The Triple Nickles

Summary

Summary of "The Triple Nickles" Episode | Stuff You Missed in History Class

Release Date: May 21, 2025
Hosts: Holly Fry and Tracy B. Wilson
Podcast: Stuff You Missed in History Class by iHeartPodcasts

---

Introduction: Listener Request and Episode Overview

The episode begins with Tracy B. Wilson introducing a listener request from Josiah, highlighting the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, also known as the Triple Nickles. This unit holds the distinction of being the first all-Black paratroopers in the U.S. Military and plays a pivotal role in the desegregation of the armed forces post-World War II.

[02:45] Holly Fry:
"Welcome to Stuff You Missed in History Class, a production of iHeartRadio."

---

Historical Context: Black Soldiers in the U.S. Military Pre-WWII

Holly Fry provides a comprehensive overview of the participation of Black soldiers in the U.S. military, tracing back to before the Revolutionary War. She emphasizes that initially, most units were not segregated, with notable exceptions like the First Rhode Island Regiment.

[03:46] Holly Fry:
"Black soldiers' participation in the United States military goes back to before the Revolutionary War, and initially most units were not racially segregated."

However, post-Revolutionary War policies, such as the Federal Militia Act of 1792, institutionalized segregation, effectively excluding Black individuals from military service until the Civil War.

[04:19] Tracy B. Wilson:
"After George Washington became commander in chief of the Continental army, he tried to bar people of African descent from enlistment, but he reversed that decision a couple of months later."

---

World Wars and Segregation: Struggles and Contributions

During World War I, over 380,000 Black Americans served, predominantly in non-combat roles. The Harlem Hellfighters stood out as an exception, earning distinction for their valor.

[05:51] Holly Fry:
"More than 380,000 Black Americans served in the army during World War I, and overwhelmingly, the ones who were sent overseas were assigned to tasks involving manual labor."

As World War II approached, segregation persisted despite the Selective Service Act mandating non-discriminatory training and selection. Racial disparities in enlistment and roles remained evident, underscored by biased intelligence testing.

[07:51] Holly Fry:
"There was also an overall perception within military leadership and the executive branch of government that white soldiers as a whole would not accept an integrated Army."

Efforts to mitigate discrimination saw the appointment of William Henry Hastie, Jr., who documented shortcomings in the military's adherence to fair policies.

[09:37] Tracy B. Wilson:
"Hastie was the first black person to be appointed as a federal district court judge. He conducted a survey in 1941 that documented multiple ways in which the US military was falling short of that 1940 policy announcement."

---

The Birth of the Triple Nickles: Formation and Training

In April 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized the creation of an all-Black parachute battalion to boost morale and challenge existing racial stereotypes within elite military units.

[13:55] Holly Fry:
"The recommendation that played a part in today's episode was the creation of a black parachute battalion for the purposes of enhancing the morale and esprit de corps of the Negro people."

Tracy B. Wilson narrates the transformation of a test platoon into the full-fledged 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion. Under the leadership of Captain James Porter, the unit expanded to 155 enlisted men and 10 officers.

[25:19] Tracy B. Wilson:
"Based on the success of this first round of training, the army started the process of turning this 22 man test platoon into a full parachute infantry company."

---

Operations as Smokejumpers: Mission and Challenges

Assigned to Operation Firefly, the Triple Nickles served as smokejumpers tasked with combating forest fires and defusing Japanese balloon bombs. Their role was crucial, especially given the labor shortages caused by the war.

[35:10] Holly Fry:
"The Triple Nickels' time as smokejumpers was only partly about the Japanese balloon bombs, although when they got this assignment, those were seen as a huge potential threat."

Training was intensive, focusing on both firefighting techniques and bomb disposal, adapting military parachuting skills to specialized rescue operations.

[36:16] Holly Fry:
"To do this work, they also had to learn new strategies for parachuting, using a different type of parachute than they had learned to use in the army."

Throughout the 1945 fire season, the Triple Nickles executed over 1,200 jumps, managing 36 fires and neutralizing several enemy devices. Their dedication earned them a reputation for professionalism and resilience.

[38:27] Tracy B. Wilson:
"Over the 1945 fire season, the Triple Nickels carried out more than 1200 jumps to help control 36 fires and dispose of several Japanese bombs."

Tragically, the unit suffered one fatality during their smokejumping tenure, highlighting the dangers they faced.

[39:25] Tracy B. Wilson:
"The Triple Nickels had only one fatality during their time as smokejumpers. Medic Malvin L. Brown was most likely killed instantly."

---

Integration and Legacy: Moving Beyond Segregation

Post-Operation Firefly, the Triple Nickles transitioned to the 82nd Airborne Division. Under Major General James M. Gavin, the unit began the process of integration, leading to their participation in the New York City victory parade in January 1946.

[40:22] Tracy B. Wilson:
"Gavin insisted that the Triple Nickels be integrated with the rest of the 82nd Airborne, including insisting that they march with the 82nd Airborne as part of the New York City victory parade on January 14, 1946."

The battalion was formally deactivated in December 1947, merging into the 3rd Battalion, 505th Airborne Infantry. This deactivation symbolized both the progress towards an integrated military and the loss of a proud unit identity.

[42:19] Holly Fry:
"The 555th was formally deactivated on December 15, 1947, at which point its remaining paratroopers became part of the 3rd Battalion, 505th Airborne Infantry, 82nd Airborne."

In July 1948, President Harry S. Truman issued Executive Order 9981, mandating the desegregation of the U.S. Military, a monumental step influenced by units like the Triple Nickles.

[41:15] Tracy B. Wilson:
"President Harry S. Truman issued Executive Order 9981 on July 26, 1948, which banned discrimination based on race, color, religion or national origin in the U.S. Military."

---

Recognition and Modern Legacy

Despite their significant contributions, the Triple Nickles remained relatively obscure compared to other Black military units like the Tuskegee Airmen. However, in recent years, efforts have been made to honor their legacy through historical markers and dedicated literature.

[43:55] Holly Fry:
"In 1994, the Triple Nickels were part of a celebration of Smokey Bear's 50th birthday. Pendleton Airfield is now home to the Oregon National Guard's Pendleton Aviation Support Facility."

Books such as Lt. Col. Bradley Biggs' "Triple Nickels, America's First All Black Paratroop Unit" and Tanya Lee Stone's "Courage Has No: The True Story of the Triple Nickels" have played pivotal roles in documenting and celebrating the battalion's history.

---

Conclusion: Reflecting on a Pioneering Unit

The episode encapsulates the struggles and triumphs of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, shedding light on their critical role in both military operations and the broader movement towards racial integration in the U.S. Armed Forces. Through resilience and dedication, the Triple Nickles not only contributed significantly during their service but also paved the way for future generations of Black soldiers in the military.

---

Notable Quotes:

• Tracy B. Wilson [10:29]:
  "The traditional mores of the south have been widely accepted and adopted by the army as the basis of policy and practice affecting the Negro soldier."

• Lt. Col. Bradley Biggs [24:00]:
  "It wasn't all bad, but I don't know that any of the good was real. I went through things there."

• Charles Stevens [40:47]:
  "Everybody was crying. I think we were crying for two different reasons. We were glad the segregation was leaving the army, and we were sad we were losing our Triple Nickel colors."

---

References for Further Reading

• "Triple Nickels, America's First All Black Paratroop Unit" by Lt. Col. Bradley Biggs
• "Courage Has No: The True Story of the Triple Nickels" by Tanya Lee Stone

---

For more engaging historical insights, subscribe to Stuff You Missed in History Class on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or your preferred podcast platform.

Transcript

[Tracy B. Wilson]

You're listening to an iHeart podcast. Breaking news T Mobile Network outperforms expectations in all sectors because T Mobile helps keep you connected from the heart of Portland to right where you are on America's largest 5G network. Switch now. Keep your phone and T Mobile will pay it off at the $800 per line via prepaid card. Visit your local T Mobile location or learn more@t mobile.com keepandswitch up to 4 lines of your virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device, credit service report in 90 plus days device and eligible carrier and timely redemption. Required card has no cash access and expires in six.

[Holly Fry]

This podcast is supported by Talkspace.

[Talkspace User]

When my husband came home from his military deployment, readjusting was hard for all of us. Thankfully, I found Talkspace.

[Holly Fry]

Talkspace provides professional support from licensed therapists and psychiatric providers online. Military members, veterans and their dependents ages 13 and older can get fast access to providers, all from the privacy of their computers or smartphones.

[Talkspace User]

I just answered a few questions online and Talkspace matched me with a therapist. We meet when it's convenient for me and I can message her anytime. It was so easy to set up and they accept Tricare. Therapy was going so well, my husband and I started seeing a couples therapist through Talkspace too.

[Holly Fry]

Talkspace works with most major insurers, including TRICARE. Match with a licensed therapist today at talkspace.com military go to talkspace.com military to get started today. That's talkspace.com military.

Explore the winding halls of historical true crime with Holly Fry and Maria Tremarchi, hosts of Criminalia, as they uncover curious cases from the past. The legend of the Highwayman suggests men dominated the field, but tell that to Lady Catherine Ferrers, known as the Wicked lady who terrorized England in the mid-1600s. Her legend persists nearly 400 years after her death. Highwaymen are in the hot seat this season. Find more crime and cocktails on Criminalia. Listen to criminalia on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

We love learning about this extraordinary universe and we love sharing what we've learned. And on our podcast, Daniel and Kelly's Extraordinary Universe, that's what we're gonna do.

[Daniel]

I'm Daniel, I'm a particle physicist and I think our universe is absolutely extraordinary.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

I'm Kelly Wienersmith. I study parasites and there's just end about this universe that I find fascinating.

[Daniel]

Basically, we're both nerds.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

Each Tuesday and Thursday we take an hour long dive into some science topic.

[Daniel]

Learn all about our amazing and beautiful.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

Universe on Daniel and Kelly's extraordinary universe.

[Daniel]

Every Tuesday and Thursday on the iHeartRadio.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

App, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Holly Fry]

Welcome to Stuff youf Missed in History Class, a production of iHeartRadio.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

Hello and welcome to the PODC. I'm Tracy B. Wilson.

[Holly Fry]

And I'm Holly Fry.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

Today's episode is a listener request. It's from Josiah. Josiah has sent us so many topic ideas. So Josiah, I want to say I'm so sorry that we only very rarely respond to your emails, but after getting this particular one with this suggestion in it, I went through the inbox and I made sure that I had made note of every suggestion that you have sent to us because you've sent us a lot of really great ones. Today's is the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion. Also called the Triple Nickels. They were the first black paratroopers in the U S. Military, and their story is also connected to the desegregation of the military after World War II.

[Holly Fry]

Black soldiers participation in the United States military goes back to before the Revolutionary War, and initially most units were not racially segregated. One exception was the first Rhode Island Regiment. More than half of its number were black or indigenous, and there were segregated units within that regiment. Beyond that, during the Revolutionary War, thousands of people of African descent served in the Continental army, in state militias, or at sea, mostly in integrated units.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

After George Washington became commander in chief of the Continental army, he tried to bar people of African descent from enlistment, but he reversed that decision a couple of months later. But then after the Revolutionary War, Congress passed the Federal Militia act, which Washington signed into law in 1792. This act applied to white men only, so it essentially excluded black people from service.

[Holly Fry]

With a few exceptions, black people continued to be excluded from military service in the US until the Civil War, when the Confiscation act authorized the use of formerly enslaved people as soldiers in the United States Army. These soldiers generally served in segregated units. We talk more about this in our episode on Contraband Camps, which we ran as a Saturday Classic on February 18, 2023. Prior hosts of the show also talked about the Massachusetts 54th, which was the second all black regiment established in the US army, and and we ran that as a Saturday Classic on February 2, 2019.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

After the end of the Civil War, the US army was reorganized into a peacetime service, and this reorganization included the establishment of all black infantry and cavalry units that came to be known as the Buffalo Soldiers. We talked about the Buffalo Soldiers in more detail in the Iron Riders episode that came out on July 3, 2024.

[Holly Fry]

So by the start of World War I, racial segregation had been the standard in the U.S. military for decades. More than 380,000 Black Americans served in the army during World War I, and overwhelmingly, the ones who were sent overseas were assigned to tasks involving manual labor, like working as stevedores and digging latrines. One exception was the Harlem Hellfighters, and we ran our episode on them as a Saturday Classic on June 13, 2020. As we talked about in that episode, these soldiers served with valor and then returned home to find that they still faced the same racism and discrimination as they had before, purportedly fighting to make the world safe for democracy.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

As World War II was approaching, the situation for black soldiers in the US military was largely the same as it had been in World War I. And that was in spite of ongoing advocacy on the part of black service members and veterans, as well as civil rights leaders and organizations. The Selective Service act that established The World War II draft specified that the training and selection of men would have no discrimination by race or color. But there were still racial disparities in who was actually selected for service and what roles those people were assigned. The army also started using an intelligence test called the Army General Classification Test, and there were measurable differences between the typical scores of white and black recruits, with the black recruits generally scoring lower. Some military officials did recognize that these disparities stemmed from social and economic factors and not from the innate intelligence of people of different races. But these disparities still reinforced a lot of negative biases about black soldiers and what they were capable of doing.

[Holly Fry]

There was also an overall perception within military leadership and the executive branch of government that white soldiers as a whole would not accept an integrated Army. A lot of the military bases where soldiers went through training were located in the south, so there were well founded concerns that these communities would not accept integrated military units in their midst. So the military continued to maintain segregation, moving into World War II under the idea that to do otherwise would damage the nation's military readiness on the eve of war.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

Some steps were being made to try to address at least some of the most discriminatory aspects of a segregated military. On October 9, 1940, the White House issued a statement outlining the War Department's policy, which would be to maintain racially segregated units, but also using black soldiers, quote, on a fair and equal basis with their white peers. So while units were still racially segregated and that segregation was inherently discriminatory, there were supposed to be more types of units being established for black soldiers so that they would no longer be so disproportionately working only in the least desirable roles. This policy also specified that black soldiers would be recruited in equal numbers that aligned with their proportion of the population of the United States. None of this really did anything about the inherently discriminatory aspects of segregation, but at least in theory, it meant that black soldiers would no longer be primarily assigned to things like manual labor.

[Holly Fry]

From 1940 to 1942, William Henry Hasty, Jr. Served as a civilian aide to Secretary of War Henry Louis Stimson and advised on these issues. Hastie was the first black person to be appointed as a federal district court judge. He conducted a survey in 1941 that documented multiple ways in which the US military was falling short of that 1940 policy announcement. Black people were not being inducted into the military at a rate that was proportional to their population. There had been some new units established for black servicemen, such as the Tuskegee Airmen, which prior hosts of the show covered in 2009, but black soldiers were still disproportionately serving in certain roles, including the Quartermaster Corps and doing things like building infrastructure in the Corps of Engineers.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

In his report, Hastie noted, quote, the traditional mores of the south have been widely accepted and adopted by the army as the basis of policy and practice affecting the negro soldier. He recommended a number of ways for black soldiers to become a more integral part of the army, including that the army should, somewhere within the service, actually begin the process of integrating.

[Holly Fry]

By August of 1942, these patterns of discrimination were clearly still ongoing, and the Secretary of War established an Advisory Committee on Negro Troop policies, chaired by Assistant Secretary of war John J. McCloy. This committee was focused on addressing what it saw as problems with discipline, morale and military readiness among black soldiers and how to address them.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

Most of the people involved with this committee were white military leaders. One exception was Brigadier General Benjamin O. Davis, who had served in one of the Buffalo Soldiers regiments and had also become a Tuskegee airman. He was the first black general in the US Army. A lot of his recommendations were really in line with ones that Hastie had made previously, including proposing the breaking down of the so called Jim Crow practices within the War Department and on the military reservations and the securing of the cooperation of the communities near the reservations. To that end. Basically, Davis and Hasty both recognized that a lot of what was happening that the army saw as problems with morale, readiness and discipline traced directly back to black soldiers growing up targeted by racism. Without the same access to education or resources that the white recruits generally had, and then being expected to work in an inherently discriminatory environment, sometimes under the command of outwardly racist officers, all while also living on bases that were surrounded by civilian communities that were rife with racism and racist violence.

[Holly Fry]

In December of 1942, this committee made a number of recommendations, none of which really involved the kind of systemic dismantling of racist organizational structures and attitudes that both Davis and Hastie had spoken about. Hastie actually resigned from this work in 1943 due to the lack of progress. These recommendations included the creation of some new all black units, including combat engineer units and ambulance battalions and new harbor defense units to reduce the number of black soldiers assigned to anti aircraft units.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

So the black harbor defense units never happened, partly because of difficulty finding communities where those units would be stationed that would not also object to their presence there, and because the perceived threat to coastal communities in North America diminished over the course of the war. Some new combat engineer units were established, but most of them eventually became construction or general service units. The army also did establish 12 new motor ambulance companies in 1943, and then two more followed later.

[Holly Fry]

The recommendation that played a part in today's episode was the creation of a black parachute battalion for the purposes of enhancing the morale and esprit de corps of the Negro people. Paratroopers were and are considered some of the most elite members of the military. They literally jump out of airplanes, often carrying heavy loads of gear, ready to face whatever it is they find when they land. Qualification requirements were strict and training was grueling, so the idea followed that black soldiers in this role would become a point of pride.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt ordered the creation of a black parachute battalion in April of 1943 and we'll have more on that after a sponsor break.

[Daniel]

Tired of spills and stains on your sofa? Wash away your worries with Annabe. Annabe is the only machine washable sofa inside and out where designer quality meets budget friendly prices. That's right, sofas start at just $699 and now's the perfect time to upgrade during the Memorial Day sale. Get up to 60% off site wide. Enjoy a no risk experience with pet friendly stain resistant and changeable slipcovers made with performance fabric experience cloud like comfort with high resilience foam that's hypoallergenic and never needs fluffing. The sturdy steel frame ensures longevity and the modular pieces can be rearranged anytime. Shop washablesofas.com to save big this Memorial Day backed by a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. If you're not absolutely in love, send it back for a full refund. No return, shipping or restocking fees. Every penny back. Don't miss the Memorial Day Sale Upgrade [e-mail] that's washablesofas.com Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

[Holly Fry]

This podcast is supported by Talkspace.

[Talkspace User]

When my husband came home from his military deployment, readjusting was hard for all of us. Thankfully, I found Talkspace.

[Holly Fry]

Talkspace provides professional support from licensed therapists and psychiatric providers online. Military members, veterans and their dependents ages 13 and older can get fast access to providers, all from the privacy of their computers or smartphones.

[Talkspace User]

I just answered a few questions online and Talkspace matched me with a therapist. We meet when it's convenient for me and I can message her anytime. It was so easy to set up and they accept Tricare. Therapy was going so well my husband and I started seeing a couples therapist through Talkspace too.

[Holly Fry]

Talkspace works with most major insurers, including Tricare. Match with a licensed therapist [e-mail] military go to talkspace.com military to get started today. That's talkspace.com military Amy Robach and TJ.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

Holmes here Diddy's former protege, television personality platinum selling artist Danity King alum Aubrey o' Day joins us to provide a unique perspective on the trial and that has captivated the attention of the nation.

[Amy Robach]

Aubrey o' Day is sitting next to us. Here you are. As we sit here right up the street from where the trial is taking place. Some people saw that you were going to be in New York and they immediately started jumping to conclusions. So can you clear that up? First of all, are you here to testify in the Diddy trial? Aubrey will offer her opinions and expertise based on her firsthand knowledge from her days on making the band. As she emerged as the breakout star, the truth of the situation would be opposite of the glitz and glamour.

[Daniel]

It wasn't all bad, but I don't know that any of the good was real. I went through things there.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

Listen to Amy and TJ presents Aubrey O' Day covering the Diddy trial on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[TJ Holmes]

I have a question for you and I want you to be honest with me. How are you? It's a really hard question to ask. It's a harder one to answer. But taking care of our mental well being has never been more important. All of May is mental Health Awareness Month and on the psychology of youf 20s podcast, we are taking a vulnerable look at why mental health is so hard to talk about and all the science and psychology behind some of life's hardest moments and transitions. Prepare for our conversations to go deep. Everything from grief to heartbreak, career burnout, anxiety, all of the things that you would only talk about with your closest friends.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

I spent the majority of my teenage.

[Daniel]

Years and my twenties just feeling absolutely terrified.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

I had a panic attack on a conference call knowing that she had six months to live. I was no longer pretending that this was my best friend.

[TJ Holmes]

So this Mental Health Awareness Month, take that extra bit of care of yourself and your brain. Listen to the psychology of your 20s on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

One type of unit that black soldiers were being assigned to in the U.S. army during World War II was service companies. Service companies handled a lot of the non combat work that needed to be done for a combat unit to function, like maintaining equipment, processing the mail, and keeping track of supplies. The exact duties of these service companies could really vary based on what kind of unit they were attached to and where that unit was located. Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia was home to the Parachute School where the paratroopers went through their training and the Parachute service company was largely dedicated to guard duty.

[Holly Fry]

Fort Benning is also home to the Infantry Officer Candidate School. Sergeant Walter Morris had washed out of that school with only a week left to go. He had been told to spend three months in one of the service companies at the fort before trying again, and he chose the Parachute Service Company.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

Once he got there, a number of problems were obvious to him. This all black unit was on duty from 4pm until 8am and during that time there really was not much to do. The whole base was segregated, including black soldiers being excluded from the movie theater and the Post Exchange or px. German and Italian prisoners of war had access to services and facilities on the base that black servicemen were excluded from, so the morale was low and the men were very bored.

[Holly Fry]

Drawing on what he'd learned in Officer Candidate School, Morris put together a plan to try to improve morale among the service corps, and he got it approved by the company commander. This plan included the black soldiers doing the same fitness and training regimen that the paratrooper candidates were doing, basically everything except practice jumps from towers and airplanes so they'd be using the training fields and equipment rather than just guarding them overnight. And this gave the men more of a sense of purpose and cohesion and their morale did start to improve.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

General Ridgely Gaither, the commandant of the Airborne school, observed all of this as it was happening and eventually he informed Morris that the army was establishing a test platoon and to see if black soldiers could perform as paratroopers. Gaither personally selected Morris as a potential candidate for this platoon, and Morris ultimately became a second lieutenant and helped recruit the test platoon's other members.

[Holly Fry]

This test platoon was created as the company, a 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion. The platoon took the name triple nickels from that numerical designation of 5 5, 5. And since a nickel is 5 cents, it also had a connection to buff buffalo nickels. Many of the company's enlisted men were recruited from the 92nd Infantry Division, Buffalo Soldiers at Fort Huachuca, Arizona.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

These men were selected very carefully because in addition to the morale and esprit decor that we mentioned before the break, the army was basically testing whether black men were suitable to serve as paratroopers before committing to selecting and training more of them.

[Holly Fry]

After being selected for the test platoon, 19 men went through a four phase training process at the Airborne school. Phase A started with extremely grueling exercise that went on for long stretches at a time. It was basically intended to wash out anyone who wouldn't be able to handle the rigors of the rest of the training or the rigors of life as a paratrooper, and to do it as quickly as possible. They also attended lectures on how to protect themselves during a jump, and they did wind tunnel exercises to practice controlling a parachute.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

Phase B built on what they'd learned the previous week and it added hand to hand combat and jump training. At this point, the jump training mainly involved mock jumps from a 50 foot tower without a parachute while wearing a harness.

[Holly Fry]

Phase C moved on to simulated jumps with a parachute, which many of the men considered to be more of a mental and emotional challenge than actually jumping from an airplane would be. Later on. These took place from a 250 foot tower at the Airborne School.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

And then in the fourth week, phase D took them into actual airplanes to make real jumps with a parachute. After they'd successfully completed all four phases, the men would earn their jump wings.

[Holly Fry]

Ultimately, on February 18, 1944, 16 black paratroopers graduated from this first round of training. Six black officers graduated from their training on March 4. So there were 22 men in total in the test platoon.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

Based on the memoir of Lt. Col. Bradley Biggs, who was the first Black officer accepted into the triple nickels. Their training was extremely difficult and the white officers and Enlisted men who conducted that training were very hard on them, but they did not get a sense that there were racial undertones to this. It was the same training at the same pace that the white paratroopers went through. And at least in the context of their paratrooper training, Biggs felt like they had gotten the same treatment that the white soldiers would have.

[Holly Fry]

The test platoon was still housed with the service company on base, but after earning their jump wings, they reported feeling more comradery with the white soldiers at Fort Benning than they did before. There was sort of a perception that a paratrooper was a paratrooper regardless of skin color. Although the 555's black officers and NCOs still were not welcome in their respective clubs, and the situation off base had not changed at all. Columbus, Georgia, is in a fairly rural part of the state near the Alabama state line, and black soldiers often faced racism and harassment from white civilians and from the Columbus police when they were off base.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

Based on the success of this first round of training, the army started the process of turning this 22 man test platoon into a full parachute infantry company. That happened in the summer of 1944. The Triple Nichols were moved to Camp McCall, North Carolina, which had an airfield. Camp McCall was also segregated, but black troops there did have access to a separate section of the movie theater, and the officers were allowed access to their clubs. The Triple Nichols also organized a football team for recreation at Camp McCall, and they played a number of games against teams from historically black colleges and universities.

[Holly Fry]

As the company expanded, the Triple Nickels underwent additional training at Camp McCall. This lasted for five months, during which more men were being recruited and put through jump school. Their number grew to 155 enlisted men and 10 officers under the command of Captain James Porter, sometimes called the Father of the 555. Some of that training at Camp McCall was particularly unpleasant, like one hot afternoon when they went up in a plane that was simulating evasive maneuvers right after they had been served a heavy, greasy lunch.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

As their training progressed, many of the men started to think they might be deployed to Europe, especially as their additional training started to focus on combat. The army was still reluctant to send black troops into combat, but by this point in the war, a lot of paratroopers had been killed or injured in Europe, so reinforcements were needed. Among other things, the D Day invasion in June of 1944 had started with paratroopers from the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions being dropped behind enemy lines. And they had faced really heavy losses.

[Holly Fry]

But almost A year later, the war in Europe was coming to an end. On April 21, 1945 when they were four weeks into an eight week combat readiness program, the triple nickels got a different order. It was to report to Pendleton Field in Pendleton, Oregon.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

This was not because they were going to be deployed from there to the Pacific where the war against Japan was still ongoing. It was because they were going to fight fires. And we will have more on that after another sponsor break.

[Daniel]

Tired of spills and stains on your sofa? Wash away your worries with Annabe. Annabe is the only machine washable sofa inside and out where designer quality meets budget friendly prices. That's right, sofas start at just $699 and now's the perfect time to upgrade during the Memorial Day sale. Get up to 60% off site wide. Enjoy a no risk experience with pet friendly stain resistant and changeable slipcovers made with performance fabric Experience Cloud like Comfort with high resilience foam that's hypoallergenic and never needs fluffing. The sturdy, sturdy steel frame ensures longevity and the modular pieces can be rearranged anytime. Shop washablesofas.com to save big this Memorial Day backed by a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. If you're not absolutely in love, send it back for a full refund. No return shipping or restocking fees. Every penny back. Don't miss the Memorial Day sale. Upgrade [e-mail] that's washablesofas.com Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

[Holly Fry]

This podcast is supported by Talkspace.

[Talkspace User]

When my husband came home from his military deployment, readjusting was hard for all of us. Thankfully, I found Talkspace.

[Holly Fry]

Talkspace provides professional support from licensed therapists and psychiatric providers online. Military members, veterans and their dependents ages 13 and older can get fast access to providers, all from the privacy of their computers or smartphones.

[Talkspace User]

I just answered a few questions online and Talkspace matched me with a therapist. We meet when it's convenient for me and I can message her anytime. It was so easy to set up and they accept Tricare. Therapy was going so well, my husband and I started seeing a couples therapist through Talkspace too.

[Holly Fry]

Talkspace works with most major insurers, including Tricare. Match with a licensed therapist [e-mail] military go to talkspace.com military to get started today. That's talkspace.com military Amy Robach and TJ.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

Holmes here, Diddy's former protege, television personality, platinum selling artist Danity King alum Aubrey O' Day joins us to provide a unique perspective on the trial that has captivated the attention of the nation.

[Amy Robach]

Aubrey o' Day is sitting next to us. Here you are. As we sit here, right up the street from where the trial is taking. Some people saw that you were going to be in New York and they immediately started jumping to conclusions. So can you clear that up? First of all, are you here to testify in the Diddy trial? Aubrey will offer her opinions and expertise based on her firsthand knowledge from her days on making the band as she emerged as the breakout star. The truth of the situation would be opposite of the glitz and glamour.

[Daniel]

It wasn't all bad, but I don't know that any of the good was real. I went through things there.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

Listen to Amy and TJ presents Aubrey O' Day covering the Diddy trial on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[TJ Holmes]

I have a question for you and I want you to be honest with me. How are you? It's a really hard question to ask. It's a harder one to answer. But taking care of our mental well being has never been more important. All of May is Mental Health Awareness Month and on the psychology of your 20s podcast we are taking a vulnerable look at why mental health is so hard to talk about and all the science and psychology behind some of life's hardest moments and transitions. Prepare for our conversations to go deep. Everything from grief to heartbreak, career burnout, anxiety, all of the things that you would only talk about with your closest friends.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

I spent the majority of my teenage.

[Daniel]

Years and my twenties just feeling absolutely terrified.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

I had a panic attack on a conference call. Knowing that she had six months to live. I was no longer pretending that this was my best friend.

[TJ Holmes]

So this Mental Health Awareness Month, take that extra bit of care of yourself and your brain. Listen to the psychology of your 20s on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

On May 5, 1945, the Reverend Archie Mitchell and his wife Elise were taking a group of children on a church outing in Bly, Oregon. Elise and some of the children spotted something on the ground and it exploded. Elise was killed along with five children between the ages of 11 and 14. It turned out this device was a bomb that had been sent to the United States from Japan via balloon. The US Navy had started to find balloons and parts of balloons the previous November, and hundreds more were sighted in the following months. We talked about these balloon bombs in our episode on the Balloons of World War II on March 6, 2023.

[Holly Fry]

By coincidence, May 5 was also the day the Triple Nickels left Camp McCall for Pendleton, Oregon. They traveled most of the way by rail, and it took them six days to get there. For their first couple of weeks at Pendleton Air Base, they mostly focused on their physical fitness and conditioning. Because the base was being reactivated for this purpose, and their equipment and supplies had not arrived yet.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

The effort to find and defuse these Japanese balloon bombs and to fight any fires that the bombs caused was known as Operation Firefly. It involved roughly 2,700 military personnel. Working in conjunction with the US Forest Service. The triple nickels formed a 300 man smoke jumping unit during Operation Firefly.

[Holly Fry]

Smoke jumping, or sending firefighters into an area by parachute, was a fairly new development in the United States. Like the development of paratroopers, it had grown out of the combination of parachutes, which have been around in their modern form since the late 18th century, and practical aircraft, which have been around since the early 20th century. The first uses of aircraft and firefighting in western North America started with aerial photography and equipment drops in the 1920s. Various people proposed the idea of transporting firefighters to an area by parachute in the 1920s and 30s, but initially, most people thought this was way too dangerous to be practical. That started to change with the development of more maneuverable parachutes in the mid to late 1930s.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

In 1939, the Forest Service started working with Eagle Parachute Company of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. And most of the first smoke jumpers that were part of this project were employed by the company rather than by the government. They carried out about 60 experimental jumps, and eventually some Forest Service employees embarked on jumps as well. The first actual jumps for fire and rescue missions rather than tests. Forests in training started in 1940, but it really wasn't until 1944 that smoke jumping started to be seen as a realistic, practical way to fight forest fires, and one that saved more money than it cost.

[Holly Fry]

The Triple nickels. Time as smokejumpers was only partly about the Japanese balloon bombs, Although when they got this assignment, those were seen as a huge potential threat, especially since summer was approaching. Beyond the balloon bombs, the Forest Service was facing a huge labor shortage due to the war. Before the arrival of the triple nickels, the number of firefighters in the west had been bolstered by conscientious objectors who were assigned to alternative service, including from pacifist religious denominations like the Religious Society of Friends, also known as the Quakers.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

The goal for the triple nickels was for them to be able to parachute into a fire area, assess what Was going on there and keep any fires contained until reinforcements arrived, Often by mule train. Because the area was so remote and so far away from roads, if they found a balloon bomb, they would cordon off the area and defuse it. So the triple nickels training included both firefighting and fire containment techniques and bomb disposal.

[Holly Fry]

To do this work, they also had to learn new strategies for parachuting, Using a different type of parachute Than they had learned to use in army. They were taught by Frank derry, who was a distributor for eagle parachute company on the west coast and who had developed a steerable parachute called the dairy chute that the forest service was using. Their uniforms and equipment also changed, including swapping their steel military helmets for football helmets, with mesh screens to help protect their faces from cinders and debris.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

The triple nickels military parachute training had focused on landing in of front fields and other open areas. But as smoke jumpers, they were typically landing in wooded areas. Instead, they would literally aim for the trees. This was intentional. Places that were clear of trees Were often just too rugged and mountainous to be traversed. Or if they looked open from above, they might really be full of downed timbers that were hazardous to try to land on or navigate through once you were on the ground. Members of the 555th talked about really having to fight against their original training to intentionally aim for those trees Instead of aiming for open ground. Aiming for wooded areas also meant that they had to learn how to get themselves out of the trees after landing. To do this, they used 50ft of nylon rope that they carried with them during their jumps.

[Holly Fry]

From May 22 to June 6, the members of the forest service trained the triple dickels on how to use the forest service's maps and on techniques for fire suppression. Then, from June 8th to 15th, the 9th Service Command trained them on bomb disposal. Their training jumps started on June 18, and they answered their first fire call just three days later. Ultimately, they were split into two groups, with six officers and 94 enlisted men sent to chico army airfield in Chico, California, to cover the southwest, While the rest of the men remained at Pendleton airfield to cover the northwest.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

Over the 1945 fire season, the Triple Nickels carried out more than 1200 jumps to help control 36 fires and dispose of several Japanese bombs. Sometimes their work took them to Canada, where they helped keep fires from spreading southward into the United States states. Over that summer of 1945, they developed a reputation for dedication, flexibility, adaptability, and professionalism.

[Holly Fry]

More than 30 of them were injured during this work, Some of them seriously. As one example, on One jump, one of the men fractured his spine while landing and had to remain in the field while the rest of the team worked. When it was time to hike out, he refused their help because everyone else was tired and they were also low on food and water. So he hiked out under his own power, trying to keep his back straight the whole time. And he did this for more than 18 miles.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

The Triple Nickels had only one fatality during their time as smokejumpers. Medic Malvin l. Brown landed in a tree during a jump on August 6. As he was lowering himself down, something went wrong and he fell into a rocky creek bed below. He was most likely killed instantly.

[Holly Fry]

By the late summer of 1945, it was clear that the Japanese balloon bombs were no longer a threat. It would later become known that the last ones had been launched in April of that year. So on September 2nd, the Western defense command started winding down the balloon defense project. In October, the triple nickels returned to Camp McCall, and then that December, they became part of the 13th Airborne Division and they moved to Fort Bragg. When the 13th Airborne was inactivated, the triple nickels became part of the 82nd Airborne under Major General James M. Gavin.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

Fort Bragg was still racially segregated, and initially the triple nichols were living in the worst housing available on the base. But Gavin insisted that the triple nickels be integrated with the rest of the 82nd Airborne, including insisting that they march with the 82nd Airborne as part of the New York City victory parade on January 14, 1946.

[Holly Fry]

The 555th was formally deactivated on December 15, 1947, at which point its remaining paratroopers became part of the 3rd Battalion, 505th Airborne Infantry, 82nd Airborne. One of them, Charles Stevens, was later quoted as saying, quote, everybody was crying. I think we were crying for two different reasons. We were glad the segregation was leaving the army, and we were sad we were losing our triple nickel colors.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

Advocacy for a racially integrated military had been ongoing during and after World War II. Another advisory board had been convened, called the board for utilization of negro manpower, or the Gillum board for its chair, Lt. Gen. Alvin Cullum Gillum Jr. This board issued a report that once again recommended desegregation of the military. President Harry s. Truman issued Executive Order 9981 on July 26, 1948, which banned discrimination based on race, color, religion or national origin in the u. S. Military. This effectively banned segregation throughout the military, although it took years for that to actually be put into practice across all of the divisions. And obviously it Also did not solve racism within the Army. But the 82nd Airborne had been integrated months before the order was even issued.

[Holly Fry]

Not long after the executive order, some of the men who had been part of the triple nickels experienced a tragedy. Multiple units from different branches of the military were preparing for large scale maneuvers known as Operation Combine 3 on September 16, 1948, at Eglin Field on the Florida panhandle, Very near where I grew up, the 505th Airborne infantry and the 785th Tank Battalion were on maneuvers on the ground While Air Force B29 bombers were conducting a firepower rehearsal. Some of the bombers missed their mark and dropped their bombs onto the troops on the ground. Five men were killed and 29 were injured. And with the exception of one white officer, all of them were black. All of the pilots involved were white. In his memoir, Lt. Col. Bradley Biggs contended that this was largely covered up and that the pilots and navigators involved were not held accountable. And that would not have been the case had their races been reversed.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

Operation Firefly had largely been a secret while it was going on. The military had tried to keep word from spreading about the Japanese balloon bombs for fear that the public would panic if they knew about them. So people had not even been warned about the potential dangers until after that tragedy in Bly, Oregon. That meant that the triple nickels really did not get as much news coverage or recognition for their work at the time. The Tuskegee Airmen, for example, were a lot more widely covered and more widely known.

[Holly Fry]

That's still largely true today, but it's started to change a little bit in more recent years. In 1994, the triple nickels were part of a celebration of Smokey Bear's 50th birthday. Pendleton Airfield is now home to the Oregon National Guard's Pendleton Aviation Support Facility. And the conference room there is named for the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion. There are historical markers dedicated to them at the Siskiyou Smokejumper Museum in Cave Junction, Oregon and in Pendleton, Oregon.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

In addition to Lt. Col. Bradley Biggs book, which is called the Triple Nickels, America's First All Black Paratroop Unit, there's also a book called Courage has no the True Story of the Triple America's First Black Paratroopers by Tanya Lee Stone. This book is intended for ages 10 and up and it won the NAACP Image Award for outstanding literary Work Youth and teens in 2014. And that's the Triple Nickels.

[Holly Fry]

Do you also have listener mail?

[Tracy B. Wilson]

I do also have listener mail and this listener mail came with a subject line that really delighted me. It's from Katie and the subject line of the email is out of hand. Viking Unearthed Hoax and Katie wrote Dear Holly and Tracy, Listening to your latest Unearthed podcast, I was wondering if you would mention a Viking artifact that was unearthed here in Sweden this past March. You did not, so you may not have heard this hilarious story. In March, a rare Viking Age neck ring was discovered at a construction site. It was in very good condition and had a very rare design, so experts were all excited about the find and it made headlines all over the country. However, they were a bit over eager to share the discovery and did not conduct the test to determine the authenticity of the find. It turns out some of the construction workers had planted an elaborate fake made of wire and spray paint and buried it in the mud to fool some land surveyors. They were fooled and took it to the Viking experts, who were also fooled and sent out a press release very quickly. It took about 24 hours for the story to unravel. It seemed like the construction workers thought the joke would be figured out very quickly. The experts were embarrassed but took it well. I'm sure every artifact will have rigorous testing done before any press releases are sent out in the future. The construction workers were informed that they could reclaim the necklace from the authorities, but to my knowledge no one ever claimed it. I've added some links. I do not know if this will count as unearthed, but it was a good story. The email goes on to say on the topic of spite houses, there is a castle that was owned by a successful General Skloster Castle and I did not look much further into that, but the email continues. He built an elaborate castle right next to the home of his father. The size difference is very noticeable. I do not remember the full story, but it was definitely to spite his father. See the attached image. I don't currently have pets, so my pet tax is some cherry blossoms from outside my house. Keep up the good work. Katie Katie I love this story. I did not see any of this about this quote discovery as I was working on Unearthed. The particular links that were included in the email with more information on the story are not links that I typically look at as part of Unearthed. There have been times though where over the course of researching Unearthed, I will see a similar maybe not exactly this story, maybe not a hoax, but I will see something play out that involves an announcement about something and then questions raised about that announcement and then maybe the initial announcement being retracted. That does happen sometimes and so one of sort of my perpetual low grade fears about Unearthed, since we do them quarterly, is that it's possible that toward the very end of the quarter there could be something that's announced that isn't revealed as being inauthentic until after we have already recorded the Unearthed that it's part of. These cherry blossom pictures are very beautiful.

[Holly Fry]

Listen, I will always take a flower picture.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

Very excited about that. I stop so many times and take pictures of random flowers while I'm out walking. One of them is a closeup of the cherry, like one limb of the cherry blossoms with the rest of the tree in the background. So pretty. And then yes, there is a picture of this spite house castle. The castle is many, many, many times larger than the structure that it was apparently built next to. So thank you so much for this email, Katie. It really tickled me, this whole story. If you'd like to send us a note about this or any other podcast where it history [e-mail] and you can subscribe to the show on the iheartradio app or anywhere else you like to listen to podcasts. Stuff youf Missed in History Class is a production of iHeartRadio. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite show Nose.

[Holly Fry]

Did.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

You know that many products for pregnant women do not have their own clinical trials for safety or efficacy? That's because pregnant women are often excluded from clinical studies. Ritual is aiming to set a new standard with their Essential Prenatal Multivitamin. It's the number one best selling prenatal and the only leading prenatal. Backed by its own human clinical trial. Essential Prenatal is proven to deliver key nutrients including folate, biotin and vitamin D during pregnancy. Moms taking essential prenatal had a lower overall cortisol level during pregnancy than those taking a leading prenatal. Plus, it's designed to be gentle on the stomach. Ritual doesn't just have your back, they have the receipts. Get 25% [e-mail] clinical these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

[Holly Fry]

Explore the winding halls of historical true crime with Holly Fry and Maria Tremerki, hosts of Criminalia, as they uncover curious cases from the past. The legend of the Highwayman suggests men dominated the field, but tell that to Lady Catherine Ferrers, known as the Wicked lady who terrorized England in the mid-1600s. Her legend persists nearly 400 years after her death, Highwaymen are in the hot seat this season. Find more crime and cocktails on Criminalia. Listen to criminalia on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

We love learning about this extraordinary universe.

[Daniel]

And we love sharing what we've learned.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

And on our podcast, Daniel and Kelly's Extraordinary Universe, that's what we're gonna do.

[Daniel]

I'm Daniel. I'm a particle physicist and I think.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

Our universe is absolutely extraordinary. I'm Kelly Wienersmith. I study parasites and there's just endless things about this universe that I find fascinating.

[Daniel]

Basically, we're both nerds.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

Each Tuesday and Thursday, we take an hour long dive into some science topics.

[Daniel]

Learn all about our amazing and beautiful.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

Universe on Daniel and Kelly's Extraordinary Universe.

[Daniel]

Every Tuesday and Thursday on the iHeartRadio.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

App, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A crime makes headlines. People talk about it for a few days. Then it disappears. But for the people left behind, their story is just beginning.

[Daniel]

But at night, we hear the garage opening and my son hears it.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

We freak out. Honestly, I didn't tell my son this.

[Holly Fry]

But I felt that was it.

[Tracy B. Wilson]

From the exactly right network. This is the Knife. Real stories of crime's ripple effects told by those who lived them. New episodes every Thursday. Listen to the knife on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You're listening to an iHeart podcast.