Florence in Lauderdale County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Homer Givens

(1898 - 1971)

— America's First World War I Hero —

Homer Givens Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by sandra Hughes, July 25, 2009

1. Homer Givens Marker

Inscription. The home of Homer Givens, America's first hero in World War I was located .4 of a mile north of this intersection. Following a bloody two-hour battle on November 1, 1917 Corporal Givens stood alone after his comrades had fallen.

He then managed to kill three enemy soldiers before being severely wounded by twenty-three pieces of shrapnel. Givens was decorated with France's highest military honor, the Croix de Guerre. His award ceremony was attended by General John J. Pershing, Commander of the American Expeditionary Forces.

Erected by Florence Historical Board.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World I. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1893.

Location. 34° 49.044′ N, 87° 40.825′ W. Marker is in Florence, Alabama, in Lauderdale County. It is at the intersection of North Wood Avenue and Chisholm Road on North Wood Avenue. This marker is in the Seven Points area in North Florence, between North Wood Avenue and Chisholm Road, on the right. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Florence AL 35630, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this

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marker is in North Alabama

and in the Shoals.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: North Wood United Methodist Church (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Gilbert Elementary School (approx. ¼ mile away); College Place Historic District (approx. 0.3 miles away); Temple B’nai Israel (approx. 0.4 miles away); North Wood Avenue Historic District—Expansion (approx. 0.4 miles away); Wesleyan Hall 1855 (approx. 0.6 miles away); Wesleyan Bell (approx. 0.6 miles away); Florence State Teachers College (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Florence.

Also see . . . An unnoticed hero. A hundred years ago this month, on Nov. 1,

Photographed by Sandra Hughes Tidwell, May 29, 2025

2. Homer Givens Marker

1917, at 1 a.m., Givens was wounded, but not until he had done damage to the German troops that attacked his unit. (Submitted on May 2, 2019, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 4, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 2,639 times since then and 103 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 4, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 2. submitted on May 30, 2025, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.