Corporal Freddie Stowers was a soldier in the U.S. Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on September 28, 1918 at Hill 188, Champagne Marne Sector, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with Company C, 371st Infantry Regiment, 93d Division. Stowers was about 22 years old.
Stowers was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. 2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 24, 1991, 72 years after the action.
Stowers was born in 1896 in Sandy Springs, Anderson County, South Carolina. His Medal of Honor is credited to Anderson, Anderson County, South Carolina. He is buried at A.B.M.C. Meuse-Argonne Cemetery in Meuse, France.
Stowers is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 33 credited to South Carolina.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Cpl. Freddie Stowers distinguished himself by exceptional heroism on 28 September 1918 while serving as a squad leader in Company C, 371st Infantry Regiment, 93d Infantry Division. His company was the lead company during the attack on Hill 188, Champagne Marne Sector, France, during World War I. A few minutes after the attack began, the enemy ceased firing and began climbing up onto the parapets of the trenches, holding up their arms as if wishing to surrender. The enemy's actions caused the American forces to cease fire and to come out into the open. As the company started forward and when within about 100 meters of the trench line, the enemy jumped back into their trenches and greeted Cpl. Stowers' company with interlocking bands of machine-gun fire and mortar fire causing well over fifty percent casualties. Faced with incredible enemy resistance, Cpl. Stowers took charge, setting such a courageous example of personal bravery and leadership that he inspired his men to follow him in the attack. With extraordinary heroism and complete disregard of personal danger under devastating fire, he crawled forward, leading his squad toward an enemy machine-gun nest which was causing heavy casualties to his company. After fierce fighting, the machine-gun position was destroyed and the enemy soldiers were killed. Displaying great courage and intrepidity Cpl. Stowers continued to press the attack against a determined enemy. While crawling forward and urging his men to continue the attack on a second trench line, he was gravely wounded by machine-gun fire. Although Cpl. Stowers was mortally wounded, he pressed forward, urging on the members of his squad, until he died. Inspired by the heroism and display of bravery of Cpl. Stowers, his company continued the attack against incredible odds, contributing to the capture of Hill 188 and causing heavy enemy casualties. Cpl. Stowers' conspicuous gallantry, extraordinary heroism, and supreme devotion to his men were well above and beyond the call of duty, follow the finest traditions of military service, and reflect the utmost credit on him and the United States Army.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
What the citation records about his wounds:
While crawling forward and urging his men to continue the attack on a second trench line, he was gravely wounded by machine-gun fire.
Although Cpl. Stowers was mortally wounded, he pressed forward, urging on the members of his squad, until he died.
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (September 28, 1918).
- Age at death: about 22
- Resting place: A.B.M.C. Meuse-Argonne Cemetery
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War I.
Places
- Born: Sandy Springs — map
- Died: Ardeuil-et-Montfauxelles — map
- Buried: Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in South Carolina →
Timeline
- 1896Born in Sandy Springs, Anderson County, South Carolina
- September 28, 1918Act of valor — Hill 188, Champagne Marne Sector, FranceAge about 22. Company C, 371st Infantry Regiment, 93d Division Killed in action.
- April 24, 1991Medal of Honor presented posthumously
- Resting placeA.B.M.C. Meuse-Argonne CemeteryMeuse
Biography
Freddie Stowers (January 12, 1896 – September 28, 1918) was an African-American corporal in the United States Army who was killed in action during World War I while serving in an American unit under 157th Infantry Division of the French Army, called the "Red Hand Division". Over 70 years later, he posthumously received the Medal of Honor and Purple Heart for his actions.
From the Wikipedia article “Freddie Stowers”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
