First African-American WW2 “Smokejumper” heroes, a story…we could use NOW (12 Photos)
Between the current devastating Wildfires and our country’s “My team VS your team” political climate, I think the following is a story that we could ALL use right now.
The following is about one of the brave SMOKEJUMPER teams.
Hope you can put politics aside to just give this story a few minutes of your time…the memory of these kick-A humans, truly deserve to be remembered.
Thanks ya’ll. -Rick
Story source from Instagram @smokejumpers_on_ig
“The 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion was nicknamed “Triple Nickles” because of its numerical designation and because 17 of its original 24 “colored test platoon” were from the 92nd Infantry (“Buffalo Soldiers”) Division of the U.S. Army.”
“During the winter of 1943-1944, the first black paratroopers in army history began training at Fort Benning, Georgia. After several months, the segregated unit was moved to Camp Mackall, North Carolina, where it was reorganized and re-designated as Company A of the newly activated 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion.”
“Unlike other African American infantry units officered by whites,
the 555th was ENTIRELY BLACK since six black officers also completed jump training.”
“By late 1944, the first platoon of Triple Nickles was fully trained, combat-ready, and alerted for European duty. The men were anxious to fight Hitler’s Nazis in Europe or the Japanese in the Pacific.
Instead, changing war conditions kept the paratroopers home and away from the war they had been trained to fight.”
“On May 5, 1945, a Japanese incendiary balloon had been launched by the Japanese toward American shores, intended to start major forest fires and create just such fears.
In early 1945, the Triple Nickles had received secret orders from the War Department called “Operation Firefly.” They were sent to Pendleton, Oregon, assigned to the 9th Services Command, and trained by the Forest Service to become,
History’s FIRST military Smokejumpers.”
“They were specifically designated to respond to Japanese balloon bombs.
During that year’s fire season, the Triple Nickles made more than 1,200 individual jumps and helped control at least 28 major fires although none were believed to have been caused by the Japanese.”
“In December 1947, the Triple Nickles were deactivated and their personnel were assigned to other Army units.”
*Source: Instagram @smokejumpers_on_ig
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Breaking the barrier that is “color of skin”.
That’s BROTHERHOOD.
All I can do is simply type the following:
“THANK YOU”, from an American born so many generations later.
–The 555th–
History’s FIRST military Smokejumpers…Awesome.
If you’d like to learn more about the Smokejumpers (and check-out some awesome modern photos/GIFs),
One more thing.
You guys/gals make this site work.
I really do appreciate commenter “Gussy Gus” for the following comment on a gallery that I posted yesterday.
No b.s.
He had the balls to call-out what I was NOT seeing.
Thanks man, you were right. -Rick
