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

Stone, Tanya Lee. Courage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickles America’s First Black Paratroopers. Candlewick Press, Somerville, 2013. 160 pages.  Tr. $24.99 ISBN 9780763664053

Plot Description:

Tanya Lee Stone’s latest work of narrative nonfiction is the unheard story of the Triple Nickles, America’s first black paratroopers.  The Triple Nickles were formed in 1944 response to complaints of inequality in the armed services during World War II.  African Americans have a long history of serving in the military in America, going back to the Revolutionary War, but just because they were allowed to serve does not mean they were treated fairly.  African American servicemen were often relegated to menial positions and kept out of combat.  Formation of the Triple Nickles was a step toward racial equality in the armed forces.  The men chosen for the assignment underwent the same rigorous training as white paratroopers.  After finishing their training the men hoped to receive an assignment helping fight the war in the Pacific since the war in Europe was winding down at this point.  However, the Triple Nickles were not given a combat assignment, instead their assignment, Operation Firefly, took them to Oregon to help fight forest fires.  The men adapted their paratrooper skills to become smoke jumpers, jumping into remote locations to contain wildfires until regular firefighters could reach the blaze.  The men were also trained to defuse Japanese balloon bombs, which were silently landing all along the West coast.  The Triple Nickles may not have served in combat, but they served their country valiantly on home soil.  The Triple Nickles went on to become the first unit to be racially integrated, joining the 82^nd Airborne.

Review:

One again author Tanya Lee Stone has succeeded in brilliantly telling a previously unheard story.  Like she did with Almost Astronauts, Stone uncovers a part of history known to few in her latest book Courage Has No Color.  The men of the Triple Nickles demonstrated inspiring courage in the face of extreme racism and danger faced in the course of fulfilling their duty.  Siebert Award winning Stone’s research is meticulous as she tells the complete story of the Triple Nickles for the first time.  Courage Has No Color is an astounding example of original nonfiction written for children and teens. 

Genre:

Nonfiction

Reading Level/Interest Level:

Grades 6-10

Similar Books:

Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream by Tanya Lee Stone

Claudette Colvin: Twice Towards Justice by Phillip M. Hoose

Awards/Honors:
ALA Notable Book 2014
YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Finalist 2014

Author’s Website:

http://www.tanyastone.com/