The Triple Nickles

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Places: Fort Benning, Chattahoochee, Georgia, United States; Oregon, United States
Year range: 1944 - 1947

The Triple Nickles The First Black Paratroopers 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion - World War II 3rd Battalion of the 505th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division - Korea Smokejumpers

"Nickle" is the older, English spelling of the word that Americans today usually spell "nickel".

"The 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion was deactivated on Dec. 9, 1947 and at the same time, reactivated as the 3rd Battalion of the 505th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division," - Joe Murchison in "Soldiers" Magazine.

http://www.triplenickle.com/ The 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion "Triple Nickels" the nation's first All-Black parachute infantry test platoon, company, and battalion last updated in 2019

https://www.fs.usda.gov/inside-fs/memorial/remembering-joe-murchison-pioneer-african-american-military-smokejumper Remembering Joe Murchison: Pioneer African American military smokejumper - site dated December 3, 2021

https://www.thedropzone.org/training/biggs.htm . Article. "Personal Beachhead" By Bradley Biggs, 555 PIB

https://www.thedropzone.org/training/smokejmp.html. Article. The 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion (PIB), Smoke Jumpers.

American Negro Press Article (ANP). "First Paratroop Officers Qualify". Atlanta Daily World: the Nation's Only Colored Daily Newspaper. Volume 16, number 243, 16 March 1944, page 1, column 1.

Black Paratroopers Still on a Mission. Star-Ledger Mon, Feb 23, 1998 ·Page 1+21 article includes photograph

Brooks, Drew. Triple Nickels veteran retired 1st Sgt. Manuel Rucker dies :Fayetteville Observer, The (NC), Oct 01, 2015

Ballin, Sofiya. Montco church honors one of the Triple Nickles. Philadelphia Inquirer (PA), Nov 16, 2015,

Ettrick, Virginia: 41 WWII Veterans of USA's 1st All-Black Parachute Unity...Gathers...for Dedication of Triple Nickle Bridge. USA Today. 18 Oct 1990. News section, page 6A.

Ex-92nd Officer of N Y. Heads Unit. Camp Mackall, NC. The 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion...The Afro-American. Baltimore, Maryland. Sat, May 05, 1945 ·Page 11

“First Black Paratroopers’ Recognition.” Jet, vol. 110, no. 15, Oct. 2006, p. 34.

555th Paratroopers Draw Cheers in Victory Parade. Afro-American. Baltimore, Maryland. Saturday, 26 Jan 1946, page 8.

Fort Benning, Ga. 2Lt Edward D. Baker...graduated...officer's demolition school in the paratroopers. The Times Hammond, Indiana. Wed, Apr 12, 1944 ·Page 6

Hames, Jacqueline M. “Jumping into History: The Army’s First African American Paratroopers.” Soldiers, Feb. 2014, p. 2.

Hartford Courant Sun, Dec 12, 2004 ·Page 140 Bradley Biggs from Paratrooper to College Educator article including photograph

Home Boys in Camp. Sgt. Jack Tillis is visiting his parents. St. Louis Argus. St. Louis, Missouri. Fri, Mar 24, 1944 ·Page 7, column 1.

Johnson, Katherine. Chesterfield 'pioneer' Jesse Mayes dies at 100 Published in:Progress-Index (Petersburg, VA), Jul 24, 2014

"On Parade". Los Angeles Tribune. April 06, 1946, page 1. Photographs with captions. Three photographs of the 555th Infantry Parachute Battalion.

Paratroopers Convene to Remember. Springfield News-Leader [Missouri] Wed, Sep 08, 1999 ·Page 19

"Paratroopers Give Thrill" The Michigan Chronicle Sat, Jul 15, 1944 ·Page 1, continues to Page 4

Paratroopers in Detroit. Michigan Chronicle. Saturday, 05 August 1944, page 17. Photograph and caption of paratroopers who recently made an exhibition jump here.

Saluting Those in the Service. 2Lt. Edward D. Baker...has one the right to wear the famous wings and boots of a paratrooper. The Times Hammond, Indiana · Friday, March 17, 1944 p 11 Fort Benning, Georgia.

Ten Get Diplomas from Army School. The Afro-American. Sat, Aug 10, 1946 ·Page 15

They Made History in Detroit. Michigan Chronicle. Saturday, 15 July 1944, page 3. Members of the 555th Para-Infantry Company from Fort Benning finished an exhibition. Photograph and caption.

Three More Complete Parachute Training - Fort Benning, Ga. New Pittsburgh Courier Sat, Jul 08, 1944 ·Page 3

Tubbs, Vincent. Tan Sky Troops to Stay 555th Bn. Awaits Status. Afro-American [Baltimore, Maryland]. 6 Apr 1946, pages 1 + 17. Lists 33 officers of the 555th battalion and 82nd division who are currently attending schools.

Vesper Services Sunday at Little Negro USO. Columbus Ledger [Columbus, Georgia]. 14 Apr 1946, page 2. Captain Clifford Allen of Fort Benning is guest speaker.

Wood, Anthony R. A National Forest Site Is Now Named after a Black Paratrooper Who Died in a Secret Mission. Philadelphia Inquirer. 23 Feb. 2023.

Troopers of the 555th and 82nd in World War II and Korea:

Adams, Sylvester - on the duty roster as a smokejumper that trained at Pendleton, Oregon https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Sylvester_Adams_%282%29

Alford, Herman - on the duty roster as a smokejumpeCthat trained at Pendleton, Oregon https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Herman_Alford_%283%29

Allen, Captain Clifford of Chicago, Illinois - on the duty roster as a smokejumper that trained at Pendleton, Oregon https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Clifford_Allen_%284%29

Armour, PFC Thomas W. - on the duty roster as a smokejumper that trained at Pendleton, Oregon https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Timothy_Armour_%281%29

Armour, Lt. Timothy IV -https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Timothy_Armour_%282%29

Bailey, Thomas G. - on the duty roster as a smokejumper that trained at Pendleton, Oregon https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Thomas_Bailey_%2872%29

Baker, Edward of Chicago, Illinois - on the duty roster as a smokejumper that trained at Pendleton, Oregon

Baker, Edward - on the duty roster as a smokejumper that trained at Pendleton, Oregon [one of these men was Edward D. Baker and the other was Edward P. C. Baker, more research needed to make sure which man was which] Here is Edward D. Baker, Commanding Officer : https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Edward_Baker_%2845%29 See this record as well. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Edward_Baker_%2846%29

Barrows, Amos - https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Amos_Barrows_%283%29 - on the duty roster as a smokejumper that trained at Pendleton, Oregon

Beal, SSgt Calvin R. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Calvin_Beal_(6)- on the duty roster as a smokejumper that trained at Pendleton, Oregon

Beatty, Carter - https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Carter_Beatty_%281%29 - on the duty roster as a smokejumper that trained at Pendleton, Oregon

Beavers, SSgt Clarence H. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Clarence_Beavers_(1) - on the duty roster as a smokejumper that trained at Pendleton, Oregon

Bess, Sgt Ned D. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Ned_Bess_(1) - on the duty roster as a smokejumper that trained at Pendleton, Oregon

Biggs, Lieutenant Colonel Bradley https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Bradley_Biggs_(1) - on the duty roster as a smokejumper that trained at Pendleton, Oregon

Boatwright, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Daniel_Boatwright_%287%29

Boone, Robert E. - on the duty roster as a smokejumper that trained at Pendleton, Oregon

Brady, Myron -https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Myron_Brady_%281%29 on the duty roster as a smokejumper that trained at Pendleton, Oregon

Braynon, Willie J. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:William_Braynon_%281%29 - on the duty roster as a smokejumper that trained at Pendleton, Oregon

Bridges, 1Sgt Hubert https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Hubert_Bridges_(1) - on the duty roster as a smokejumper that trained at Pendleton, Oregon

Brothers, Louis R. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Louis_Brothers_%281%29

Brown, Pfc. Malvin Leroy https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Malvin_Brown_(1)

Buford, Lt. William F. - https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:William_Buford_%286%29 on the duty roster as a smokejumper that trained at Pendleton, Oregon

Buie, Ernest https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Ernest_Buie_%281%29

Burroughs, Harold E. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Harold_Burroughs_%281%29

Cade, Lionel - https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Lionel_Cade_%281%29 on the duty roster as a smokejumper that trained at Pendleton, Oregon

Cain, Marion https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Marion_Cain_%282%29

Cardreon, Rosamond L. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Rosamund_Cardreon_%281%29

Cole, Harold S. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Harold_Cole_(2)

Cornelius, Warren C. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Warren_Cornelius_(1)

Davis, Levi https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Levi_Davis_(22)

Duke, 1Lt. Lonnie M. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Lonnie_Duke_(1)

Ferguson, Captain Alvin https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Al_Ferguson_%281%29

Flonnoy, Willie https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Willie_Flonnoy_%281%29 - on the duty roster as a smokejumper that trained at Pendleton, Oregon

Gibson, Garlon/Garland https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Garland_Gibson_(2)

Godfrey, McKinley https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:McKinley_Godfrey_(1)

Greene, Robert F. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Robert_Greene_%2828%29

Hawkins, Pfc. Adam W. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Adam_Hawkins_(2)

Hedgepeth, James L. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:James_Hedgepeth_%281%29 - on the duty roster as a smokejumper that trained at Pendleton, Oregon

Hewitt, Warren W. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Warren_Hewitt_%282%29#S5

Hooper, Arthur https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Arthur_Hooper_(5)

Hunt, Corporal Alphonzo https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Alphonzo_Hunt_%281%29

Jackson, Clinton H https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Clinton_Jackson_%285%29 - on the duty roster as a smokejumper that trained at Pendleton, Oregon

Jones, Emerald https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Emerald_Jones_%281%29 - on the duty roster as a smokejumper that trained at Pendleton, Oregon

Kornegay, James E. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:James_Kornegay_(1)

Lane, Pfc. Benjamin F. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Benjamin_Lane_%2815%29

Lane, Captain Julius https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Julius_Lane_(1)

Lowry, Corporal Tiger Ted https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Ted_Lowry_(1)

Mayes, Lt. Col. Jesse https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Jesse_Mayes_%283%29

McCall, PFC Porter https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Porter_McCall_%281%29

McKinney, Charles https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Charles_McKinney_(11)

Moon, Alvin L. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Alvin_Moon_(2)

Morris, 1Sgt Walter https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Walter_Morris_(8)

Montgomery, Corporal Baron K. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Baron_Montgomery_%281%29 - on the duty roster as a smokejumper that trained at Pendleton, Oregon

Murchison, Joe https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Joe_Murchison_%281%29

Myers, Prince Edward https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Prince_Myers_%281%29 - on the duty roster as a smokejumper that trained at Pendleton, Oregon

Otey, 1Lt. Charles R. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Charles_Otey_%281%29 - on the duty roster as a smokejumper that trained at Pendleton, Oregon

Peeples, Corporal James V., Jr. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:James_Peeples_%286%29 - on the duty roster as a smokejumper that trained at Pendleton, Oregon

Pryor, TEC5 Horace https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Horace_Pryor_%281%29 - on the duty roster as a smokejumper that trained at Pendleton, Oregon

Reavis, MSgt Eugene Anthony https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Eugene_Reavis_%281%29 - on the duty roster as a smokejumper that trained at Pendleton, Oregon

Reed, Leo D. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Leo_Reed_(3)

Reeves, Sgt Carl https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Carl_Reeves_(5)

Ross, Jasper E. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Jasper_Ross_(1)

Robinson, Samuel W.

Rucker, 1Sgt Manuel https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Manuel_Rucker_%281%29

Snipes, Jr., PFC Zack https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Zack_Snipes_%281%29

Snowden, SSgt. James C. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:James_Snowden_%286%29

Staggers, Langston https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Langston_Staggers_%281%29

Stewart, Carstell O. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Carstell_Stewart_(1)

Stinson, Algernon https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Algernon_Stinson_%281%29

Tillis, Jack D. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Jack_Tillis_%281%29

Valentine, Ralph O. or Valentine, Ralph Emerson (Jr.) https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Ralph_Valentine_%282%29