Member-only story

America First Black Paratroopers: A Junior Library Guild Selection

Tom Clancy

·13.7k Followers· Follow

Published in Courage Has No Color The True Story Of The Triple Nickles: America S First Black Paratroopers (Junior Library Guild Selection)

4 min read · 6 days before

249 View Claps

14 Respond

Save

Listen

Courage Has No Color, The True Story of the Triple Nickles: America’s First Black Paratroopers (Junior Library Guild Selection)

by Tanya Lee Stone

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	20610 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	160 pages

A Junior Library Guild Selection: America First Black Paratroopers tells the incredible story of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, the first all-Black paratrooper unit in the United States Army. These brave soldiers fought with distinction in some of the most important battles of World War II, including D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge, and Operation Market Garden. Their story is one of courage, determination, and sacrifice.

The 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion was activated in March 1944 at Fort Benning, Georgia. The battalion was made up of volunteers from the 92nd Infantry Division, a segregated Black unit that had been fighting in Italy. The volunteers underwent rigorous training in preparation for their deployment to Europe.

In August 1944, the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion arrived in England. The battalion was attached to the 101st Airborne Division, the famed "Screaming Eagles." The 555th made its combat debut on D-Day, when it parachuted into Normandy to support the Allied invasion of France.

The 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion fought with distinction in the Battle of the Bulge, the largest land battle ever fought by the United States Army. The battalion also participated in Operation Market Garden, the ill-fated attempt to seize bridges in the Netherlands.

In March 1945, the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion was assigned to the 13th Airborne Division. The battalion fought in Operation Varsity, the last major airborne operation of World War II. The 555th made its final combat jump across the Rhine River into Germany.

The 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion was deactivated in November 1945. The battalion's soldiers returned home as heroes, but they were not given the same recognition as their white counterparts. The 555th was not awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, the highest award for valor that can be bestowed upon a military unit.

In recent years, the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion has received belated recognition for its service. In 2000, the battalion was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award that can be bestowed upon a group of people. The battalion was also featured in the 2001 documentary film "The Tuskegee Airmen."

A Junior Library Guild Selection: America First Black Paratroopers is a powerful and inspiring story that tells the story of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in World War II history, African American history, or military history.

Buy America First Black Paratroopers on Our Book Library

Buy America First Black Paratroopers on Barnes & Noble

Buy America First Black Paratroopers on IndieBound

Courage Has No Color, The True Story of the Triple Nickles: America’s First Black Paratroopers (Junior Library Guild Selection)

by Tanya Lee Stone

4.7 out of 5