Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro recently announced that the future Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer DDG-142 would be renamed USS Charles J. French in honor of Navy Mess Specialist 1st Class Petty Officer Charles Jackson French, who saved members of his crew by tying a raft’s rope around his waist and swimming through shark-infested waters, pulling them to safety.

French saved 15 of his shipmates on a raft after their high-speed transport was sunk in combat during the Battle of Guadalcanal. He swam six hours in the open ocean to help them survive.

French, a mess attendant, was aboard the USS Gregory when it was sunk by three Japanese ships—the Yudachi, Hatsuyuki, and Murakumo—on the night of September 4, 1942. 

The ships hit Gregory’s boilers, and Lieutenant Commander Harry F. Bauer ordered the crew to abandon the ship.

French, 22, tied a rope around his waist and dove into the water, pulling the men on a raft for six to eight hours to safety in the cold, dark, shark-infested waters. 

The 15 men were picked up by a landing craft—a small to medium seagoing vessel.

Navy officials attempted to separate the men based on race, but some refused to go along with the order saying French was the one who saved them.

A significant award for heroism seemed assured, but it wasn’t to be. All he would receive was a letter of commendation from Adm. William F. Halsey, Jr., then commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet.

The letter read: “For meritorious conduct in action while serving on board a destroyer transport which was badly damaged during the engagement with Japanese forces in the British Solomon Islands on September 5, 1942.”

This legendary act of bravery by French, who was Black, never got his due at the time, in part because the military and the Navy, like most military services, were segregated. Though recommended for the Navy Cross, he received only the letter of commendation from Halsey.

It was a far step away from the Navy Cross or the Medal of Honor, which many crew members believed French deserved.

Secretary Del Toro announced French’s award during his keynote address at this year’s Surface Navy Association’s 36th National Symposium in Arlington.

French was discharged as a Steward’s Mate First Class on March 9, 1945. 

After the war, he married and fathered one daughter. 

French, who suffered from alcoholism secondary to post-traumatic stress disorder, died on November 11, 1956, at the age of 37. He was buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California.

Hero sailor has a ship named after him, but it wasn’t the Navy Cross or Medal of Honor that he deserved

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro recently announced that the future Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer DDG-142 would be renamed USS Charles J. French in honor of Navy Mess Specialist 1st Class Petty Officer Charles Jackson French, who saved members of his crew by tying a raft’s rope around his waist and swimming through shark-infested waters, pulling them to safety.

French saved 15 of his shipmates on a raft after their high-speed transport was sunk in combat during the Battle of Guadalcanal. He swam six hours in the open ocean to help them survive.

French, a mess attendant, was aboard the USS Gregory when it was sunk by three Japanese ships—the Yudachi, Hatsuyuki, and Murakumo—on the night of September 4, 1942. 

The ships hit Gregory’s boilers, and Lieutenant Commander Harry F. Bauer ordered the crew to abandon the ship.

French, 22, tied a rope around his waist and dove into the water, pulling the men on a raft for six to eight hours to safety in the cold, dark, shark-infested waters. 

The 15 men were picked up by a landing craft—a small to medium seagoing vessel.

Navy officials attempted to separate the men based on race, but some refused to go along with the order saying French was the one who saved them.

A significant award for heroism seemed assured, but it wasn’t to be. All he would receive was a letter of commendation from Adm. William F. Halsey, Jr., then commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet.

The letter read: “For meritorious conduct in action while serving on board a destroyer transport which was badly damaged during the engagement with Japanese forces in the British Solomon Islands on September 5, 1942.”

This legendary act of bravery by French, who was Black, never got his due at the time, in part because the military and the Navy, like most military services, were segregated. Though recommended for the Navy Cross, he received only the letter of commendation from Halsey.

It was a far step away from the Navy Cross or the Medal of Honor, which many crew members believed French deserved.

Secretary Del Toro announced French’s award during his keynote address at this year’s Surface Navy Association’s 36th National Symposium in Arlington.

French was discharged as a Steward’s Mate First Class on March 9, 1945. 

After the war, he married and fathered one daughter. 

French, who suffered from alcoholism secondary to post-traumatic stress disorder, died on November 11, 1956, at the age of 37. He was buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California.