HILL. NEW THIS MORNING, AN UNVEILING CEREMONY HAPPENED THIS WEEKEND OF A NEW HISTORICAL MARKER ON THE GROUNDS OF FORT DES MOINES. THE MARKER HONORS 1250 BLACK COLLEGE GRADUATES WHO WENT THROUGH U.S. ARMY OFFICER TRAINING AT FORT DES MOINES IN 1917, DURING WORLD WAR ONE. NOW, AT THE ONSET OF WORLD WAR ONE, THE U.S. WAR DEPARTMENT DOUBTED WHETHER BLACK MEN COULD SERVE AS MILITARY OFFICERS. IT TOOK COURAGE, ADVOCACY, AND UNYIELDING PRESSURE TO CHANGE THAT. NOW, WITH SUPPORT FROM HUNDREDS OF LAWMAKERS AND OTHER LEADERS, FORT DES MOINES EVENTUALLY WAS SELECTED AS THE FIRST AND ONLY TRAINING SITE FOR BLACK OFFICERS AT THAT TIME. FACED WITH SEVERE INEQUITIES AND INJUSTICES, THEY COURAGEOUSLY STEPPED UP AT A TIME OF NEED, NOT JUST IMAGINE THE WEIGHT AND PRESSURE THAT THESE MEN FELT, THE UNIMAGINABLE AND UNSEEN BEING. IN ACTION. THE EVENT WAS MORE THAN A CEREMONY. IT WAS ALSO A TRIBUTE TO THE PEOPLE WHO FOUGH

New historical marker honors World War I Black officer training site in Des Moines

The event was a tribute to people who fought to serve, lead and change a nation.

Updated: 3:21 PM CDT Jun 15, 2025

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A new historical marker was unveiled this weekend on the grounds of Fort Des Moines.The marker honors 1,250 Black college graduates who underwent U.S. Army Officer training at Fort Des Moines in 1917 during World War I. At the onset of war, the U.S. War Department doubted whether Black men could serve as military officers. It took courage, advocacy and unyielding pressure to change that. With support from hundreds of lawmakers and other leaders, Fort Des Moines was selected as the first and only training site for Black officers during that time. The event was more than a ceremony. It was a tribute to people who fought to serve, lead and change a nation.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

A new historical marker was unveiled this weekend on the grounds of Fort Des Moines.

The marker honors 1,250 Black college graduates who underwent U.S. Army Officer training at Fort Des Moines in 1917 during World War I. At the onset of war, the U.S. War Department doubted whether Black men could serve as military officers. It took courage, advocacy and unyielding pressure to change that.

With support from hundreds of lawmakers and other leaders, Fort Des Moines was selected as the first and only training site for Black officers during that time.

The event was more than a ceremony. It was a tribute to people who fought to serve, lead and change a nation.