On Sept. 28, 1918, Corporal Freddie Stowers led a squad from Company C of the all-black 371st Infantry Regiment against a German unit dug into a hill in France. After a brief fight, the Germans appeared to surrender but suddenly blasted Stowers' men with machine-gun fire and mortar rounds, killing nearly half of Company C. Mortally wounded, Stowers, a 21-year-old South Carolina farmer, urged his men on to victory until he died. His commanding officer recommended Stowers for the Medal of Honor, but for 73 years he received no medal at all.
Although a handful of black soldiers have been awarded...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
