Courage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickles, America's First Black Paratroopers

During World War II, a group of African American soldiers became America's first black paratroopers, a story that had been overlooked. Tanya Lee Stone, a Sibert Medalist, uncovers the history of the Triple Nickles in her book. As WWII rages on, discrimination against African Americans persists both on the home front and in the military. Enlisted black men are segregated and given service duties while white soldiers train to be paratroopers. First Sergeant Walter Morris leads his men at Fort Benning, Georgia, as guards at The Parachute School. Morris believes that for his men to be treated as soldiers, they must train and perform as such. But will the military and politicians recognize their potential and dedication to serving their country? Tanya Lee Stone explores the African American contribution to the military through the story of the Triple Nickles, who became America's first black paratroopers. This courageous battalion played a significant role in a lesser-known Japanese attack on the American West. In the words of Morris, they proved that a person's ability was not determined by their skin color.