Charles R. Jackson was born in Summit, New Jersey on April 6, 1903, the son of Frederick George and Sarah Williams Jackson. 0000002222 00000 n His service to this country is something that should never be forgotten, and his story is one that can inspire all of us to do good for our fellow man. SOURCE INTERNET SEARCH. During his youth, he would often swim in the Red River and became quite adept at it. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. 0000012814 00000 n He saved 15 shipmates by swimming six to eight hours though shark-invested waters towing a life raft. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland. Unlock the mysteries of your family history and explore the rich tapestry of your past with AncientFaces. May 18, 2018, 11:38 AM. Many of the bases and training facilities were located in the South, in addition to the largest military installation for Black soldiers, Fort Huachuca, located in Arizona. French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. However, as in the case of many other African-American war heroes, he would receive a lesser reward than anticipated. 0000012998 00000 n Weve updated the security on the site. Listen to Julian Jackson discuss Charles de Gaulle on the Bloomberg.com podcast Surveillance [at 33:20] Listen to Professor Jackson discuss de Gaulle on ABC Radio National's Between the Lines; At The Good Men Project, read Jackson on whether Emmanuel Macron might be the man to help the French people escape the long shadow of General de Gaulle 35 years shorter than 0000184704 00000 n Just tell me if Im going the right way, French said. Box 6237, in San Diego, California 92166. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Charles R. Jackson. He enlisted in the Navy shortly after turning 18. Of the many acts of bravery among the men of Gregory during its final battle (including the mortally wounded skipper ordering his crew to abandon him and help other . Sheritha Jones, Back in the Day, October 30, 1942: Omahas Hero of the Solomon Islands Returns Home to Honors. Omaha World-Herald, October 31, 2021, https://omaha.com/news/local/history/back-in-the-day-oct-30-1942-omahas-hero-of-the-solomon-islands-returns-home/article_ef06042c-2788-11ec-a5e1-4b1dd928d8f4.html. Charles Jackson French was discharged from the Navy Nov. 13, 1941, but re-enlisted a month later after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The Biography piece is collaborative, where we work together to present the facts. 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. He makes comedy sketches on his YouTube channel. The story of Charles Jackson French's World War II valor was told and retold, especially in Black newspapers. However, at 1:23 a.m. on Sept. 5, 1942, French was one of a few uninjured Sailors that found themselves floating on makeshift rafts when the Japanese ships turned their guns from the crippled ships to the crew floating in the water. Resend Activation Email. endstream endobj 271 0 obj <>stream You have chosen this person to be their own family member. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Postal Service held a ceremony Friday in Omaha to formally rename the Benson branch post pffice for World War II Navy veteran Charles Jackson French. After the engagement, a group of about fifteen men were adrift on a raft, which was being deliberately shelled by Japanese naval forces. Discover how our Uncovering Our Shared Memories: An Introduction to the Community Standards at AncientFaces Where we share as we remember & make discoveries and connect with others to help answer questions. Learn more about merges. Help paint a picture of Charles so that he is always remembered. Previously, hydrogen bombs had only been tested on the ground. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. When 2 or more people share their unique perspectives, (NNPA Newswire) It remains by far one of the most heroic acts performed in war, and it also counts as one of the most underappreciated sacrifices in American history. Charles Jackson French was an American war hero from Foreman, Arkansas. endstream endobj 257 0 obj <>/Metadata 35 0 R/Pages 34 0 R/StructTreeRoot 37 0 R/Type/Catalog/ViewerPreferences<>>> endobj 258 0 obj <>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/TrimBox[0.0 0.0 612.0 792.0]/Type/Page>> endobj 259 0 obj <> endobj 260 0 obj <> endobj 261 0 obj <> endobj 262 0 obj <> endobj 263 0 obj <>stream The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. 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 . We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Thank you for your service and your valor, Mr. French. Once Charles Jackson French was identified, he became a national hero. On September 5, 1942, United States Navy Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson Fr. 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. He was survived by his sister Viola. i6 oSs$tXE`q8X4A`q8X4][D28c}SKYjn1gwQ]7/ O French made public appearances after the rescue, including attending a Creighton University football game with his sister in 1942. Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox, Revolutionized American Warfare, Taylor Sheridan Is Taking on the Military World With New Spy Thriller, Mission Daybreak Rewards Those Fighting Against Veteran Suicide With Millions, Volunteers Needed for the Million Veteran Program. Oops, we were unable to send the email. After sunrise, French and his fellow Sailors were spotted and eventually rescued. He received an honorable discharge on November 11, 1941, but re-enlisted after Pearl Harbor. 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. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Photos, memories, family stories & discoveries are unique to you, and only you can control. See What AncientFaces Does to discover more about the community. 0000110718 00000 n Try again later. It wasnt until 1988 that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was promoted by President Ronald Reagan to the cabinet executive level. French tied a line to himself and swam for more than two hours without rest, thus attempting to tow the raft. Charles' immediate relatives including parents, siblings, partnerships and children in the French family tree. Where was Charles born and where did he live? Its a shame that so many who served our country were left to face the mental and physical ailments war may bring in solitude. We havent even mentioned the racism yet. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Charles Jackson French (September 25, 1919 - November 7, 1956) was a United States Navy sailor. 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. Some speculate that alcoholism played a role, as there are some reports of French having to deal with the stresses of returning from war alone. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. On September 5, 1942, United States Navy Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French, of Omaha Nebraska, 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 USS Gregory was hit by Japanese naval fire near Guadalcanal. awesome reading . Oops, something didn't work. 4=yDZ &yK[ #x+T.$P"> Ty\I @44mP_dFI+ If you are interested, you are suggested to go through this video, Charles Jackson French Cause of Death.Post going through the entire video, you will get a better idea about the real and accurate news. The story of a Black Navy vet who saved 15 of his crewmates during World War II was only known among a few families for many years. He appeared before enthusiastic crowds at bond rallies, and a high decoration seemed assured. Aside from the Bible, it became the best selling book of the 20th century. The U.S. A BILL TO NAME A U.S. POST OFCEFI JUST PAST THE U.S. SENATE. 0000000016 00000 n Arkansas born, African American, Petty Officer First Class, Charles Jackson French didn't imagine he would be completing such a feat at just the age of 23 years-old. m1zQ+Q=,m ZpS#Ar4HB|jP;eKKFZIz loT~Lwz8XZ+ $2=CWH#r#Tm#e4Y#jW#QX:0;"-Q:HA@(2+dh!`Z6-$Hh1bS{RoQ#-2 G=A}k 8B9Ns~#^Z-0I0L%%l^UjT7;Bw0 29iGjoU6[QqgYB6,)-$tWga(PC`[ImnM!bxyghkxH> ' W Despite never completing college, Jackson had a passion for literature . We mourn with the loved ones who are in deep pain post hearing this death news.We request to kindly like and subscribe to our channel, so that in the future as well, we can provide the latest and accurate news at the earliest.In case you share some memories with Charles Jackson, and want the world to know about the same, you are requested to share them here.Please use the share icon to make this news accessible to more people. Charles Jackson French saved the lives 15 Sailorsall of them whiteby pulling them on a raft behind him as he swam for hours through shark-infested waters. Try again later. 0000012696 00000 n STEWARDS MATE 1/C US NAVY 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. HTM0+|] r7CJ1qh,ofo!l22}4go5 %Y,VkWdV0Rl'GDD+"A[*qMQV.:7yj~UO8z"a)/AW_zwU(:eE>W0T x'?CsJEJ0B~|!Sed8y%>%lI8 ~f0&Y|q`e'Z3%>UJ+0Q,Oi6Z?pQYCGUw } X:jSlS8*%Qs&@SFCe1j;A*dr|JWx@!66mNs/&GAxy2 c3q:m ;">7 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. He asked for help to tie a rope around his waist and towed them to safety." Charles Jackson French (September 25, 1919 - November 7, 1956) was a United States Navy sailor. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. On the night of September 5, 1942, French was on board the U.S.S. 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. Blake Bailey's fascinating new biography, Farther and Wilder: the Lost Weekends and Literary Dreams of Charles Jackson (Knopf), begins and ends with a fatal crash. "Then French volunteered to swim the raft away from shore. French was born in Foreman, Arkansas in about 1920. Interment Control Forms, A1 2110-B. Three Japanese destroyers Ydachi, Hatsuyuki, and Murakumo came into the Slot undetected to bombard American positions ashore. 0000184121 00000 n #CharlesJacksonFrench #CharlesJacksonFrenchOfDeath #CelebritiesCauseOfDeathCharles Jackson French Cause of Death (Mar 2021) Obituary, Death, ReasonCharles Ja. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Pictured is Charles with his sister Viola during a public appearance at a football game in Omaha, Nebraska,1943. Charles Jackson French - saving 15 crewmen. a Fearing that the raft would drift toward the shore where Japanese troops were located, French towed the raft of wounded survivors toward a different island. 0000003773 00000 n The story of Charles Jackson French's valor was told in newspapers, on radio dramas, in comics, in World War II calendars and on this bubble gum card. 0000175553 00000 n In addition, Rep. Bacon, a retired Air Force brigadier general, has petitioned the navy, asking for French to be considered for a posthumous medal of honor. 0000010730 00000 n Charles Jackson French WW II Hero. [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 his parents died, he moved to Omaha, Nebraska, to live with his sister. 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