Catered Social featuring the Triple Nickel Association

1200 Murchison Road,Fayetteville NC 28301

03 November, 2021

Description

Many years before “Black Pride" became a popular slogan, a small group of Black American soldiers gave life and meaning to those words. The 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion was nicknamed the "Triple Nickles" because of its numerical designation and the selection of 17 of the original 20-member "colored test platoon" from the 92nd Infantry (Buffalo) Division. Hence, the origin of the term Buffalo Nickles; the spelling derives from old English. Three buffalo nickels joined in a triangle or pyramid is the identifying symbol. Born within an army that had traditionally relegated Blacks to menial jobs and programmed them for failure, the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion succeeded in becoming the nation's first All-Black parachute infantry test platoon, company, and battalion. These Black pioneers were exceptional men, specially selected for the task. They were former university students and professional athletes, top-notch and veteran non-coms. A major element in their success was that, unlike other Black infantry units officered by Whites, they were entirely Black, from commanding officer down to the newest private.