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The
Triple Nickles
1944 - 1947
The
555th Parachute Infantry Battalion
Many years
before "black pride" became a popular slogan, a small group of black
American soldiers gave life and meaning to those words. Born within
an army that had traditionally relegated blacks to menial jobs and
programmed them for failure, the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion,
or "Triple Nickles," succeeded in becoming the nation's first
all-black parachute infantry test platoon, company, and battalion.
A proud black lieutenant, sergeant,
or private, with polished boots and paratrooper wings, still had to
use the "colored" toilets and drinking fountains in the railroad
stations, sit in segregated sections of theaters, and go out of his
way to avoid confrontations with racist police. Black officers
continued to find post officers' club closed to them. But they
endured, and proved themselves as airborne troopers--"as fine a
group of soldiers as I have ever seen," in the words of the
notoriously fussy General Ben Lear.
True, these black pioneers were
exceptional men, specially selected for the task. They were former
university students and professional athletes, top-notch and veteran
noncoms. A major element in their success was that, unlike other
black infantry units officered by whites, they were entirely black,
from commanding officer down to the newest private.
Though
combat-ready and alerted for European duty in late 1944, the
changing tides of the war resulted in a different
assignment--jumping over the blazing forests of the American
northwest searching for Japanese balloon bombs, a job requiring
exact skills and special courage. In this unusual role, the 555th
also confronted a new dimension in warfare involving the use of
biological agents that could destroy woodlands and crops, but not
humans.
Smoke
Jumpers -- Army paratroopers of the 555th Parachute Infantry
Battalion stand at ease during inspection. The men were issued the
usual "let-down" ropes and football helmets with wire face masks,
but wore sheepskin outer garments rather than canvas smokejumper
suits.
In
fathering the 3rd Battalion, 505th Airborne Infantry Regiment, the
80th Airborne Anti-aircraft Battalion, the 503rd Airborne Artillery
Battalion, and the 2nd Airborne Ranger Company, and serving in the
82nd, 101st, 11th and 13th Airborne Divisions, the 187th Airborne
Regimental Combat Team, the 188th and 511th Airborne Infantry
Regiments, the Airborne Center and Special Forces, the Triple
Nicklers served in more airborne units, in peace and war, than any
other parachute group in history.
Bradley
Biggs, Lt. Col. USA (Ret.)
This information is excerpted from
the website of:
555TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY
ASSOCIATION, INC.
Phone: 813-886-7845
info@triplenickle.com
Please visit:
http://www.triplenickle.com/smjprs.html
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