Colonel Charles Young was made the second honorary member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated on March 8, 1912. . Colonel Charles Young was made the second honorary member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated on March 8, 1912. [1] He remained in that position until his assignment as chief of staff for the United Nations Command and U.S. Mead, a leading pragmatist and progenitor of the tenets of what would later become known as symbolic interactionism (a term developed by Herbert Blumer), wherein it purports to give interpretations of social formation and interaction among individuals, friends. Chi Omega traveled the troubled waters virtually unscathed and continued to . The course was primarily focused on the philosophy of William James, but ancillary reading in the history of American Pragmatism was encouraged, and I found the writings of George Herbert Mead to be quite illuminating and rewarding. The United States Military Academy is located approximately 50 miles north of New York City on the Hudson River. Failure is dwarfed by clarity of purpose. He held a news conference at the Pentagon to defend his men and then stated his case to a War Department committee studying the use of black servicemen. Benjamin O. Davis Sr. was the first African American to be named a general in the American military. Calvin C. Zellars H: 410-461-4464 calvin.zellars@opp2d.org . Throughout his military service in the Army, Young became the first U.S. National Park Superintendent, the first black to achieve rank of Colonel in the Army, and the first military attache serving in Port-au-Prince and Liberia. The second African American graduate of West Point was Lt. John Alexander in 1887. Colonel Davis helped draft an Air Force blueprint on integration that went into effect the next year, the wartime performance of his fliers having already created a climate for ending segregation. But what of that? Davis, Lloyd Davis, Samuel Davis, Rodney Davis, Donte. William Hastie resigned as Civilian Aide to the Secretary of War in protest against discrimination in the Armed Forces. The third graduate of West Point was 2nd Lieutenant Charles Young in 1889. Founder Edward Giles Irvin served in the U.S. Army during the WWI as a Combat Medic and was cited for bravery for his actions with the Expeditionary Forces in France. The Class of 1936 was represented by photos of just two graduates: Gen. William C. Westmoreland, the commander of American forces in Vietnam and a former superintendent at West Point, and General Davis. Perseverance signals a tenacity to be single-minded in the pursuit of one's goals. Colonel Young's home in Ohio is the home of the National Museum of African American Military History. "Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. United States general. George W. Clark Jr., MA 2. The second motivating event was something of a watershed moment. Dr.Oscar J. Cooper. Pastor Davis Scholarship; Dovie Goodwin Scholarship; African American Male Sch; National High School Essa; FAQues; Policies. Captain Davis was assigned to the first training class at Tuskegee Army Air Field (hence the name Tuskegee Airmen). The Air Force was the first of the services to integrate fully. From the Archives: Iota @ 100 - Benjamin Elijah Mays. We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. 1. I had been acquainted with the laudable honor roll of exemplary men of Omega: Ernest E. Just, Percy Julian, Bayard Rustin, Langston Hughes, Benjamin E. Mays, Sterling Brown, James Nabrit, Carter G. Woodson, Charles Drew, Charles Bolden, Ronald E. McNair, Walter Massey, et al. Members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. In 1931, the 9th Cavalry was replaced by the 2nd Squadron of the Tenth Cavalry, which remained at West Point until inactivation in 1946. His 1991 autobiography, Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., American, recounts his career. (1888-1972) Born Washington DC. Join the BSAWP mailing list & subscribe to our newsletter. The Supreme Council of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. is the highest governing body of the fraternity. [1] His father was a U.S. Army officer, a lieutenant at that time, stationed in Wyoming with an all-white cavalry unit. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. On March 9, 1974, the chapter was officially chartered at a ceremony where Burnell Coulon (Omega Chapter), 10th District Representative and a future Grand Basileus and Marion Garnett, Grand Basileus of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. at the time presided.The Nu Pi brothers elected their first chapter officers. Fraternity History; Chapter History; . Benjamin III, George Bennett, Darryl Bennett, Tommie Benovil, Jean. Education. Lambda Gamma Gamma Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Adams, Timothy Agathe, Anthony Ali, Jamal, Anderson, Johnny Anderson, Alvin Archield, John, Barnes, Rodney Bartholomew, Ronald Battle, Oscar Bell, Robert Benjamin III, George Bennett, Darryl Bennett, Tommie Benovil, Jean, Benton, LaRay Boddie, Freddie Bouchelion, Keith Bowman, William Boykin, Keith Bradwell Jr., Joe Brashear, David Brown, George, Brown, Shawn Brown, Donell Bryan, Andre Bullock, Corris Butler, Yahari Byrd, DeAnte, Calvin, Kenneth Canty, Charles Carroll, Jan Carter Jr., Walter Catten, Lorenzo Chappelle, Terry Charles, Sherman Charles II, Nicholas Cheatham, Ronald, Cheek, Heath Claggion, Jamaal Clark, Robert Clay, Jeffery Coates, Edward Coats, Ronald Coley, Marvin Collins, Limone Colquitt, Bleu, Combs, Aaron Convert Jr, Shelvy Cooper, Luke Copeland, Keith Covington, III, James Coward, Michael Credle, Ira Cross, Mario, Dacus, Eugene Davis, Lloyd Davis, Samuel Davis, Rodney Davis, Donte, Dean-Neil, Andrew DeBose, Andre DeWitt, Glenn Dillard, Norvel Dixon, Orlando, Dockins, Chauncey Dula, Walter Durante, Chieblo, Edmonds, Phillip Edwards, Darnell England, Tracy Evans, Mark, Ferguson, Antonio Flowers, Michael Foggie, Walter Forney, Keith Franklin, Nickolas, Galloway, Sr., Proctor Gardner, Wonzie Gee, Victor George, Ronald George, Donald Graham, Glenn, Green, Demetrius Green, Allen Greene, Tony Grier, James Grier, Samuel Griffin, Bart, Griffin, Derex Griffin, Frederick Grimes, Gregory Guy, Addeliar Guyton, Cedric, Hairston, Ronald Hampton, Tony Harber, William Hardnett, Ivan Harrell, Dwain Harris, Rickey Harris, Reginald, Harris Jr., James Harrison, Donald Hayes, Cortez Hedgespeth, Grady Henry, John Hicks Jr., James Hinton, Collien, Hopkins, Rodney Howard, Christopher Howard, Sr, Anthony Howell, Ravin Howell, Adrion Howell, Michael Hughes, LeRoy, Jackson, James Jackson, Michael Jackson, Baron, Jefferson, Joseph Jennings, Corey Johnson, Henry, Kelly, Timothy Kimbrue, Caralis Kimbrue, Galen Kindred, Turmel King, Stan, Lattimore, Kraig Lavender, Robert Leecost, Jason Lett, Michael, Lipscomb-Jones, Lawrence Lipsey, Jeffrey Lyles, Jr., D. Michael, Macon, Benson Major, Dennis Manor, Errol Marks, Isaac Martin, Carroll McAllister, Lonnie McCallop, Jaime, McElroy, Kelvin McGhee, Kenneth McGriff, Warren Medlin, James Metz, Christopher Miles, Jamal Mix, William, Moody, Kevin Moore, Paul Moore, James Moore, David Morrison, Darrell Munson, Tony, Packnett, Lee Palmer (Col, Ret), Robert Parham, Jr., Micheal Parker, Keith Patterson, Bruce Peterson, Kevin, Peterson, Taj Phillips, Christopher Pierce, Geoffrey Pina, Marc Pinkney, Carl Pirtle, Christopher, Pittman, Kevin Plummer, Leon Powell, Michael Powell, Dameon Pressley, Edward, Reddick, Willie Reynolds, Gary Rhodes, Clifton Richardson, Leon, Richardson, Ronald Riddick, Angelo Rivers, Frederick, Robinson Jr., Paul Ross, Byron Ruffin, Tyrone, Samuel, Victor Sanders, Corey Shambley, Harold Shannon, Michael Shaw, Lawrence Shaw III, Simuel Shelton, David Sherman, Malik, Shields, Larry Sidbury, Johnny Simmons, Justin Simpson, Daniel Smith, Gerald Smith, Michael Smith, Brian Spencer, Anthony, Springs, Jr., Harold Staples, III, Leonard Stewart, Reginald Stewart, Chris Stewart, Maurice Stewart Jr, John Stone, Glenn, Tanner, Walter Taylor, Mark Theriot, Kenyatta, Thomas, Corey Tolson, Bobby Tyrone, Erick, Waggoner, James Waldrond, Federico G. Walker, Steven Walker, James Ware, Tyrone Watson, Eric Webster II, Tyree White, Michael White, Samuel White, Vernon, Whitehead, Jr, James Whitehurst Jr., Moses Williams, Willie Williams, Ronald Williams, Michael Williams, Rob Williams, Christian Williamson, Randall Wilson, Paul Wilson, Damon, Wilson, Bryan Winston, Ronnie Woods, Ronald Woods, Joe Worley, Timothy Wright, Vroman Wright, Garvey Wright Jr., Frank. Blood Drive on Saturday, June. Freddie Nichols Jr Steve Roaf Curtis Owens Cleriona (Bud) Morgan Jr. Darrell Guy Walter Smith IV. As a result, he was promoted to full colonel and reassigned to Camp Grant, Illinois. Second Vice Grand Basileus - Cody Charles. Benjamin L. Walker, Jr. 5. Davis was awarded the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal for his service and gallantry. Oliver Huff, MA . An art print that features famous and historic members of Omega Psi Phi, Inc. January 31, 1992 [49] 1996 1997. benjamin o davis jr omega psi phi Hier kann auch Ihre Textwerbung erscheinen, fordern Sie weitere Informationen per Email an. Elnora Davis died from complications after giving birth to their third child in 1916. Lt. Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Jr. played a vital role in opening up the skies and the entire military for Black Soldiers. [14] He again saw combat in 1953 when he assumed command of the 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing (51 FIW) and flew an F-86 Sabre in Korea. The family was reunited in 1920 when . The program of Memorial Day originated from the laying of the wreath in his honor. The United States Military Academy at West Point (USMA) also known as the Academy, Army, or simply West Point is the oldest continuously-operating Army post in the United States of America. In 2015, West Point named a newly constructed barracks after him. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.". 2003 Presbury Street A High School Essay Contest is to be held in conjunction with Achievement Week. He received the 2nd highest medal that is given by this country for valor. His classmates rarely spoke to him outside the line of duty, intending that their "silent treatment" would drive him from the academy. A signature example of such affiliations, particularly in many African American communities, is to be gleaned from the formulations and instantiations found in fraternal interactions afforded by Greek Letter Fraternities (and Sororities). Iota Chapter was established as the 1st graduate chapter of the Fraternity on August 17, 1920 in. In 1801, President Thomas Jefferson set in motion the establishment of the United States Military Academy at West Point. In the summer of 1945, Colonel Davis took over the all-black 477th Bombardment Group, which was stationed at Godman Field, Ky. During World War II, Davis was commander of the 99th Fighter Squadron and the 332nd Fighter Group, which escorted bombers on air combat missions over Europe. As a . Davis would go on to become the Army's 1 st Black General. Compare. Benjamin O. Davis Jr Aerospace Technical High School Detroit, Michigan, and Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Middle School in Compton, California, as well as the former Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Aviation High School in Cleveland, Ohio, are all named in his honor. He was not allowed inside the base officers' club, a snub he would regard as one of the greatest insults of his 37 years of military life. The U.S. Air Force Academy named its airfield today in honor of Air Force Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Jr., the service's first black general and the commander of the Tuskegee Airmen in Africa and Europe. Shortly there after he transfered to nearby West Chester University where he met Lamont Mathis. General Benjamin O. Davis was the first four-star general in the US Air Force and earned fame as the leader of the Tuskegee Airman during World War II.The son of the US Army's first African-American general, Davis commanded the 99th Fighter Squadron and 332nd Fighter Group in Europe and demonstrated that African-American pilots were as skilled as their white counterparts. TALENT HUNT PROGRAM - provides exposure, encouragement and financial assistance to talented young people participating in the performing arts. 26th District Representative Bro. Brought in to stem a rising crime rate and ease tensions between blacks and the city's police, he stayed in the post for only six months, then resigned over what he saw as the Stokes administration's failure to deal firmly with black extremist groups. The initial motivation was nurtured sometime between 1978 and 1979 when I was introduced to Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. by one of its very distinguished young men, Julius Evans, a student at Clark College. One way some social theorists descriptively account for our interpersonal social affiliations is by giving an account of our tendency to buoy social intercourse by means of volunteer associations (clubs, schools, churches, etc.). Graduate chapters provide financial assistance to student members and non-members. He never had a roommate. He served on the Selective Service Board during WWII and the Korean War. Alternate titles: Benjamin Oliver Davis, Jr. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. 2020 by Buffalo Soldiers Association of West Point. In 1959 Davis became the first African American officer to reach the rank of major general (a two-star general) in the air force and . In recent years, the 12th District has enjoyed a rich history. He was instead assigned to the all-black 24th Infantry Regiment (one of the original Buffalo Soldier regiments) at Fort Benning, Georgia. It was serendipitous that I would become a professor of philosophy and religion at his alma mater, now Clark Atlanta University, and was in place to have occasion to encounter Brother Evans at one of the annual homecomings at the university in 2009. At the start of his senior year at West Point, Davis had applied for the Army Air Corps but was rejected because it did not accept Blacks. He was promoted to brigadier . Herman Dreer - Teacher, minister, writer, and author of The History of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., 1911-1961. Months later, the inquiry rated the 99th's performance as comparable to those of other air units in the Mediterranean theater. David B. Wharton, Sr. Omega Chapter . The founders of the fraternity were three students: Edgar Amos Love, Oscar James Cooper, and Frank Coleman and their first faculty advisor Ernest Everett Just. During World War II, Roscoe Brown flew 68 combat missions, downing a German jet outside Berlin during an escort mission in 1945. He was later reassigned back to Nigeria. After attending the University of Chicago, Davis entered the United States Military Academy (West Point) in July 1932. Davis spent more than 35 years in the military, breaking . Marshall ordered an inquiry but allowed the 99th to continue fighting in the meantime. Friendship is forged in mutual assent to purpose and aim. GHSA basketball state tournament: Quarterfinals updates from Wednesday, Atlanta school system offers telehealth services to students, What you need to know about Supreme Court hearing on student loan debt plan, Gender identity schools bill stalls in Georgia Senate, Atlanta neighbors want to reclaim and revitalize the Joyland neighborhood, Kemp administration deals blow to Buckhead cityhood push, Georgia Power proposes steep rate increase for customers - How it affects what you pay. Theodore L. Johnson 1965 1. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Blumers last point was probably most revealing. Decatur Georgia oppf.org Born November 17, 1911 Joined March 2010. As such, the Army rejected him for active service On June 22, 1917. Bro. He served in Haiti and Liberia. 3. Senior officers in the Army Air Forces recommended to the Army chief of staff, General George Marshall, that the 99th (Davis's old unit) be removed from combat operations as it had performed poorly. In the 1926 Oracle, Brother Horace Fitchett, the first chapter editor of Kappa Psi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated wrote: "Whenever deep seated and fertile ideas have their conception in the minds of foresighted and ambitious youth, they must find their lodging place in reality, even though the initial efforts for the attainment of tangible results be thwarted." 3. Trial Judge Advocates were: Captain James W. Redden and 1st Lieutenant Charles B. The National Coalition of Black Veterans and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., proudly invites members of the House of Representatives, retired military Flag Officers, representatives of the Black veterans community . After retiring in 1970 he was named director of civil aviation security in the U.S. Department of Transportation. When he was commissioned as a second lieutenant, the Army had a grand total of two Black line officers--Benjamin O. Davis Sr. and Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. However, a clarification of manhood has been impoverished by structures that have assailed any such accomplishment. District Representative. Dr. Charles R. Drew perfected the use of blood plasma as a life saving tool. He will be remembered for his kind and gentle spirit.My heartfelt sympathy to the Davis Family. It was presented shortly after I had been graduated from Morehouse College and subsequently during my graduate studies. The Chapter experienced growth and stability as the roaring 20's ended. He then joined the United States Department of Transportation, directing antihijacking efforts. All members of the fraternity are encouraged to join the NAACP. Dr. Ernest Everett Just entered Omega Chapter. The fighter squadron went to North Africa in the spring of 1943 and on June 2, operating out of Tunisia, saw combat for the first time, a dive-bombing mission against the German-held island of Pantelleria. Contact our Keeper of Records & Seals at krs@capitalregionques.org and provide your name, control number, and a contact phone number and well contact you! He walked into the visitors center to see an exhibition titled ''The Great Train of Tradition'' -- photographs of outstanding cadets from 1819 to 1950. Last Name: First Name: Control # Chapter: Jackson: Craig: 1: Lambda Phi: Jolley: Samuel: 2: Eta Omega: Taylor: Ronald: 3: Lambda Phi: Omega Chapter: Brown: David: 4 . In the summer of 1945, Davis took over the all-black 477th Bombardment Group, which was stationed at Godman Field, Kentucky. Mead noted that the development of the individual is a social process as are the meanings individuals assign to things. Retrieved 7 February 2017, Britannica. @OfficialOPPF. They shot down 111 enemy planes and destroyed or damaged 273 on the ground at a cost of more than 70 pilots killed in action or missing. He entered West Point Military Academy in 1932 and graduated thirty-fifth out of a class of . General Marshall ordered a top-level inquiry, but permitted the 99th squadron to continue fighting. Davis would go on to become the Army's 1. Dr. Ernest Everett Just entered Omega Chapter.2. Omega Psi Phi Core Fleece Camo Sweatshirt Blanket (0) From $ 20.00 Omega Psi Phi Elite Track Jacket (0) Regular price $ 74.95 Omega Psi Phi Elite Hoodie (0) Regular price $ 74.95 Omega Psi Phi Camo Water-Resistant Lightweight Windbreaker (0) Regular price $ 48.95 . Today, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. has over 700 chapters throughout the United States, Bermuda, Bahamas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Korea, Japan, Liberia, Germany . It had the opposite effect; it steeled his determination to endure the animosity and to compete and graduate. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Benjamin-O-Davis-Jr. Shaquille O'Neal - - Omega Psi Phi -Pro Basketball . In 1943 he organized and commanded the 332nd Fighter Group (the Tuskegee Airmen). Colonel Charles Young was made the second honorary member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated on March 8, 1912. In that post he devised and coordinated measures that effectively ended a wave of aircraft hijackings in the United States. 1970 - August 12, 1970. The recommendation was denied. There were two key moments in my pursuit of affiliation with Omega that prefigured my relationship with the fraternityan initial motivation and a subsequent confluence of meaningful reflections and experiences that clarified my commitment to the union with Omega. Brice Taylor - University of Southern California football legend. [1] He later served at the Pentagon and in overseas posts over the next two decades. After retirement, he headed the federal sky marshal program, and in 1971 was named Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Environment, Safety, and Consumer Affairs. Columbia, SC - Omicron Phi. Smith graduated from Hartford High School and attended Howard University. He was ostracized at West Point and then was barred from commanding white troops and turned away from segregated officers' clubs in the war years. Our motto, Friendship is Essential to the Soul, encapsulates both possibility and actuality. P.O. This openness to recalibrate the notion of manhood to comply with the needs of community and society are primary. Bishop Edgar Amos Love (Omega Psi Phi Founder) , Boston University Dr. Andrew Lee Wallace, Sr. , Boston University 1910s 1917. 4, at the Charles R. Drew Wellness. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. He was its 3rd Black graduate. RECLAMATION AND RETENTION - A concerted effort at the international, district and local levels to retain active brothers and return inactive brothers to full participatory status. He was the first African-American brigadier general in the USAF. He retired from the Department of Transportation in 1975, and in 1978 served on the American Battle Monuments Commission, on which his father had served decades before. In 1894, he was appointed Professor of Military Science at Wilberforce University. A. Chico Arenas: Omega Chapter: 3: Ernest E. Reeves: Omega Chapter: 4: Ernest Sidney: Omega Chapter . He would have been America's first black General. Davis and his four classmates became the first African American combat fighter pilots in the U.S. Robert Davis 6. 23rd District Representative Bro. Tuskegee Airman Dr. Roscoe C. Brown Jr., February 19, 1992. Friendship is an extremely meaningful encounter for the development of personhood and character. On December 9, 1998, he was advanced to four-star general by President Bill Clinton.During World War II, Davis was commander of the 99th Fighter Squadron and the 332nd . Herman C. Salley 6. Davis flew sixty missions in P-39 Airacobra, Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang fighters and was one of the first African-American pilots to see combat. Colonel Davis and his 332nd Fighter Group arrived in Italy soon after that. In July that year, having been promoted to lieutenant colonel, he was named commander of the first all-black air unit, the 99th Pursuit Squadron. To be sure, I view my fidelity to the high precepts of the fraternity as action-guiding principles desirous of implementation and seriousness of mind. This infuriated Davis as he had never been told of any deficiencies with the unit. On June 2, they saw combat for the first time in a dive-bombing mission against the German-held island of Pantelleria as part of Operation Corkscrew. Davis was the first African American officer to solo an Army Air Corps aircraft. . These salient features of social interaction assuaged any trepidation of affiliation with Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. to the degree to which I was given clear and coherent articulation of how I would express my relationship with the fraternity. Michael A. Freeman C: 615-947-8656 michael.freeman@opp2d.org . [1] This was the same assignment his father was given years before; it was a way for the Army to avoid placing a black officer in command of white soldiers. Young mentored Sergeant Major Benjamin O. Davis. Alexander was the first African American officer in the United States armed forces to hold a regular command position. It was this image of an Omega man that indelibly forged my perspective of the fraternity. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Pull Over Windbreaker-Camouflage $44.95. After the War, West Point admitted its first African American cadet, James Webster Smith from South Carolina in 1870. He earned his aviation wings in 1942, and as Lieutenant Colonel, he commanded the 99th Pursuit Squadron. at HU. Choose Options. While fighting in the Philippines, he was promoted to Captain. SCHOLARSHIP - promotes academic excellence among the undergraduate members. Matthew Washington Bullock, Sr. , Dartmouth University Richard Crawford . Francis Morse Dent , Amherst College. During the war, the airmen commanded by Davis had compiled an outstanding record in combat against the Luftwaffe. Hampton University. [12] He received the Silver Star for a strafing run into Austria and the Distinguished Flying Cross for a bomber-escort mission to Munich on June 9, 1944. Davis Sr. served 41 years before he was promoted to brigadier general in October 1940. What better place to hold a. blood drive than in a facility. How one thinks about their reality, social or natural worlds, will be informed by their understandings of the nature of the things that occupy it. He served in Haiti and Liberia. 1st . He was a member of the Army's all-black Fighting 8 th Infantry. It is often difficult to provide meritorious remarks about those people, events and things that are so close to your heart that potential distortion of reality is always lurking with countervailing accounts. . 334 Following. Although a substantial presentation of what is meant by manhood is not free of the encumbrances of social conditioning, one must nevertheless consistently massage this principle with the hope of an ever yielding presentation that uplifts and builds bridges of support. Walter Myles Evans , Boston University. He was the academy's fourth black graduate after Henry Ossian Flipper (1877), John Hanks Alexander (1887), and Charles Young (1889). Under his picture were the words: ''World War Hero, Helped Integrate Air Force. E. Douglas; Joseph E. Johnson; Clyde O. Millner; Boykin L. Davis, Jr. 1970 - October 30, 1970. Davis graduated from the Academy in 1936, and became the fourth African American to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Based at Ramitelli, and called the Red Tails for the distinctive markings on its planes, the four-squadron unit compiled an outstanding record on missions deep into German territory. Alabama along with Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi make up the 7th District of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. [3] He was sponsored by Representative Oscar De Priest (R-IL) of Chicago, at the time, the only black member of Congress. He became the first black Major in the U.S. Army. Celebrating 35 Years of Friendship, Fraternity, and Service to our Communities..