Celebrating Black History MonthThe Triple Nickles: U.S. Army’s First Black Paratroopers

By Ron Moore

As we recognize and celebrate Black History Month here at The Crossroads Chronicle. I would like to tell you about the 555th Battalion, The Triple Nickles. They were the Army's First Black Paratroopers

The history of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion is an untold chapter in black social history. The high professional standards of the men of the 555th, their skill in airborne operations, fearlessness in testing new concepts, and effectiveness in training other service personnel marked them as black pioneers.

The Triple Nickles, as this color barrier ground breaking Parachute Infantry Battalion was known, were a remarkable, highly-disciplined company of African American Paratroopers who paved the way for integration in the military. They also overcame military skepticism by proving that African Americans could excel at jobs that required intricate training.

Black soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen played and indispensable role during World War II. They joined the fight for freedom, even when they were not completely free themselves. During the war, they served as fighter pilots, artillerymen, combat engineers, signalmen, and infantrymen, but, more often than not, their innate skills, courage, and dedication to duty were overlooked or ignored. Racial prejudice ruled the day in America, but intrepid black paratroopers established a new paradigm, one of which would help lead the way to equality and justice in the U.S. Army.

Company A, 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, was activated at Fort Benning on December 31, 1943. Twenty-three officers and enlisted men were the first black soldiers to graduate from Jump School, long held to be one of the most difficult training centers in the Army. These soldiers were, in effect, the black test platoon. The 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion was activated at Camp Mackall, North Carolina, on November 25, 1944, under the command of Captain James Porter, often thought of as the “Father of the 555th”.

In October 1945, their mission was deemed concluded. The 555th spent the next two years at Fort Bragg. In December of 1947, their assignment changed. All men in the Triple Nickles were transferred into the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment and became the 3rd Battalion of the 82nd Airborne—this was first military unit to achieve full integration.

As a Combat Veteran of the US Army's Elite 82nd Airborne Division myself, it fills me with tremendous pride and honor to tell you all that I am a life member of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. I am also the father and father-in-law of Combat Paratroopers, as my daughter and son-in-law are active duty Paratroopers. My daughter, Aniya, is a JumpMaster in the U.S. Army's Elite 82nd Airborne Division. I am also the nephew and son-in-law of Paratroopers. My uncle and father-in-law both served as U.S. Army Combat Paratroopers retiring from the 82nd Airborne. There are three generations of paratroopers in my family.

Today, as we continue to recognize Black History Month, we pay tribute, and give homage to these great pioneers of the 555th, The Triple Nickles. AIRBORNE, ALL THE WAY.

MOORE WITH PARATROOPERS TEAM DOING A JUMP

1ST GENERATION PARATROOPER TOMMIE LEE PICKETT, MOORE’S FATHER-IN-LAW

MOORE (R) WITH UNCLE CSM EUGENE MOORE (L), 1ST GENERATION PARATROOPER AND JUMP MASTER

MOORE IN BDU’S AT FORT BRAGG