A US Navy destroyer would be named after World War II Hero- Navy Mess Specialist 1st Class Petty Officer Charles Jackson French.
US Navy Secretary announced this at the Surface Navy Association’s 36th National Symposium in Arlington.
French was African-American, born on 25th September 1919, serving on USS Houston and then on USS Gregory in 1942.
The Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer is scheduled to be built in 2026, with delivery expected in 2031.
– French saved 15 of his shipmates after their high-speed transport sunk in combat during the Battle of Guadalcanal.
– He dived into the shark-infested waters after fastening a rope around himself, which gave him the ‘Human Tugboat’ title.
– French was rewarded with the Navy and Marine Corps Medal in 2022, and his name was added to the rescue swimmer training pool at Naval Base San Diego.