WWII Hero and Oldest Surviving Black Paratrooper, Sgt. Joe Harris, Dies at 108

Sgt. Joe Harris, a distinguished member of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, has passed away at the remarkable age of 108, leaving behind a legacy that will be remembered. On March 15, in a hospital in Los Angeles, he took his last breath, enveloped by the presence of family, as confirmed by his grandson, Ashton Pittman. On April 5, Harris will receive the distinguished honor of a full military funeral.

Harris belonged to the Triple Nickles, the pioneering all-Black parachute infantry battalion of the U.S. Army, established during the tumultuous times of World War II. The battalion stood as a vital force in safeguarding the U.S. mainland against the perilous Japanese balloon bomb assaults, a lesser-known menace of the war. The bombs, borne aloft by the Pacific jet stream, were designed to spark wildfires and unleash devastation across American landscapes.

In the face of adversity, Harris and his comrades displayed remarkable bravery, yet they were met with the harsh reality of overt racism in the military. Access to base facilities like the commissary and officers' clubs was frequently restricted for them, permitted only in areas specifically designated for Black personnel.

“This unit had to struggle for acknowledgment as human beings while preparing to confront an adversary abroad,” remarked Robert L. Bartlett, a historian with expertise in the Triple Nickles.

Harris entered the world on June 19, 1916, in the small town of West Dale, Louisiana, and at the age of 24, he found himself called to serve in the military in 1941. In an era when Black soldiers frequently found themselves relegated to support roles, the Triple Nickles emerged as one of the rare combat-trained Black units. They embarked on a mission to the West Coast, where they confronted the fierce wildfires sparked by enemy bombs.

Ashton Pittman, the grandson, contemplated the enduring legacy of Harris, highlighting the bravery it took to serve a nation that practiced discrimination against him.

“He displayed remarkable courage by serving the U.S. during an era when the nation did not embrace him,” Pittman remarked.

Harris' journey and dedication stand as a powerful example of strength, love for country, and the ongoing struggle for fairness within the U.S. military.

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