World War II Honoree

Charles Jackson French

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Foreman, Arkansas

Honored By

Richard E. Miller

MEMBER OF THE NAVY'S MESS ATTENDANT BRANCH AND BECAME NATIONALLY CELEBRATED AS THE 'HUMAN TUGBOAT'. RECEIVED A NAVY COMMENDATION FOR MERITORIOUS CONDUCT IN ACTION WHILE SERVING ABOARD THE USS GREGORY APD-3, A DESTROYER TRANSPORT WHICH WAS SUNK BY JAPANESE FORCES IN THE BRITISH SOLOMON ISLANDS ON SEPTEMBER 5, 1942. AFTER THAT ENGAGEMENT, A GROUP OF ABOUT FIFTEEN SURVIVORS WAS ADRIFT ON A RAFT WHICH WAS BEING DELIBERATELY SHELLED BY JAPANESE NAVAL FORCES. HE TIED A LINE TO HIMSELF AND SWAM FOR MORE THAN TWO HOURS THROUGH THE SHARK-INFESTED SEA, ATTEMPTING TO TOW THE RAFT. HE WAS CITED FOR CONDUCT 'IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE NAVAL SERVICE'.