His bravery fills me with Navy pride!' Nance told Newsweek. Don't listen to my voice, listen to those shipmates whom he saved. 'My father was a seaman in World War II and this reconsideration honors every service member regardless of rank or race. Shah said he was 'glad to see senior Navy leadership looking to right these wrongs today.' Veterans of color celebrated the move to properly recognize French, with one suggesting that he should receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, America's highest honor. Will work with & look into whether we can do more to recognize Petty Officer French.' Rear Admiral Charlie Brown, the Navy public affairs officer, acknowledged Nance's call in a response tweet: 'Thanks for highlighting this heroic story, Senior. Navy senior chief petty officer, highlighted French's story and questioned why his act of heroism wasn't adequately recognized by the U.S. In a tweet, Malcolm Nance, an American author and retired U.S.

Today, as the nation faces a reckoning on systemic racism sparked by the police killings of Black Americans, several former veterans have urged the Navy to posthumously award French with recognitions appropriate to the bravery he demonstrated in 1942.Ĭarrier Air Wing (CVW) airplanes and the French Carrier Air Wing flying over the aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush (CVN 77), Chesapeake 2018, Atlantic Ocean, May 15, 2018.

Army veteran and government affairs associate at the organization Common Defense. 'Too often in our past, service members of color were overlooked despite their fidelity and bravery in the face of overwhelming odds,' said Naveed Shah, a U.S. The sailor was also awarded a letter of commendation and a Navy Marine Corps Medal.Īs in the case of most other Black service members during World War II, French's bravery was not adequately recognized through awards, several U.S.

He died at the age of 37 on Novemin San Diego.ĭescribed as 'hero of the year' by the African-American newspaper Chicago Defender, French received a royal welcome as he returned to Omaha. Navy Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French navigated through shark-infested waters with a rope around his waist, towing 15 wounded sailors to safety from the USS Gregory after it was bombed by the Japanese navy near Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands.Īt the time, French, of Omaha, Nebraska, was 22 years old and serving as a mess attendant. Navy Chief of Information on Saturday moved to properly recognize a 'heroic' Black World War II sailor for swimming through the night for hours to save 15 wounded sailors.

Black navy war 2