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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. French was also the only African American to appear on World War II patriotic trading cards issued by GUM, Inc. This is the story of Charles Jackson French, who rescued several soldiers during the Battle of Guadalcanal. Its the kind of narrative that captures your imagination regardless of which side of the aisle you are on., Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia has supported Thomas request. www.epmcknight.wixsite.epfitspiration Follow me: Tiktok, imdb.me/epmcknight. The story of Charles Jackson French's valor was told in newspapers, on radio dramas, in comics, on a bubble gum card and on this World War II calendar. Charles Jackson French was discharged from the Navy on Nov. 13, 1941, but reenlisted a month later after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Author and Navy veteran Malcolm Nance got the services attention Sunday when he tagged several official accounts in a Twitter post about French. A BILL TO NAME A U.S. POST OFCEFI JUST PAST THE U.S. SENATE. French was memorialized on War gum trading cards and in a comic strip. BZ PO1 French! More at the source. He was born in Foreman, Arkansas on September 25, 1919. French finished a four-year Navy tour in November 1941 and was visiting family in Omaha when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Thomas has also been in communication with other senators and members of Congress asking them to support this effort. Navy officials escorted members of Frenchs family to his gravesite at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, on San Diegos Point Loma peninsula. French towed a raft loaded with his wounded shipmates through shark-infested waters to safety near Guadalcanal. His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service. This story or history was written to correct one of the many wrongs in the recording of American History. S. House of Representatives: Demand a Congressional Medal of Honor for Petty Officer Charles Jackson French - Sign the Petition! After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men were adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. This post office renaming is important to his family, the community of Omaha, and the state of Nebraska. 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. You can cancel at any time. 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. (H.R. 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The story of Charles Jackson French is little known and marred by the inevitable racism that permeates our history in America. Follow him on Twitter @SteveLiewer. Proclamations naming the Benson post office in his uncle's honor are featured on easels in front of the stage. Inspiring Stories of Black History and Achievement. The VSC NAACP is in full support of Thomass campaign. The injustices of 1940s Jim Crow America are brought to life in this extraordinary blend of military and social history, an account that pays tribute to the valor of an all-black battalion whose crucial contributions at D-day have gone unrecognized to this day. . In June 2022, the President Joe 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. Though the survivors felt French deserved a Medal of Honor or at least a Silver Star, the Swimming Hall of Fame story states, he never received either. Calls to recognize black WWII hero shed light on feat of heroism, Omaha-native Charles Jackson French is credited with saving his entire crew while serving in the U.S. Navy. Ive always felt glad to be a proud American, Harris said. He was a talented carpenter, a skilled handyman, and a master of DIY projects. The bravery that he demonstrated serves as a reminder of the sacrifices that can be made at any age. It seems a travesty that he never received a medal after such a courageous single-handed act of bravery saving 15 men. We encourage you to share the site on social media. 2023 A Month of Tribute to 31 Women We Should All Know, Rosewood A Typical Race Riot in America. It took so long.. 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. Future Hero of the Heartland events may be held during other heritage months to celebrate heroes among a broad array of diverse ethnic groups. Days later, he went down to his local recruitment office and reenlisted. His wife, Linda, called the event just awesome., It makes you want to cry, she said. Please subscribe to keep reading. French made public appearances after the rescue, including attending a Creighton University football game with his sister in 1942. The night that propelled Charles Jackson French into the role of hero was September 5, 1942, when enemy bombs sank the U.S.S. Will you do the same? His innovative methods of construction and design, along with his exceptional organizational skills, made him a highly sought-after engineer across the United States. The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its education programs or activities, including admissions and employment. UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, speaks to the bravery and courage of Charles Jackson French at the Hero of the Heartland event. Charles French was born on September 25, 1919, in Foreman, Arkansas. A pool and a letter of commendation dont seem like enough for this true American hero. He had first enlisted in the Navy in 1937 [1] and had completed his enlistment, moving to Omaha, Nebraska where he had family. I read about this on Facebook some time ago. 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. The living quarters were strictly segregated as was housing for family members. Charles Jackson French is another unsung Black veteran who demonstrated extreme heroism after his ship was attacked in the early morning of September 5, 1942. ** 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. Teachers are pumped. Within days, French, 22, reenlisted. Bacon, R-Neb., had written a letter to the acting secretary of the Navy a year ago, asking for a review of Frenchs file to determine whether he had received the proper awards. Continue for more information on the site and posts that may be of interest. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. 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