PFC Luther Flowers

Born: 11 January 1896, Redford, Missouri

Death: 31 August 1955, Ft. Bayard, New Mexico

PFC Luther Flowers was born Redford, Missouri on 11 January 1896. When World War I began he lived in Flat River, Missouri and worked as a miner for the Federal Lead Company. PFC Flowers enlisted in the U.S. Army on 10 May 1917. He left for Europe in May 1918 where he served as part of Battery B of the 128th Field Artillery, 35th Division of the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I. The 128th Field Artillery fought at Gerardmer Sector from mid-August to early September 1918, as part of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive of late September to early October 1918, as part of the Sommedieue Sector from mid-October to early November 1918, and again as part of the Meuse-Argonne through Armistice Day.[i]

After World War I PFC Flowers relocated to Hurley and married Elsie Roberts. They had three daughters Nora Mae, Ione, and Elsie, and a son, Luther. Over the next two decades he worked as a Railroad car inspector and as a mill operator before he and Elsie opened a dry-cleaning business.[ii] His fellow soldiers of Battery B went as far as to contact the Albuquerque Journal in order to attempt to locate PFC Flowers for a reunion, though by this point he had been hospitalized at Ft. Bayard for a long-term illness.[iii] PFC Flowers died at Ft. Bayard Hospital on 31 August 1955. He is buried at Ft. Bayard National Cemetery, Section B, Row N, Site 43.

Images & Documents

Notes:

Prepared by Dr. Andy Hernández, Western New Mexico University

Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Legacy Memorial, Find Your Veteran

https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/LUTHERFLOWERS/8DBC88B

[i] U.S. War Department, Battle Participation of Organizations of the American Expeditionary Forces in France, Belgium, and Italy. (Washington: Government Office, 1910) p. 23.

[ii] “Veteran Located for His Buddies,” Albuquerque Journal, April 26, 1953. 

[iii] “Buddies Seeking Luther Flowers,” Albuquerque Journal, April 13, 1953.