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purcellibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
nice YA nonfiction, great photos, great afterward too.
Easy to read, but larger than most, maybe buy as an ebook?
Easy to read, but larger than most, maybe buy as an ebook?
kmc3050's review against another edition
2.0
It was okay. I did learn some things, but the book just skims the surface. It could have been so much more! I know the author has the note at the end about the research difficulties, but I would have liked more stories from the men.
quietjenn's review against another edition
3.0
A little-known story that deserves wider attention. As is often the case, the material trumps treatment. Meaning, I found the story told/information imparted here fascinating, but I didn't particularly love the Stone's presentation of things. It's not bad *at all* but it also didn't feel that engaging.
nerfherder86's review against another edition
5.0
Outstanding book on the little-known history of the Triple Nickles, the 555th paratrooper company in World War II, and how they paved the way for desegregating the armed forces. Thoroughly researched, with over one hundred well-placed photographs, interviews with surviving Nickles, and written in a clear succinct entertaining style, this is a great book to read to learn more about what it's like to be a paratrooper, about World War II history, about racism and United States history, and the honor and courage of the many upstanding military men who lived this story. Great book to read paired with the recent fiction novel, [b:Jump Into The Sky|11164774|Jump into the Sky|Shelley Pearsall|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1333577868s/11164774.jpg|16088849]
backonthealex's review against another edition
5.0
I first heard about the Triple Nickles when I read the book Jump into the Sky by Shelly Pearsall, the story of a young African American boy whose father was a paratrooper in 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, or the Triple Nickles.
Now, Tanya Lee Stone's Courage Has No Color tells the true story of the Triple Nickels, America's first and only all black unit of paratroopers in World War II. She begins their story by describing in graphic detail what it feels like to jump out of an airplane and parachute back to earth, to give you an idea of the level of courage it takes to be a paratrooper. It is not something I think I would want to ever do.
From there she writes about the kind of treatment black soldiers received in the military: segregated and relegated to service work and treated like servants. It was demeaning and demoralizing to the men who joined the military to fight for their country and freedom. One man, Walter Morris, a first sergeant in charge of Service Company of The Parachute School, saw how being treated like servants was affecting the men serving under him. Morris devised a plan to teach his men how to feel like soldiers again. It was his plan to teach them what they needed to know to become paratroopers. And so after the white serviceman were finished practicing for the day, and the black servicemen arrived to start cleaning up after them, they also began their training. And someone noticed how well they learned what was needed to become a successful paratrooper. Pretty soon, the First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, long a proponent of equality, got into the act.
In 1941, The 99th Pursuit Squadron, or the Tuskegee Airmen, was formed and the men trained to be the country's first African American aviators. And in 1943, these airmen were finally sent into combat overseas. But the 555th Paratrooper Infantry Battalion was finally formed in February 1943. Though trained as paratroopers, the Triple Nickles would never be used in combat, instead they were sent to Oregon to fight fires. Turns out those fires were started by balloons sent over by Japan for that very purpose.
All of this and much more about the people and history of the 555th is detailed in Courage Has No Color, including an in-depth explanation of how they got their name - yes, there more to it than just 555. It is a fascinating book covering this little known aspect of the United States military and World War II and an exceptional contribute to the history of African Americans in this country.
Stone has done an exemplary job of gathering primary source material, including interviews with some the of members of the 555th and lots of archival photographs, to bring to life the courage and heroism of these men and their accomplishments even against all odds. Included is a very eyeopening timeline of the desegregation and the Triple Nickles,
Sadly, the United States Military was not desegregated until 1950.
This book is recommended for readers age 10+
This book was obtained from the publisher
Now, Tanya Lee Stone's Courage Has No Color tells the true story of the Triple Nickels, America's first and only all black unit of paratroopers in World War II. She begins their story by describing in graphic detail what it feels like to jump out of an airplane and parachute back to earth, to give you an idea of the level of courage it takes to be a paratrooper. It is not something I think I would want to ever do.
From there she writes about the kind of treatment black soldiers received in the military: segregated and relegated to service work and treated like servants. It was demeaning and demoralizing to the men who joined the military to fight for their country and freedom. One man, Walter Morris, a first sergeant in charge of Service Company of The Parachute School, saw how being treated like servants was affecting the men serving under him. Morris devised a plan to teach his men how to feel like soldiers again. It was his plan to teach them what they needed to know to become paratroopers. And so after the white serviceman were finished practicing for the day, and the black servicemen arrived to start cleaning up after them, they also began their training. And someone noticed how well they learned what was needed to become a successful paratrooper. Pretty soon, the First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, long a proponent of equality, got into the act.
In 1941, The 99th Pursuit Squadron, or the Tuskegee Airmen, was formed and the men trained to be the country's first African American aviators. And in 1943, these airmen were finally sent into combat overseas. But the 555th Paratrooper Infantry Battalion was finally formed in February 1943. Though trained as paratroopers, the Triple Nickles would never be used in combat, instead they were sent to Oregon to fight fires. Turns out those fires were started by balloons sent over by Japan for that very purpose.
All of this and much more about the people and history of the 555th is detailed in Courage Has No Color, including an in-depth explanation of how they got their name - yes, there more to it than just 555. It is a fascinating book covering this little known aspect of the United States military and World War II and an exceptional contribute to the history of African Americans in this country.
Stone has done an exemplary job of gathering primary source material, including interviews with some the of members of the 555th and lots of archival photographs, to bring to life the courage and heroism of these men and their accomplishments even against all odds. Included is a very eyeopening timeline of the desegregation and the Triple Nickles,
Sadly, the United States Military was not desegregated until 1950.
This book is recommended for readers age 10+
This book was obtained from the publisher
martha_schwalbe's review against another edition
5.0
I can't believe my summer reading has come to an end. Don't get me wrong, I am reading professional development books and novels but the non-fiction the fabulous librarians pulled for me to read, ended with this book. Talk about going out with a bang!
In addition to learning about the Triple Nickles, the first Black paratroopers, I also learned about Buffalo soldiers, and balloon bombs sent to the US by Japan with one landing as far east as Michigan.
The usual suspects from WWII were mentioned in this book. Many new ones had their stories told. This is a story I think every student should know before graduating from high school. I guess it's good that I'm not in charge of graduation requirements.
In addition to learning about the Triple Nickles, the first Black paratroopers, I also learned about Buffalo soldiers, and balloon bombs sent to the US by Japan with one landing as far east as Michigan.
The usual suspects from WWII were mentioned in this book. Many new ones had their stories told. This is a story I think every student should know before graduating from high school. I guess it's good that I'm not in charge of graduation requirements.
haramis's review against another edition
3.0
I grabbed both of this week's SYNC offerings, but I have to admit to being underwhelmed by this one. Given the publication date, the age of the story, and the scant contemporary public information about the Triple Nickles, Stone had to stitch her narrative together from disparate pieces, and it shows. My eyebrows shot up when I realized that she was quoting a section of Isabel Wilkerson's [b: The Warmth of Other Suns.] Find your own primary sources, lady. I think if this was an area of history I read less in, I would have been less annoyed, but there are so many WWII books and books about the Black experience in the United States, and this book really didn't add anything new to those fields, but rather took from that vast pool to fill in gaps in her own story. If you were to strip out all the pieces she adds for context, there'd be a scant few pages on the Triple Nickles themselves. Write a magazine article.
If this one of the first things you've ever read about this topic or if you're in the recommended age group, add a star.
If this one of the first things you've ever read about this topic or if you're in the recommended age group, add a star.
afro75's review against another edition
5.0
African American Servicemen wanted on thing during World War II,an opportunity to serve in a meaningful way. Walter Morris, a African American sergeant stationed at the Company of the Parachute School at Fort Benning, Georgia, Knew that the men in his charge needed a morale boost. Although he was a first sergeant, he and his men were assigned to guard patrol posts. African American servicemen were often given menial tasks like digging ditches, or kitchen duties. The lack of opportunity to serve wholly in the army had a demoralizing effect on many African American servicemen. After watching the training white servicemen underwent, Walter began secretly training his men in the same manner. Word of his night time training expeditions came to the attention of General Ridgely Gaither. Much to Morris’s surprise, Gaither gave him the opportunity to form and all black paratrooper battalion. As the men trained to become America’s first all African American parachute infantry battalion, they received support from some unlikely allies.
Ms. Lee does a fantastic job of chronicling the history of the triple nickels. Not only is the text factually accurate, Ms. Lee details her method of verification in the text. The other nice feature of the book is the index that lists the various quotes from different service men and on which page they appear. This would be a great common core text for students who need to read a non-fiction book. The story is well written and engaging.
Ms. Lee does a fantastic job of chronicling the history of the triple nickels. Not only is the text factually accurate, Ms. Lee details her method of verification in the text. The other nice feature of the book is the index that lists the various quotes from different service men and on which page they appear. This would be a great common core text for students who need to read a non-fiction book. The story is well written and engaging.