Bill to Honor WWII Hero Moves Out of Committee

Press Release

Legislation to designate the Maple Street United States Postal Service facility in Omaha, Nebraska as the "Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French Post Office" passed out of the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee today. The bill can now proceed to the Senate floor.

"It's time Officer Charles Jackson French's heroism during World War II be properly honored. I'm pleased to partner with Rep. Don Bacon on this bill and look forward to its final passage. This renaming is important to the French family and the Omaha community as part of an effort to dutifully recognize Officer French's remarkable service to our nation," said U.S. Senator Deb Fischer.

More information:

Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) introduced the bill to honor Officer French last June, which passed the House of Representatives in February. Sen. Fischer introduced companion legislation in the Senate last July.

French, who lived in Omaha for a big portion of his life, was a Navy mess attendant on the USS Gregory during World War II. In September 1942, when the Gregory was hit by Japanese naval gunfire near Guadalcanal, he helped 15 of his crewmates into a life raft and swam for nearly eight hours through nightfall and surrounding sharks in order to avoid being captured by the Japanese on shore. The men were later identified and rescued, and French received a letter of commendation from the then commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet for his valor. However, the survivors of the Gregory felt French deserved a much higher tribute, but he died without such a recognition.

More information from the Omaha World-Herald about Officer French here.

Click here to read the text of the legislation.

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