11/14/2023 0 Comments Elder watson diggsIn May 1917 the first black officer candidates arrived at Fort Des Moines. But the horse soldiers (cavalry) had left in 1916 for duty along the Mexican border, so the facilities were available. The 2nd Cavalry came in 1907, and the 6th Cavalry arrived in 1910. It opened in 1903 with the arrival of the all-black 25th Infantry prisoner guard. They found the perfect location in an abandoned cavalry post in Iowa.įort Des Moines, Iowa, had been built in 1901 on 400 acres. They feared the media in the eastern United States would rush to cover the story about the military's “embarrassment.” They wanted an isolated location far away from the east coast media. But government officials believed the black cadets would fail. The announcement was made that 1,000 black officers would be trained.Īll-black Howard University in Washington, D.C., wanted to host the camp. A compromise was reached by allowing one officer candidate school to open to black college graduates. Government officials feared the race issue would harm the war effort. At the same time, political pressure from a number of black organizations including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) pushed for black officer training. God grant that their efforts and sacrifices may open a brighter and better day for all downtrodden people of the earth and especially the oppressed colored people of these United States.”Ĭo-founder Niagara Movement 1905 and National Bar Association 1925Īs the United States entered World War I in 1917, thousands of black Americans-from the North and South-enlisted with the hope of fighting Germany in the “War To End All Wars.” Isolated in Iowaĭespite the eagerness demonstrated by blacks to join the fight, black enlistments were limited by the federal government. “With less than thirty days notice the superb youth, the very best brain, vigor, and manhood of the Race gave up comfort, position, future promise and outlook, in their various civil locations, and from the North, South, East and West, started on their voluntary march to Fort Des Moines in answer to the call… After his death in 1947, School 42 was named in his honor.Black Officers at Fort Des Moines in World War I He saw this school grow from a four-room portable building and several outbuildings into a modern brick structure. ![]() He went back to the Haughville school as principal and was soon promoted to the larger Public School 42 in 1922. 64 in Norwood, followed by a year at Public School 63 in Haughville in the Indianapolis Public Schools.Īfter overseas service as an army officer in the 368 th Infantry Regiment in World War I, Diggs returned to Indianapolis in 1919 to continue his career. ![]() He first came to Indianapolis in 1916 to fill a vacant principal’s position at School No. While at IU, he helped to found the Kappa Alpha Psi national fraternity.ĭiggs began his career as a principal and teacher for “colored schools” in Bloomington and Vincennes in order to pay for college. He returned to Indiana in 1911 to earn a B.A. He graduated from Indiana State Normal School in 1908 and later attended Howard University. ![]() Born in Madisonville, Kentucky, Diggs received a one-room school education in Louisville, where he helped to teach the younger children.
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