Washington, D.C. – Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) announced today that his bill, H.R. 4168, was signed into law. This legislation will name the U.S. Post Office in Omaha’s Benson area, 6223 Maple St., after Petty Officer First Class Charles Jackson French. A World War II hero with ties to Omaha, he rescued fifteen of his injured shipmates by swimming for hours pulling a life raft to safety through shark-infested waters off the coast of the Guadalcanal. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) introduced the companion legislation in the Senate.

“After a year of advocacy and negotiations, our mission to give Petty Officer French the recognition he rightfully deserves is now a reality,” said Rep. Bacon. “Despite the segregation at the time, he went above and beyond to answer the call of duty by saving his fellow sailors. Dedicating a post office in his name preserves his legacy and gives Nebraskans and other Americans to the opportunity to remember his heroic actions. I thank Senator Fischer for pushing this through the Senate, and the entire French family for bringing his story to our attention. I look forward to visiting the post office and having his name displayed for future generations to see.”

In addition to H.R. 4168 being signed into law, Petty Officer French was posthumously awarded the Navy Marine Corps Medal on May 19, 2022, for his courageous acts of heroism during the Second World War. 

See the White House’s announcement on the signing of H.R. 4168 here.

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