By Victoria Mejicanos
AFRO Staff Writer
vmejicanos@afro.com
Charles Jackson French wasn’t supposed to be remembered. In a segregated United States Navy that intentionally kept him out of combat, French did the impossible. He saved 15 men by tying a rope around his waist and carrying a raft of his injured shipmates, swimming them to safety through shark-infested waters on Sept. 4 1942. The heroic act took place after the boat the French was working on, the U.S.S. Gregory, was sunk by Japanese forces during the battle of Guadalcanal.
Now, more than 80 years later, the Navy is finally taking steps to remember him. Navy officials say an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer ship will be named in French’s honor. The U.S.S. Charles J. French is projected for delivery by 2031, according to a press release from the Navy.
Former Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro announced the project in 2024. During a keynote address he said, “Let this ship inspire us to challenge our own limitations and to always—always—answer the call of duty, even when the waters are rough and the path ahead uncertain.”
French has also been posthumously honored with the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, and has a rescue swimming training pool at Naval Base San Diego named after him as well.
Decades ago, when the U.S.S Gregory was attacked by Japanese forces in World War II, French found himself with a raft full of wounded soldiers. Instead of letting the raft drift toward enemy land, he tied the raft to his body with a rope and swam for more than six hours in the opposite direction toward safety. French would later tell his descendants of how sharks were “bumping his feet,” as he swam.
At the time, all French received following the act of bravery was a letter of commendation. But many say it wasn’t enough.
“There’s no place on a uniform for a letter,” said Eric Ewing, executive director for the Great Plains Black History museum and a Navy veteran himself. “That means his acts didn’t warrant any type of medals, any type of ribbons or anything.”
Linda French, wife of the heroic sailor’s nephew, Chester French, has spent several years keeping the memory of Charles Jackson French alive via social media.
According to Linda, the French family was invited to the Olympic Swim Trials that were hosted in Omaha that year and were honored during halftime. Since then, the story of Charles Jackson French has been shared by journalists, historical book writers, artists and museums across the country.
For Ewing, the greatest thing French did was allow “his crew members’ family trees to continue to bear fruit.”
The French family has been able to connect with direct descendants of the 15 men saved that September night so long ago. Some of the men saved even had descendants join the Navy themselves, like Capt. Spencer Austin.
“I get pictures of him and his family going on vacation and stuff,” said Linda French. “It’s pretty cool.”