Current Status Introducing Body:Senate Bill Number:967 Primary Sponsor:Mitchell Type of Legislation:CR Subject:Stowers, Corporal Freddie; Moffett, Admiral William Date Bill Passed both Bodies:May 16, 1991 Computer Document Number:BR1/1655.AC Introduced Date:May 07, 1991 Last History Body:Senate Last History Date:May 16, 1991 Last History Type:Received from House Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Mitchell Macaulay Bryan Courson Drummond Fielding Giese Gilbert Hayes Helmly Hinds Hinson Holland Land Leatherman Leventis Long Lourie Martin Martschink Matthews McConnell McGill Moore Mullinax O'Dell Passailaigue Patterson Peeler Pope Reese Rose Russell Saleeby Setzler Shealy J. Verne Smith Nell W. Smith Stilwell Thomas Waddell Washington Williams Wilson Type of Legislation:Concurrent Resolution
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN
---- ------ ------------ ------------------------------ ---
967 Senate May 16, 1991 Received from House
967 House May 16, 1991 Adopted, returned with
concurrence
967 House May 08, 1991 Recalled from Committee 24
967 House May 08, 1991 Introduced, referred to 24
Committee
967 Senate May 07, 1991 Introduced, adopted, sent to
House
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ADOPTED
May 7, 1991
S. 967
Introduced by SENATORS Mitchell, Macaulay, Bryan, Courson, Drummond, Fielding, Giese, Gilbert, Hayes, Helmly, Hinds, Hinson, Holland, Land, Leatherman, Leventis, Long, Lourie, Martin, Martschink, Matthews, McConnell, McGill, Moore, Mullinax, O'Dell, Passailaigue, Patterson, Peeler, Pope, Reese, Rose, Russell, Saleeby, Setzler, Shealy, J. Verne Smith, Nell W. Smith, Stilwell, Thomas, Waddell, Washington, Williams and Wilson
S. Printed 5/16/91--S.
Read the first time May 7, 1991.
REQUESTING THE STATE HOUSE COMMITTEE TO TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO ARRANGE FOR AND PLACE A TABLET IN THE SECOND FLOOR LOBBY OF THE STATE HOUSE IN HONOR OF TWO OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S DISTINGUISHED MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS, CORPORAL FREDDIE STOWERS, WORLD WAR I, AND ADMIRAL WILLIAM ADGER MOFFETT, VERA CRUZ.
Whereas, South Carolina is extremely proud of Corporal Freddie Stowers of Sandy Springs, South Carolina, the first black soldier from World War I or World War II to receive the distinguished Medal of Honor; and
Whereas, Corporal Stowers was mortally wounded on September 28, 1918, in France while leading his company on a charge on a German-held hill; and
Whereas, the twenty-one year old Stowers, though severely wounded, took charge bravely leading his men, who at his urging went on to capture the hill; and
Whereas, on April 24, 1991, seventy-three years after his heroic efforts and gallant leadership, Corporal Stowers was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President Bush on behalf of the Congress of the United States; and
Whereas, his award was presented to Corporal Stowers' two surviving sisters, Mary Bowers of Greenville, South Carolina, and Georgiana Palmer of Richmond, California; and
Whereas, it is very fitting and proper that Corporal Stowers' honor and achievement be recognized and that he join the ranks of South Carolina's other distinguished soldiers by placing his name on a tablet in the State House lobby; and
Whereas, William Adger Moffett, Admiral, United States Navy, was born in Charleston, South Carolina, and received the Medal of Honor for his distinguished conduct in battle engagements of Vera Cruz; and
Whereas, Admiral Moffett, without the assistance of a pilot or navigational lights, brought his ship into the inner harbor at Vera Cruz during the night of April 21-22, 1914, where he skillfully moored his ship in a strategic position nearest the enemy and conducted a critical attack, doing most of the firing and receiving most of the hits; and
Whereas, he was Chief of Naval Aviation after World War I and was an outstanding leader in naval aviation; and
Whereas, he was killed in the crash of the United States airship Akron in 1933; and
Whereas, Moffett Field in California was named in his honor; and
Whereas, Admiral Moffett was an heroic and gallant naval leader and an outstanding native son; and
Whereas, his name was omitted inadvertently from an earlier tablet placed in the State House lobby recognizing South Carolina's Medal of Honor recipients; and
Whereas, it is fitting that this error be corrected and recognition properly given to this distinguished South Carolinian, Admiral Moffett; and
Whereas, the members of the General Assembly are extremely proud of the leadership and bravery of Corporal Stowers and Admiral Moffett and are honored to have this opportunity to recognize these distinguished native sons; and
Whereas, the suggested wording for the tablet to honor these men is attached to this resolution and incorporated by reference; and
Whereas, the members of the General Assembly do sincerely hope and urge the State House Committee to arrange for and place a tablet in the second floor lobby of the State House honoring these Medal of Honor recipients. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, request the State House Committee to take the necessary steps to arrange for and have a tablet placed in the second floor lobby of the State House in honor of Corporal Freddie Stowers and Admiral William Adger Moffett.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to each member of the State House Committee and to the families of these men.