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Representative Willburn highlights Fort Des Moines officers' training in Black History Month presentation, invites public to June 14 ceremony
Summary
In a Black History Month address, Representative Willburn recounted the 1917 Fort Des Moines officer training for Black servicemembers, noted the unit's service in World War I, and invited colleagues and the public to a June 14 ceremony at Fort Des Moines Memorial Park.
Representative Willburn delivered the House’s Black History Month presentation, recounting the creation and legacy of the Fort Des Moines officer training camp and inviting House members and the public to a June 14 ceremony at Fort Des Moines Memorial Park.
The presentation summarized key historical points: when the United States entered World War I in 1917, federal authorities limited Black enlistments and initially resisted training Black officers. Political pressure from organizations including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People led to a compromise that created a single officer candidate school for Black college graduates. Fort Des Moines, an isolated…
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