On May 5, 1940, the U.S. War Department announced plans to open its first Officer Candidate Schools (OCS) for Black soldiers at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. This was a crucial step toward desegregating the U.S. military. Although the armed forces would not fully integrate until after World War II, the training of Black officers challenged stereotypes and built a cadre of leaders for both wartime service and future civil rights efforts.
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