Colonels weave sorority sister ties through military careers

Six women living in the Atlanta area, all alumnae members of the historically African American sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, have more in common than just that-they are all colonels in the U.S. Army.

"Delta women are strong, as are Army women," said Col. Margarett E. Barnes, U.S. Army Forces Command Assistant Deputy of Personnel and Administration. "They are both faithful and live by a creed and values."

At one rank level below a one-star general, the fact that these six colonels are all stationed at Fort McPherson at the same time is notable. Although not in the same alumnae chapters, they are all active in their local communities and sometimes participate in sorority activities together. And although they all chose to join the sorority for different reasons, the women agree that Delta Sigma Theta and the Army share many similarities.

"The bond of sisterhood, both in the military and the sorority is a special bond," said Col. Darlene Freeman, Secretary of the General Staff at U.S. Army Forces Command. "We mentor and support one another."

Freeman, a Lexington, Ky., native and graduate of Kentucky State University joined Delta Sigma Theta during her senior year of college while she was also enrolled in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program.

"I'd had some exposure to the Army," Freeman said, explaining that when she joined the Army, two of her brothers had already served. "Really, it is simply a noble cause to serve," she said.

With an undergraduate degree in English, Freeman's first assignment as an Army officer was with the field artillery-a career path usually reserved for men. Throughout her 24 years in the military, Freeman said DST made it easy for her to find friends whenever she moved to a new post-all she had to do was join the local alumnae chapter, and they would welcome her into the group.

"It's a very strong sorority ... it lends itself well to someone who is in the military," she said. "It's a good support group and a great opportunity to give back to the community wherever you go."

Col. Deborah Grays, garrison commander for Forts McPherson and Gillem, said the military has always been a part of her life, and she found that DST required similar values.

"You see, joining the military was really never an option for me," explained Grays on how her military service seemed pre-destined. "I have always felt the 'green in my veins,' and from the day I was commissioned, I've tried to live my life with total dedication and selfless service."

The daughter of a retired sergeant major and Roseboro, N.C., native, Grays said training to be an officer and pledging a sorority required the same dedication and commitment.

With more than 200,000 members internationally, DST's main focuses are community service and education. Founded in 1913 at Howard University, one of the first public activities participated in by Delta women was the Women's Suffrage March in Washington, D.C. in March of that year. Among the women that have filled DTS's ranks is Brig. Gen. Hazel Johnson Brown, the first African-American female general in the U.S. Army, and Barbara Jordan, the first African-American congresswoman (in 1972) to be elected from the South.

Delta Sigma Theta is not the only sorority or fraternity which attracts military members though. Visit any active duty post in the U.S. or overseas, and it isn't hard to find current or former sorority and fraternity members. That may be because sororities and fraternities create an environment similar to Army life.

"Being a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sisterhood has allowed me to feel that I can accomplish anything that I can dream," said Barnes.

Barnes, a Jackson, Miss., native and Army Reservist said her pledge period in DST was actually similar to Army basic training in many ways.

"I feel that shared experiences of both the Army and DST causes a bonding and friendship that holds through time," Barnes said. "I know that I can depend on my battle buddy the same way that I can depend on and trust my Soror."

The other DST members stationed at Fort McPherson are Col. Sherri Calhoun, Col. Gloria Lee, and Col. Dominic Archibald.

(Editor's note: since this story was written, Cols. Lee and Archibald deployed overseas.)