The northwestern bulletin-appeal., 1925-03-07
OMECAS TO HONOR.
The BIRTHDAY OF.
COLO Mel YOUNG
Fraternity to Observe Birth of
Only Negro Graduate of West
Point Academy.

Point Academy.
Washington, d. C.-The anniver-
sary of the birth of Colonel Charles
Young, which occurs on March 18th.
will be observed throughout the
fifty-four chapters of the Omega Psi
Phi fraternity bp private services on
that date or by public ceremonies on
Sunday March Is.
Colonel Young, the only Negro
graduate of the Military Academy at
West Point to attain the rank of
Colonel in the Regular Army, was
born at Mayslick, Kentucky, March
12, 1864. At the age of sixteen, he
graduated from High School at Rip
ley, Ohio. His alert mind commend
ed itself to the school authorities OF
his town so favorably, that he found
himself teaching in the public schools
of Ripley. He was appointed to West
Point in 1884, and while there en-
dured many things not mentioned in
the curriculum. There was no re-
finement of cruelty and insult which
was not heaped upon his head in the
attempt Of his fellow students to
drive him from the institution. HE
faced insult as he faced his daily
bread and with the same impertur-
able balance and determination. He
not only faced death in war, but
what is more difficult, he faced 1t
daily in peace"
One OF his instructors. realizing
the effects of the ostracism and en-
forced solitude, advised him to re-
quest horse and promised that he
would see that it was given him.
Young thereafter spent many lonely
hours in the saddle. and became an
expert horseman. This is said to
have had much weight in determin-
ing his assignment to cavalry.
Receives appointment
Young graduated as an additional
Second Lieutenant in 1889. He
served on frontier duty, and in 1894
was appointed Military Instructor at
wilberforce, where because of his in
innate knowledge of French, German
and Mathematics. he was requested
to teach these subjects in addition to
his regular duties. Because of his
quickness In coming to the aid of
needy students, 1t was said of him
literally, He clothed the naked and
fed the hungered."
During the Spanish American War,
Young was appointed a Major of the
9th Ohio Infantry. After hostilities
ceased, he reverted to his regular
rank, and was assigned to the Phil
lipines. where he commanded troop
at Samar Blanca, Aurora, Daraga,
Toboaco. Rosans, and San Joaquin.
He was returned to the States in
1902; commanded a troop at San
Francisco; then became Acting Su-
perintendent of Sequoia and Grant
National Parks, in the administration
of which he received formal praise
and approval.
He was appointed Military Attache
to Haiti in May, 1904 While there
he made an accurate map of the Is
land which the Marines are reported
to have used on their recent expedi-
tion. He also collected material for
his drama, "Toussaint L'Ouverture"
and for an exhaustive monogram in
which he revealed the causes of the
outbreaks in Haiti and suggested
what he thought effective means for
putting an end to them. After a
tour of duty on the General Staff in
Washington, Young was again sent
to the PHILIPPINES.
Rank of Major
In 1912, Young attained the rank
of Major in the Regular Army and
while in Washington, d. c., at that
time became a member of the Omega
Psi Phi fraternity.
He was next appointed Military
Attache to Liberia. OF his services
to that country, the Adjutant Gem
eral said, "It has been only with the
most careful advisory supervision Of
Major Young that peace and order
has been maintained"
In 1915. he was awarded the
Spingarn Medal. From February
CONTINUED on pagel)