"Omega men were quick to see the possibilities the camp offered for strengthening the Fraternity, especially when one realized that attending the camp were such brothers as Founders Edgar A. Love and Frank Coleman; Campbell C. Johnson, Linwood G. Koger, John H. Purnell, John W. Love and Walter H. Mazyck.  The Brothers promptly communicated with Grand Basileus James C. McMorries, in order that they might proceed with the proper authority.  In the minutes of the first meeting of the Omega men at Fort Des Moines occures the following statement: 'Permission was obtained from the Grand Basileus, Mr. McMorries, to establish a War Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity at the R.O.T.C. at Fort Des Moines, in order to grant these members of the Fraternity an opportunity to enjoy the priviliges of meeting together and taking among themselves such men as they thought qualified to partake of and live up to the spirit of Omega.'  " (Dreer, 30-31)

These buildings, shown on February 4, 1977, overlook the parade grounds at Fort Des Moines where the first training program for African-American Army officers was initiated in 1917.  During World War II, Fort Des Moines was a training center for the Women’s Auxiliary Corps (WAC).

Fort Des Moines was built on 400 acres in 1901 and opened in 1903. In May, 1917 the first black officer candidates began arriving at the facility.  There were 1,000 black college graduates and faculty from Howard, Tuskegee, Harvard and Yale universities.  250 non-commissioned officers (sergeants) from the army’s four black standing units–the 9th and 10th Cavalry and the 24th and 25th Infantry also attended.  The 1,250 candidates made up the 17th Provisional Training Regiment.  After 90 days of rigorous technical and physical training, 638 captains and lieutenants received their commissions on October 15, 1917 and were dispatched for basic training at a variety of camps including Camp Dodge.

In June, 1918 the Fort Des Moines officers reunited in Hoboken, New Jersey, for transportation to France and combat against Germany in World War I (or “The Great War” as it was known then).  They were with the 3rd Battalion, 92nd Division of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). The soldiers would fight bravely across France and in the bloody Meuse-Argonne sector.

In 1919, the returning Fort Des Moines officers were greeted with racial violence that flared across the nation.  In spite of the racism and violence, they flourished and set the stage for a changing nation.

A number of important national leaders were among the cadet class including  Frank Coleman and Edgar Love  with Omega Psi Phi  Fraternity.  Another stalwart Omega Man was also instrumental at the War Chapter.  Guess who...