10/10/2025
On the night of September 5, 1942, the USS Gregory, a U.S. Navy destroyer, was struck and sunk near Guadalcanal. Amid the flames and chaos, one sailor made a decision that defined true heroism.
His name was Charles Jackson French, a 22-year-old mess attendant. As survivors tried to escape in the darkness, French saw a raft carrying 15 badly wounded men. The tide was pulling them toward Japanese-controlled shores, where capture—or death—was certain.
Without hesitation, French tied a rope around his waist, plunged into shark-infested waters, and began to swim. For six to eight hours, through exhaustion and violent currents, he dragged the raft away from enemy territory and toward safety.
By dawn, Allied rescuers found the men alive—because one man refused to give up on them. French’s bravery saved every one of their lives.
But his story did not make headlines. In 1943, he received only a letter of commendation. No medal. No national recognition. In that era, Black heroes were too often overlooked, their courage left out of the history books.
Still, Charles Jackson French’s name endures. He swam through fear, through darkness, through history itself—leaving behind a legacy of selfless courage. He wasn’t just a sailor. He was a hero.