The 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion was activated on 19 December 1943. Headquarters, Army Ground Forces, authorized the activation of the company as an all-black unit with black officers as well as black enlisted men. All unit members were to be volunteers, with an enlisted cadre to be selected from personnel of the #92dInfantryDivision (aka #buffalosoldiers )at #FortHuachuca, Arizona. The company was officially activated on 30 December 1943 at #FortBenning, Georgia. After several months of training, the unit moved to #Campmackall, North Carolina, where it was reorganized and redesignated on 25 November 1944 as Company A of the newly-activated #555thParachuteInfantryBattalion. In May 1945 it was sent to the west coast of the US to combat forest fires ignited by Japanese balloons carrying incendiary bombs. The 555th fought numerous other forest fires earning the nickname "Smoke Jumpers" in addition to "#Triplenickles .” Soon after returning to Camp Mackall in October 1945, the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion was transferred to #FortBragg, North Carolina, its home for the next two years. During this period the unit was attached to the elite #82dAirborneDivision. When the battalion was inactivated on 15 December 1947, most of its personnel were reassigned to the division's organic 3d Battalion, 505th Airborne Infantry. On 22 August 1950 the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion was disbanded. If you’re ready to be a part of #history and #armyhistory and are interested in learning more about over 150 #careeropportunities & #contactme #call/text #pm/dm #828-489-2646 #yourarmyreservecareercounselor #ashevillemallrecruitingcenter #armystrong #teamarmy #bedifferent #usarmy #usarmyreserve #bedifferent #bearmystrong #blackhistory https://twitter.com/sfc_paul https://instagram.com/sfcpaulchambers http://sfc-paulchambers.tumblr.com/ [email protected] (at Asheville Mall Recruiting Center)