Freddie Stowers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Freddie Stowers
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Stowers' grave at Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery
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| Born | January 12, 1896 Sandy Springs, South Carolina |
| Died | September 28, 1918 (aged 22) near Ardeuil-et-Montfauxelles, Ardennes, France |
| Place of burial |
Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery
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| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1917–1918 † |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit | 371st Infantry Regiment, 93d Division |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Freddie Stowers (born January 12, 1896 – died September 28, 1918) was a brave African-American soldier. He was a corporal in the United States Army. Stowers died fighting in World War I while serving with French forces.
More than 70 years after his death, he received the Medal of Honor. This is the highest military award for bravery. He also received the Purple Heart.
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Freddie Stowers' Early Life and Army Service
Freddie Stowers was born in Sandy Springs, South Carolina. His grandfather had been enslaved. Before the war, Freddie worked on a farm. He was married to Pearl and they had a daughter named Minnie Lee.
In 1917, Freddie was chosen to join the Army. He became part of the U.S. 371st Infantry Regiment. This unit was part of the 93d Infantry Division (Colored). At that time, the Army was segregated. This meant Black and white soldiers were kept in separate groups.
Even though his unit was part of the American Army, it fought alongside French soldiers. This was because of the racism of the time. Stowers' regiment joined the 157th French Army "Red Hand Division." They were led by General Mariano Goybet.
The Attack on Hill 188
On September 28, 1918, Stowers' company was ordered to attack a hill called Côte 188. This hill was in France and had strong German defenses. At first, the German soldiers fought hard. They used mortars (small cannons) and machine guns. They also fired rifles at the American soldiers.
But the Americans kept moving forward. They gained ground steadily. Then, the Germans seemed to surrender. They used hand signals and shouted. This turned out to be a trick. As Company C got close to the German trenches, the machine guns started firing again. Many American soldiers were hurt or died quickly.
The officer leading Stowers' platoon (a small group of soldiers) was hit. Then, other senior leaders were also hit. Corporal Stowers, who usually led a smaller section, was now in charge of the whole group. His platoon was tired and sad.
Stowers bravely started crawling toward a German machine gun nest. He yelled for his men to follow him. They reached the first German trench. They managed to stop the machine guns. Stowers then got his soldiers ready again. He led them in a charge against the second German trench line.
During this attack, Stowers was shot by an enemy machine gun. But he kept going. He was shot a second time. He fell because he was losing too much blood. Even then, he told his men not to give up. He ordered them to keep fighting and destroy the German guns.
Inspired by Stowers' amazing courage, his men pushed forward. They successfully drove the Germans off the hill. Stowers died from his wounds on Côte 188. He is buried with many other soldiers at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial in France.
Receiving the Medal of Honor
Soon after Freddie Stowers died, he was suggested for the Medal of Honor. But his recommendation was somehow lost. Other Black soldiers were also suggested for this medal. However, they received a different high award, the Distinguished Service Cross. This might have been because of racism.
In 1990, the U.S. Congress asked the Army to look into these cases again. Stowers' lost recommendation was found. A team went to France to learn more about his actions. Based on what they found, the Army decided to give him the Medal of Honor.
On April 24, 1991, 73 years after he died, Stowers' two surviving sisters, Georgina and Mary, received the medal. President George H. W. Bush gave it to them at the White House.
Freddie Stowers' Legacy
Freddie Stowers' story is very important. He showed incredible bravery. A writer named Lieutenant Colonel Taylor Voorhis Beattie compared Stowers to another famous World War I soldier, Sergeant Alvin York. Both were poor farm boys from the South. Both were drafted into the Army. And both earned the Medal of Honor for their amazing courage in battle.
However, Alvin York survived the war and became famous. Freddie Stowers gave his life for his country. But he was not recognized for his bravery until almost a century after his death.
Stowers' story helped lead to more changes. In 1992, another Army study found that some African American and other minority soldiers from World War II also deserved the Medal of Honor. They had not received it because of unfair bias. Their awards were upgraded. President Bill Clinton presented these Medals of Honor to the soldiers or their families.
Today, places are named in Freddie Stowers' honor. These include Stowers Elementary School at Fort Benning, Georgia. Also, the Corporal Freddie Stowers Single Soldier Billeting Complex at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, is named after him.
See also
