LTC (RET) Roger S. Walden, 91, passed away on Sept. 17. He was a member of the famed Triple Nickles, one of the first African-Americans trained as U.S. Army paratroopers who became smokejumpers for special missions with the Forest Service known as "Operation Firefly."
Recipient of the Silver Star.
Member of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion – the "The Triple Nickles" – an all-black Army paratroop unit that was blocked from joining the fight in Europe during World War II for fear of racial tensions. Instead members of the unit were assigned to "Operation Firefly," a joint civilian-military effort to combat wildland fires expected to be caused in the Pacific Northwest by thousands of balloon bombs launched from Japan.
While the balloon bombs failed to ignite a wildfire epidemic, the 555th was instrumental in helping the Forest Service fight naturally-caused fires during the summer of 1945. They were history's first military smokejumpers, answering 36 fire calls and making more than 1,200 jumps.
Recipient of the Silver Star.
Member of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion – the "The Triple Nickles" – an all-black Army paratroop unit that was blocked from joining the fight in Europe during World War II for fear of racial tensions. Instead members of the unit were assigned to "Operation Firefly," a joint civilian-military effort to combat wildland fires expected to be caused in the Pacific Northwest by thousands of balloon bombs launched from Japan.
While the balloon bombs failed to ignite a wildfire epidemic, the 555th was instrumental in helping the Forest Service fight naturally-caused fires during the summer of 1945. They were history's first military smokejumpers, answering 36 fire calls and making more than 1,200 jumps.
LTC (RET) Roger S. Walden, 91, passed away on Sept. 17. He was a member of the famed Triple Nickles, one of the first African-Americans trained as U.S. Army paratroopers who became smokejumpers for special missions with the Forest Service known as "Operation Firefly."
Recipient of the Silver Star.
Member of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion – the "The Triple Nickles" – an all-black Army paratroop unit that was blocked from joining the fight in Europe during World War II for fear of racial tensions. Instead members of the unit were assigned to "Operation Firefly," a joint civilian-military effort to combat wildland fires expected to be caused in the Pacific Northwest by thousands of balloon bombs launched from Japan.
While the balloon bombs failed to ignite a wildfire epidemic, the 555th was instrumental in helping the Forest Service fight naturally-caused fires during the summer of 1945. They were history's first military smokejumpers, answering 36 fire calls and making more than 1,200 jumps.
Recipient of the Silver Star.
Member of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion – the "The Triple Nickles" – an all-black Army paratroop unit that was blocked from joining the fight in Europe during World War II for fear of racial tensions. Instead members of the unit were assigned to "Operation Firefly," a joint civilian-military effort to combat wildland fires expected to be caused in the Pacific Northwest by thousands of balloon bombs launched from Japan.
While the balloon bombs failed to ignite a wildfire epidemic, the 555th was instrumental in helping the Forest Service fight naturally-caused fires during the summer of 1945. They were history's first military smokejumpers, answering 36 fire calls and making more than 1,200 jumps.
Inscription
Lieutenant Colonel
U.S. Army
Gravesite Details
Interred January 6, 2014
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