"We were the only black outfit in the parade in New York," he said, "but they cut off the movie cameras before they got to us. We only have still photos," said Jordon J. Corbett when interviewed by Suzie Schottelkotte of The Ledger.
Corbett was a member of the 555th Parachute Infantry Regiment, an outfit of all African-American parachutists who, after distinguished service during World War II, marched alongside the 82nd Airborne Division in the New York City Victory Parade on Jan. 12, 1946.
Gen. James Gavin, then-commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, ensured the "Triple Nickles" as they were known, marched in the parade. He would also play a key role in their reassignment to the 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment; making the 82nd Airborne Division the first racially-integrated unit in the Army on Dec. 15, 1947.
On Dec. 19, 1943, Headquarters, Army Ground Forces authorized what would become the 555th PIR, according to the U.S. Army Center of Military History. Based on a Dec. 1942 recommendation by the Advisory Committee on Negro Troop Policies, both the officers and enlisted were to compose the all-African-American unit. Troop selection was to occur from the 92nd Infantry Division based at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Like all paratroop units, they were to all be volunteers.
After its official activation Dec. 30, 1943 at Fort Benning, Georgia, the unit had several months of training and eventually moved to Camp Mackall, North Carolina. The unit would be reorganized and redesignated Nov. 25, 1944, the Company A of the 555th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
Though in equal in all ways to all paratroopers, the men of the 555th would face fierce racial discrimination both in the service and in the country they served.
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