Remembering the life and legacy of SC’s Cpl. Freddie Stowers, historic World War I hero

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – A heroic act of bravery and sacrifice on the battlefield in World War I places a South Carolina man in the history books.

Corporal Freddie Stowers grew up in the upstate before being drafted into the Army in October of 1917.

His military career began at Fort Jackson, which at the time was known as Camp Jackson.

It culminated with him becoming the first of only two African Americans to receive the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award for valor, for actions in World War I.

Stowers had modest beginnings, working on the family farm in Sandy Springs.

He was assigned to the 371st Infantry, an all-Black regiment, and in 1918, General John Pershing assigned the company to support French Forces during the war.

In a September 1918 battle, Stowers advances toward the heavily defended Hill 188, showcasing the epitome of combat leadership.

“His heroism allowed his company to be able to take a strategic advantage in the war,” Ri’Cha ri Sancho, Stowers’ great-great-great niece said in an interview. “They took over Hill 188, which is where the Germans were located.”

The Germans initially appeared to surrender, and at the last moment jumped back into the trenches and opened fire on the entire company.

“Cpl. Freddie Stowers continued forward and urged the men behind him to move forward as well, even though he was mortally wounded and he did die before he could get over the hill,” Sancho said. “But they made it. His comrades made it over the hill. And because of that, that strategic advantage in the war, it almost revitalized the missions that they had.”

Stowers and 133 of his colleagues were buried in France.

Shortly thereafter, he was recommended for the Medal of Honor, but his application laid dormant for decades until 1991.

That year, President George H. W. Bush presented his award to family members, 73 years after he died in action.

“It was just never reported,” Sancho said. “Some say it was reported because of race issues and race relations back then because handing weapons to men of color was not something that people specifically in South Carolina were excited about.”

Stowers’ story prompted the Army’s questioning of records to see if other acts of heroism by African Americans in World Wars I and II had been overlooked.

A commission investigating racial discrimination in the awarding of medals leads to another African American soldier, Henry Johnson, posthumously receiving the honor for World War I, and seven others for World War II.

“I guess in an ideal world, Stowers would have been awarded the Medal of Honor shortly after his death, and then it would have been the end of that story,” Henry Howe, Fort Jackson’s museum director, said. “And that’s a great story in itself. However, through circumstances that we have no idea why it happened the way it did, that his application was not processed. When it was processed finally in 1991, again Freddie gets to do something that many people don’t get to do, and he gets to lead.”

Sancho said me their family has an obligation to support the nation’s veterans, and ensure his legacy endures for generations to come.

“We have an obligation to place his legacy in front of the ears of children, and let them know that they can be inspired to do anything,” she said. “Let them know that there are people of color that have gone through tremendous triumphs, who have had triumphs and therefore they can do the same.”

Stowers’ service and sacrifice is a reminder that at a time when people of color faced rampant discrimination, the military modeled inclusion in a way that did not seem possible, Sancho said.

“I think it escapes people that you have all of these different people speaking different languages, you have German, you have French, you have dialects of the UK, you have English, all on the same battlefield fighting for a purpose together,” she said. “Cpl. Freddie Stowers to us is kind of a shining example of why inclusion is necessary, it’s pertinent and it’s something that we need to model to everyone and he reminds us to be this way.”

Stowers’ legacy lives on at Fort Jackson, where a replica of his Medal of Honor is encased at its museum, and the single soldier barracks is named after him.

His family has started a scholarship, and there is an elementary school in his name in Georgia.

A veterans memorial park to honor him is in the works in Anderson County.

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