Ultimate Alphas: Charles French
Charles French swam eight hours in shark infested waters to save fifteen U.S sailors in WWII! Petty Officer First Class French was born September 25, 1919 in Foreman, Arkansas. He was an American war hero who enlisted in the United States Navy in 1937. Charles Jackson French’s na
By Your Bro · · Guy Stuff
Key Takeaways
- Charles Jackson French was a U.S. Navy Messman who saved 15 sailors during World War II by towing their life raft through shark-infested waters for eight hours.
- The rescue occurred on September 5, 1942, after the USS Gregory was sunk by Japanese naval fire near the Solomon Islands.
- French was the first Black swimmer to be nominated for a high-ranking medal for this feat, though he ultimately received only a letter of commendation.
- Posthumous honors for French include being named 'Hero of the Year' by the Chicago Defender and having a training pool named after him at Naval Station San Diego.
What happened to the USS Gregory during the Battle of Guadalcanal?
The U.S. Navy Ship U.S.S. Gregory was hit by Japanese naval fire in the South Pacific, killing and wounding many. French successfully brought many of the wounded to safety on the shores of the Solomon Islands while avoiding enemy fire and sharks. His actions saved the lives of nearly a entire raft of shipmates.
French should have become the first black swimmer to earn the Navy Medal for his heroic feat, however, he was denied the Medal of Honor and Silver Star. Instead, he received a letter of commendation from Adm. William F. Halsey, Jr., commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet.
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 were 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.”“The survivors felt that he deserved a higher tribute, possibly the Congressional Medal – or at the least, a Silver Star – but the Gregory episode was complicated by the issuance of a posthumous Silver Star to Lt. Cdr.H. F. Baurer, the ship’s CO. Wounded and dying, the skipper ordered two companions to leave him and go to the aid of another crewman who was yelling for help. He was never seen again. By navy standards, it would be nearly unprecedented for a subordinate to receive a higher decoration for an act of heroism comparable to that of a superior.” French’s heroics may have been lost to history had it not been for ensign Robert N. Adrian, who told the story to a reporter at the Associated Press. He later narrated the story on a national radio program. French is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California. - Your Big Bro
—Your Bro