This week's hero is...
Freddie Stowers!
Freddie Stowers was born on January 26, 1896 in Sandy Springs, South Carolina. He enlisted in the military on October 4, 1917 when the United States entered World War I. Much of his early life is not known. But in the Great World War I, Freddie Stowers would display some of the most courageous and valiant conduct in the history of the US military.
On September 28, 1918, Corporal Stowers was serving as the leader of a squad from Company C of the 371st Infantry regiment (a segregated unit). They were among a large force that was assaulting Cote (hill) 188 in the Champagne Marne Sector of France. As they began their attack, Stowers and his men came under heavy fire from the German defenders. For a while the attackers and defenders traded fire until some of the Germans put up their hands as if to surrender. This caused the men of Company C (Stowers included) to believe that the fight was over. As a result they left their trench and ventured out into no man's land to capture the surrendering Germans. Almost immediately the Germans picked up their guns and fired into the advancing Americans.
The men of Company C were quickly decimated by this volume of fire and found themselves caught in the open with no cover. Amid the carnage, Cpl. Freddie Stowers quickly rallied a handful of men and launched a counter-attack on the Germans. He personally led the charge to the German trenches. It was then that he was struck by machine gun fire. Even then, Stowers continued to charge and lead his men until he was hit a second time. Although he was unable to move he continued to shout encouragement to his comrades who continued to press their attack on Cote 188. The men of Company C eventually advanced up the hill and pierced the German trenches. After a long and brutal fight, the Germans retreated and Cote 188 was captured.
The battle of Cote 188 was a victory for the Americans. But they had won it at a terrible cost. More than half of Company C had been annihilated in the assault. Cpl. Freddie Stowers was among the dead. He succumbed to his wounds during the final assault on Cote 188. He was buried in France with 133 of his comrades. He was recommended for the Medal of Honor along with three other African-Americans for valor in World War I. Instead however, he (along with the others) posthumously received the Distinguished Service Cross (the second-highest award in the US military). The decision for this was done due to new criteria for receiving the Medal of Honor (it is very likely that racism was also a major factor).
For more than 70 years, the heroism of Freddie Stowers was largely forgotten. Until 1990, when the Department of the Army conducted a review of the service of black soldiers in World Wars I and II. It was then that the department decided to upgrade Stowers's Distinguished Service Cross to the Medal of Honor. On April 21, 1991, President George Bush Sr posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor to Freddie Stowers. His two sisters received it on his behalf.
The story of Freddie Stowers is one that needs to be told because it sheds light on a very sad truth about the world. This is the truth that most of the people hardly ever receive much or any kind of acknowledgement for the heroic deeds. Freddie Stowers was one of those people. Like thousands of soldiers before him, he answered the call to duty and displayed incredible courage in the face of battle. Although he is remembered as a great hero today, I find it very sad that he was forgotten by the American public for so many years. It makes wonder how many other people did something wonderful and have been forgotten. Ultimately, I believe Freddie Stowers is one of the greatest unsung heroes in history. Hopefully he will never be forgotten again.
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/fstowers.htm
https://www.army.mil/article/9075/medal_of_honor_recognition_long_overdue
https://www.abmc.gov/learning-resources/lesson-plans/freddie-stowers-american-hero
https://www.abmc.gov/sites/default/files/curriculum/chapters/materials/Section%205—SC%20House%20Bil%205393.pdf
On September 28, 1918, Corporal Stowers was serving as the leader of a squad from Company C of the 371st Infantry regiment (a segregated unit). They were among a large force that was assaulting Cote (hill) 188 in the Champagne Marne Sector of France. As they began their attack, Stowers and his men came under heavy fire from the German defenders. For a while the attackers and defenders traded fire until some of the Germans put up their hands as if to surrender. This caused the men of Company C (Stowers included) to believe that the fight was over. As a result they left their trench and ventured out into no man's land to capture the surrendering Germans. Almost immediately the Germans picked up their guns and fired into the advancing Americans.
The men of Company C were quickly decimated by this volume of fire and found themselves caught in the open with no cover. Amid the carnage, Cpl. Freddie Stowers quickly rallied a handful of men and launched a counter-attack on the Germans. He personally led the charge to the German trenches. It was then that he was struck by machine gun fire. Even then, Stowers continued to charge and lead his men until he was hit a second time. Although he was unable to move he continued to shout encouragement to his comrades who continued to press their attack on Cote 188. The men of Company C eventually advanced up the hill and pierced the German trenches. After a long and brutal fight, the Germans retreated and Cote 188 was captured.
The battle of Cote 188 was a victory for the Americans. But they had won it at a terrible cost. More than half of Company C had been annihilated in the assault. Cpl. Freddie Stowers was among the dead. He succumbed to his wounds during the final assault on Cote 188. He was buried in France with 133 of his comrades. He was recommended for the Medal of Honor along with three other African-Americans for valor in World War I. Instead however, he (along with the others) posthumously received the Distinguished Service Cross (the second-highest award in the US military). The decision for this was done due to new criteria for receiving the Medal of Honor (it is very likely that racism was also a major factor).
For more than 70 years, the heroism of Freddie Stowers was largely forgotten. Until 1990, when the Department of the Army conducted a review of the service of black soldiers in World Wars I and II. It was then that the department decided to upgrade Stowers's Distinguished Service Cross to the Medal of Honor. On April 21, 1991, President George Bush Sr posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor to Freddie Stowers. His two sisters received it on his behalf.
The story of Freddie Stowers is one that needs to be told because it sheds light on a very sad truth about the world. This is the truth that most of the people hardly ever receive much or any kind of acknowledgement for the heroic deeds. Freddie Stowers was one of those people. Like thousands of soldiers before him, he answered the call to duty and displayed incredible courage in the face of battle. Although he is remembered as a great hero today, I find it very sad that he was forgotten by the American public for so many years. It makes wonder how many other people did something wonderful and have been forgotten. Ultimately, I believe Freddie Stowers is one of the greatest unsung heroes in history. Hopefully he will never be forgotten again.
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/fstowers.htm
https://www.army.mil/article/9075/medal_of_honor_recognition_long_overdue
https://www.abmc.gov/learning-resources/lesson-plans/freddie-stowers-american-hero
https://www.abmc.gov/sites/default/files/curriculum/chapters/materials/Section%205—SC%20House%20Bil%205393.pdf
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