Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro announced the planned name of the Arleigh Burke-class guided weapon battleship DDG-142 during his keynote address at the 36th National Symposium of the Surface Navy Association in Arlington.
Charles Jackson French, a Navy Mess Specialist 1st Class, who was hailed as the” Hero of the Solomons” for his deeds onboard the USS Gregory, may be the name of the Navy’s new warship.
The USS Gregory began carrying on fluids, according to Task and Purpose after being attacked by Chinese forces on September 5, 1942. European placed 15 wounded sailors in a career boat, tied a cord to his neck, and swam through the night, pulling the life raft and seamen to health. Although French was given the Navy Cross, he also received a notice of praise at the time. Del Toro stated that he hopes that the Navy will ultimately respect a war warrior that history has forgotten by naming the battleship after French.
Unveiling the title earlier this year, Del Toro said,” Today, with deep conviction and a heart brimming with extended- late recognition, I am pleased to announce the name of our newest destroyer, DDG- 142, will be the USS Charles J. French”.
Prior to retiring, European spent the rest of his time in the Navy on the USS Endicott and USS Frankford. He died on November 7, 1956, at the age of 37. His tombstone is situated in Sand Diego’s Fort Rosencrans National Cemetery.
French’s bravery is admirable, but his story also serves as a testament to the lasting bonds between the war. During the time of French’s company, the Navy was segregated. Without Navy Ensign Robert Adrian, French’s correct steps and noble company may not have been known. Adrian was one of the seamen that the French had saved that evening, and he never lost the bravery displayed by the French. Adrian made an appearance on the NBC program” It Happened in the Service” on October 21, 1942, in which he described how European saved his life.
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Following the show, French received social recognition for his actions. In 1943, Pulitzer Prize recipient William Rose Benet wrote the poem” The Strong Swimmer” about French. No further honors or distinctions were granted to French in spite of this, and his tale slowly vanished into forgotten history.
A retired Navy couple recently visited a French exhibit in the Black History Swimming Hall of Fame. Intrigued, they sought out Adrian. After retiring, Adrian made an effort to find French and published the story in Tin Can Alley, a newsletter, with the title Our Night of Hell of Guadalcanal. According to reports, Adrian suggested that French be given the Navy Cross prior to his own 2011 passing.
In 2021, French’s story then came to the attention of Rear Admiral Charles Brown, who served as a Navy public affairs officer. From that time, French has been honored in numerous ceremonies.
French was posthumously honored with the Navy and Marine Corps Medal in a ceremony held at Naval Base San Diego in May of 2022. During the ceremony, the base’s rescue swimmer training pool was dedicated in French’s honor.
Additionally, in June of 2022, President Joe Biden signed H. R. 4168, designating the Post Office on 6223 Maple Street, Omaha, Nebraska, as the Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French Post Office.
