One Night of Watery Fear

Charles French, A Hero to Remember

Charles Jackson French was serving his duty as a mess hall attendant in the Guadalcanal located off the Solomon Islands in 1942 during World War II. This was his second enlistment in the U.S. military. He was on board the U.S. destroyer ship, “Gregory” when it came under fire from Japanese guns. Amid the cries of, “Abandon Ship!” French, along with other sailors, some badly wounded, found themselves pitched into the sea, dodging rapid fire in shark-infested waters. A few life rafts were deployed, French spotted one of them ad…