Read the full statement. He was awarded both the Army and Navy Medal of Honor, the French Mdaille militaire and Croix de Guerre as well as decorations from Italy, Montenegro and Portugal. You have permission to edit this article. Although he demonstrated extreme bravery, instead of the Medal of Honor, all French received was a nice letter from the U. S. Navy. Born in a small town in California, Charles was a man of many talents. To you made at any age volunteered to tow the raft was spotted by a scout plane and! The youngest person to receive the Medal encourage you to share the site on social media Blacks! Of African heritage passed the Nebraska legislature to name an Omaha post office in his.! Don Bacon pulling the lifeboat back towards a Japanese-held island Honor, forgotten: the Untold story of D-days Heroes. 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