The Triple Nickles

There are a lot stories from World War II that get most of the headlines these days including Pearl Harbor, D-Day, Battle of the Bulge, Midway, Coral Sea, Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima and the dropping of the Atomic Bombs on  Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  During each of these major events of that war there were a number military units, ships and personal stories that are highlighted in which much of the war is told through.  But there were other (Black, Native and Japanese American) military units and personal stories that most of us have never heard of that also played a vital role during WWII.    

Some of us know of the role of the Tuskegee Airmen and the Indian Code Talkers, but what about the 555^th Parachute Infantry Battalion, nicknamed the “Triple Nickles”?  Well you are not alone.  This unit was a 20-member “colored test platoon” from the 92^nd Infantry (Buffalo) Division.  It was born within an army that was still segregated and had traditionally relegated Blacks to menial jobs and programmed them for failure.  However, the 555^th Parachute Infantry Battalion, or “Triple Nickles,” succeeded in becoming the nation’s first All-Black parachute infantry test platoon, company and battalion from 1943-45.   

One of the most notable operations that the 555^th perform came in 1945 when a request came from the U.S. Forest Service to fight blazing forest fires in the American Northwest.  It was also important to know that the Japanese were at that floating incendiary devices attached to balloons across the Pacific Ocean, which took advantage of the jet stream’s easterly flow and would perhaps land in the Northwest.  In addition, the unit was to confront a new dimension in warfare involving the use of biological agents that could destroy woodlands and crops.  Because of their skill and abilities they became history’s first military “Smoker Jumpers.”  During their assignment in the northwest they answered 36 fire calls with more than 1,200 individual jumps during the summer of 1945.  


A major element in their success was that, unlike other Black infantry units commanded by White officers, this unique army unit commanding structure was entirely Black.  As time when alone, these pioneers blazed new trails for countless black soldiers to follow.  The 555^th also helped in the formation of other Battalions, Airborne Infantry Regiments and Special Forces.  The truly amazing part of their story was how they as black soldiers had gone from riding in the back of trucks, buses, used “colored” toilets and drinking fountains in rail-road stations, sit in segregated sections of theaters, and go out of their way to avoid confrontation with racist police to a military unit that kept the Northwest forest fires in check and was called by General Ben Lear as “one of the finest groups of soldiers he had ever seen.”  Now that is some history.   

Staying Afloat

Maybe I missed something, didn’t get that email, heard the special breaking news report or just did not quite understand what some people are saying about progress in urban America.  I just don’t know what they see, heard, what they have come to believe or been drinking.  I know about the new construction ventures, expanding businesses, mergers, innovations, new technologies and breakthroughs.  And I get that and appreciate the forward movement and thinking.  Somehow or in some way, what I am seeing and what others are seeing or omitting are two different things. 

But this is one thing I know for sure; urban America has a long way to go in order to make a comeback or to reinvent itself from those famous glory days during the “golden era of industry and manufacturing.”  This is not just occurring here in Milwaukee, but throughout every urban center in America that was built upon having a large labor force in mass manufacturing.  With that era gone, urban America also loss livable wage jobs, businesses and educational training centers.  And now those days are but distance memories that have left so much of America in shambles with hollowed out cities and ghost towns. 

Those days are gone and shall never return, but the lingering long term effects and the transition from an industrial base economy to technology driven economy continue to leave an entire aging generation behind, in the dust or underwater.  Just trying to keep up with so many advances is a job all to itself.   In so many places from urban America to rural towns, people have suffered a lot of setbacks, pain, depression, displacement and instability.  But they have remained hopeful. 


Trying to keep true to the core values of the American Dream, that is based upon the belief that by working hard you can make your dreams come true.  However, with each passing day, not only are baby boomers having a hard time in dealing with these changes, but that the next generation is struggling as well.  What is so amazing today is that even in the midst of living in the harsh reality of rough neighborhoods in urban America, people have learned how to adapt and stay afloat.  Of course this is not as simple as it sounds, but people have learned how to tread and bail water out of their boat situation. 

Changing The Conversation

Even with this political season now in full stride, a number of issues have been put on the back burner or just pushed aside for a later time.  However, through the eyes of many of us, life as we have always experienced continues unabated.  This includes gun violence, drug abuse, homelessness and high unemployment in the inner city.  The issues and challenges most communities were facing before this election season started continue to march forward without anything being done to address them or at best slow things down.  

Even with so much attention being given to the political process and who is running for office, some neighborhoods have been taking action and doing something to improve their relationships with local law enforcement.  One such initiative has been the ‘Police and Resident Listening Circles’ that are being held in the Harambee, Metcalfe Park and Amani neighborhoods. These listening circles are being facilitated by the Zeidler Center with funding from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Racial Equality and Inclusion Grant. 

A design team consisting of residents, youth, police and Zeidler Center facilitators began planning the spring listening circles during the winter of 2015.  A total of three (3) listening circles are being held this spring and three additional ones are scheduled for this coming fall.  Each listening circle session includes local residents, youth as well police officers who are assigned from the local police precinct and who cover those neighborhoods.  During each listening circle session a number of questions are asked of all participants in which to respond.  At the end of each listening circle, participants are asked to fill out an evaluation and make any additional comments. 


These listening circles are designed with three goals, including: (1) listen deeply to each other and speak from the heart; (2) build relationships and trust and; (3) brainstorm ways to strengthen and support the community together.  At the heart and beyond these goals, other initiatives, recommendations, and ideas will be created by the residents and officers brainstorming together, and be led by the participants themselves.  So far, so good and this is without media coverage.  Here is a “bright idea” instead of us focusing on what people are saying outside of our communities, we just need to sit down and listen to those who live, work, play and worship in our neighborhoods.  What do you think?  I am listening!

Closing the Gaps

It was the Irish playwright and Nobel Prize recipient in Literature, George Bernard Shaw (1865-1950) who said “some men see things and say ‘Why?’ But I dream of things that never were and say “why not?’  This is a quote that is reflective and celebrates visionary and idealistic thinking. With this thought in mind, there is a shortage of “visionaries” today who are willing to work on solving many of the lingering historical and generational problems of our modern society.

This critical shortage of “visionaries” is showing up all over America. So much is going on these days that it is hard to keep up with the stockpile of issues that have become the norm, lead stories on cable and satellite stations, spotlighted on talk radio and 24 hour news cycles.  Many of these pressing issues mirror state and national trends. Some of these issues include opioid abuse, expanding poverty, gruesome slayings, gang violence, homelessness, mental health, public unrest, political corruption, sexual assaults, wealth gap and poor housing. 

Of course, Milwaukee is not alone in the growing list of issues that are emerging each and every day.  If fact, Milwaukee tops the list in many categories of major challenges and includes being listed as one of the top ten most dangerous places to live.  Milwaukee is also leading the way in the number of African American youth being suspended from high school, high infant mortality rates, and the highest percentage of African American men being incarcerated in state prisons.  These realities are also affecting those living in suburban and sprawling rural communities.  The sure impact of these issues are eating away at the core value of feeling safe, expressing religious faith, and perusing one’s dream while a resident of the most power country in the World. 


Without a doubt, it appears that what is missing today are those “visionaries” to come forth and help close the gaps in our society.  They see things differently, imaging the possible and are willing to work with others beyond the color line, socioeconomic status and religious beliefs.  They just want to get the work done, regardless of who gets the credit or the pat on the back.  They are there for the opportunity to improve the quality of life for all.  To work on those social ills and to help us see what is possible.  The gaps are real, opportunities abound... but “visionaries” are few.