Dale County AlArchives Obituaries.....Flowers, Major Abner February 5, 1945 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Christine Thacker CGT714@AOL.com March 11, 2005, 9:12 pm The Southern Star Reprinted from The Southern Star, February 9, 2005- 4B. 60 Years Ag0 Feb. 8, 1945... Death Claims Maj. Abner Flowers World War I Hero , Died Monday In Veterans Hospital Major Ab Flowers, age 64, died , Monday in the Veterans Hospital in Tuscaloosa after a long illness. His death saddened this community and county as he was one of our beloved and esteemed heroes of World War I who came back from France following the Armistice of 1918 to begin life again with broken body and shattered health. Major Flowers, like so many of his comrades, died of wounds suffered in World War I. Major Flowers was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Ed Flowers, prominent citizens of this city and county. As a young man he entered the service of his country, on June 19, 1916, when, Company "G," of the Fourth Alabama Regiment was mustered into Federal service. He left Ozark as a Second Lieutenant of the unit commanded by the late Major John W. Carroll With his Regiment he served on the Mexican Border from October, 1916 until March, 1917. Returning to Montgomery with Company G, he was promoted to a First Lieutenant. After the United States entered World War I in April, 1917, he became an officer in the famous Rainbow Division when in August, 1917 the Old Fourth Alabama Regiment became the 167th Infantry of the 42nd Division. He was shipped with his Company to Camp Mills, N. Y., where the Rainbow Division was assembled, preparatory to going overseas. He sailed with his company from Montreal, Canada, on Nov. 6, 1917 and landed in England on Nov. 30, and a week later went to France and underwent two months of rigid training. On February 22, 1918; he went into the Baccarat and Luneville Sector. The 167th held this sector for 110 days. Then followed months of warfare on the Champagne front, St. Mihiel, Aisne-Marne, bloody Chateau Thierry and Meuse- Argonne. In all of these historic campaign Major Flowers wrote his name on the pages of history as one of Alabama's outstanding soldiers. His courage and valor was an inspiration to his cOmrades. History records this shining example of his military genius, capable inte1l1gent leadership and unsurpassed courage. While the 42nd Division was engaged in the Meuse-Argonne campaign General Charles P. Summerall, Corp Commander gave General Douglas MacArthur, who was then Commanding General of the Rainbow Division, an order "to take Hill 212 by 6 o'clock or turn in a casualty list of 6,000 names." Major Flowers,then a Captain, volunteered to lead the assault, and he organized a volunteer Battalion and took Hill 212. And for this act of heroism he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Wounded on the battle field he was decorated by General Pershing. He was in the Army of Occupation in Germany following the Armistice and while in Germany was promoted to the rank of Major. He wore the DSC and the Victory medal with 5 battle clasps. Returning to the States, Major Flowers became prominently identified with the Alabama National Guard, organizing the Ozark Tank Company, that is now making a record throughout the Pacific, worthy of its heroic founder. He was the commanding officer of the Tank Company until 1928 when his failing health made it necessary for him to seek medical aid in a Veterans hospital. Funeral services were held this morning from the Baptist church. Interment was in the city cemetery with full military honors. A squad from Co. G. Alabama state Guard fired the salute and a bugler from the Maxwell Field band, here for the services, blew taps. Pall bearers were Rainbow veterans. Surviving are his widow and two brothers, Grover Flowers of Ozark and Clyde Flowers of Atlanta, Ga. * Westview Memorial Cemetery, Ozark, Dale Co., Al (must have been moved from the City Cem.?) Major Abner Flowers, b. Aug. 20, 1890 d. Feb. 5, 1945 Row 17 Edward Flowers b.May 16, 1867 d. May 22, 1930 "" Mary L. Flowers b. Dec. 1, 1867 d. Feb. 26, 1933 "". Grover Flowers b. May 5, 1888 d. May 19, 1955 Row 15. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/dale/obits/f/gob344flowers.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 4.6 Kb