Charles Jackson French (September 25, 1919 – November 7, 1956) was a United States Navy sailor known for his heroic actions in the Pacific Theater of World War II, where he saved fifteen of his shipmates after their high-speed transport was sunk in combat.

[5] After French's ship, the High-speed transport USS Gregory (APD-3), was sunk by gunfire from Imperial Japanese Navy ships in the Solomon Islands on the morning of September 5, 1942, the Mess Attendant 2nd Class swam six to eight hours in shark-infested waters near Guadalcanal while towing a life raft with fifteen survivors aboard out of the range of Japanese gunfire and possible capture, which likely would have meant execution.

[8] The commendation stated: For meritorious conduct in action while serving on board of a destroyer transport which was badly damaged during the engagement with Japanese forces in the British Solomon Islands on September 5, 1942.

Suffering from alcoholism likely caused by post-traumatic stress disorder, French died on November 11, 1956, at the age of 37, and was buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California.

[12] On 10 January 2024, the U.S. Secretary of the Navy, Carlos Del Toro, announced that a new Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer (DDG 142) would be named the USS Charles J. French in his honor.