On a dark night in 1942, near Savo Island and Guadalcanal, the Pacific Ocean suddenly lit up with gunfire. Two American ships on patrol were quickly sunk by Japanese destroyers, leaving their surviving crew stranded in shark-infested waters. Amid the chaos, Charles Jackson French, a mess hall officer, emerged as a hero by saving 15 sailors.
‘I Want to Do My Part’
Born on September 29, 1919, in Foreman, Arkansas, Charles Jackson French grew up in a town with segregated swimming pools. Opportunities for Black people to learn how to swim were rare, but French possibly learned in the city’s stone quarries or the nearby Red River. After his parents’ death, he moved to Omaha, Nebraska, to live with his sister, Viola. At 18, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, which was segregated at the time. French had to work as a mess attendant, serving meals to white sailors on the USS Houston for four years.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, French re-enlisted, eager to contribute. This time, he would see much more action.
Charles Jackson French’s Heroism During World War II
After re-enlisting, French was assigned to the USS Gregory as a Steward’s Mate 1st class. Initially dismissed by some in the Black press as a “seagoing bellhop,” French soon proved his worth.
On September 5, 1942, the USS Gregory and the USS Little were attacked by Japanese destroyers. The Gregory was sunk within three minutes, leaving the surviving crew in shark-infested waters while Japanese soldiers fired at them.
French immediately sprang into action. He helped injured sailors onto a makeshift raft and volunteered to swim against the current that would have led them to a Japanese-occupied island. Guided by Ensign Robert Adrian’s instructions, French swam for six to eight hours, fending off sharks. At sunrise, an American scout spotted them and sent rescue. Even then, French faced discrimination from his rescuers until his shipmates insisted he be treated as one of their own.
Ensign Robert Adrian made French’s heroic story public, and it quickly captured national attention. French was celebrated across the country, featured in comic strips, and praised in the Black press. However, despite his bravery, he received only minimal recognition.
The Legacy Of Charles Jackson French
After serving on the USS Gregory, Charles Jackson French continued his duties in the mess on the USS Endicott and the USS Frankford, witnessing major events like D-Day and the invasion of southern France.
Following World War II, French’s story faded into obscurity. He struggled with alcoholism and depression and passed away on November 7, 1956, in San Diego, California, at the age of 37.
Decades later, efforts to recognize Charles Jackson French resurfaced. In 2021, a post from the International Swimming Hall of Fame brought his story back to light. Rear Admiral Charles Brown awarded French’s relatives a posthumous Navy and Marine Corps Medal, honoring his heroic actions.
French’s legacy is now commemorated in various ways. A training pool at Naval Base San Diego and a post office in his hometown of Omaha are named after him. After six decades, his heroic acts during World War II are finally being acknowledged.
Charles Jackson French’s story reminds us of the importance of honoring our heroes, no matter how much time has passed. It exemplifies the resilience, bravery, and spirit of those who served during World War II.
To learn more about forgotten heroes like Charles Jackson French, continue exploring the stories of other remarkable Black war heroes who faced adversity and showed extraordinary courage.