Bush Gives First Medal of Honor to Black Soldier From World Wars
President Bush on Wednesday awarded the first Medal of Honor to a black soldier from World War I or World War II.
The honor was presented posthumously to the sisters of Army Cpl. Freddie Stowers, who was mortally wounded in France 73 years ago while leading his company against a German-held hill.
Georgiana Palmer, 88, of Richmond, Calif., and Mary Bowens, 77, of Greenville, S.C., received the gold medal as they sat before an audience that included the top Pentagon brass and other Medal of Honor recipients.
Black soldiers had received the nation’s highest military honor in other wars but none from the world wars. Stowers becomes the 128th recipient from World War I.
Stowers, a farm worker from Sandy Springs, S.C., was wounded while leading Company C of the 371st Infantry Regiment, 93rd Division, to retake a hill.
The Army put Stowers in for the Distinguished Service Cross, and his commanding officer later recommended upgrading that to the Medal of Honor. But nothing was done about the recommendation.
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