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News Release
New Triple Nickles historical marker in downtown Pendleton
New Triple Nickles historical marker in downtown Pendleton
"Triple Nickles" Honored with an Oregon Historical Maker in Pendleton (Photo) - 08/22/19

Pendleton, OR- On Friday, August 30th at 4:30pm, the Oregon Historical Marker Committee, Travel Pendleton and the Pendleton Underground will be hosting a dedication ceremony for the newest state historical marker honoring the “Triple Nickles.” The dedication ceremony will be held at The Duck Pin Bowling Alley, 369 S. Main, Pendleton, Oregon (underground at Main and Emigrant). It is free and open to the public.

“Triple Nickles” was the nickname given to the Army’s 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion.  When they began their training in Camp Mackall in North Carolina, they expected their wartime combat to take them to Europe or MacArthur’s theater in the east. They never expected to be deployed to Oregon. In May of 1945 Pendleton Field became a home base and training ground for the Battalion. While most enlisted black personnel were relegated to relatively menial assignments, the Triple Nickles had a secret mission called “Operation Firefly”. They would defend the United states at home.

            During the winter of 1944- 45, the Japanese sent “balloon bombs” towards our US West Coast. The Japanese army launched several thousand 30-foot diameter, hydrogen-filled balloons. They floated skyward across the Pacific Ocean, wafting their way easterly on the jet stream. Each balloon carried five incendiary bombs and one larger explosive device – all set to detonate when the balloon lost altitude and touched the trees of the ground. 

Japan’s military goal was to ignite destructive forest fires in the Pacific Northwest and cause panic among the American civilian population. The 555th were to parachute near any forest fires caused by the balloon bombs, extinguish the fires and disarm and destroy any remaining unexploded devices. These army trained paratroopers arrived in Oregon vastly unprepared but determined to complete their mission. Their standard issue equipment, made for jumping into open fields during combat, offered little protection and left them ill-equipped to jump into dense forests and wildfires. They received training from the civilian “smokejumpers” from the US Forest Service focusing on the distinction between combat jumping and “smokejumping”. They found ways to modify some of their equipment to make it work better for their mission. For example, to protect their faces from cinders and tree branches they attached mesh wire to football helmets.  During their deployment the Triple Nickles fought at least 20 fires, jumping into 15 of them.

These men defended a country that was still heavily segregated. They faced the same struggles at Pendleton Field as they had at Camp Mackall and Fort Bragg. When they would go out it was difficult to buy a drink or a meal. Only two bars and one restaurant would serve them. Still, they found ways to have fun around Pendleton. Capt. Biggs recalls, "all was not work. On 4 July we staged demonstration jumps for the local populace. We saw the famous Pendleton Rodeo. Killer Kane and I learned to fly from two grand guys, Pat Stubbs and Farley Stewart. We went to movies and took time to hunt and fish. I spent my spare bucks flying and seeing the west. We had storytelling sessions nightly at the BOQ.”

The Triple Nickles’ persistence and distinguished service in the face of segregation helped to move the US Armed Forces towards equity and balance. In July 1948, President Harry S. Truman ordered the desegregation of all forces.

Dr. Robert Bartlett, professor at Eastern Washington University and member of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion Association, expressed his gratitude to the City of Pendleton, saying, “Historical markers are value statements. They make visible that which we wish to honor, to acknowledge and to be known for, the good, the bad, and the ugly. The 555th Triple Nickle story is unique in military history, in smokejumper history and in the history of Pendleton, OR. This is only the second Triple Nickle commemorative marker in the entire Northwest and both are in this State. On behalf of both the living and the dead African Americans who served here during the summer of 1945 and the 555th Parachute Infantry Assoc., a most sincere, heartfelt thank you for seeing the value in placing this marker here where their wartime service and story remains quietly unknown.”

This marker project was made possible through support by Umatilla County, the Pendleton Underground, Travel Pendleton and the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion.

The Oregon Historical Marker Program is administered by the Travel Information Council, a semi-independent state agency. For more information on the Triple Nickles marker, please call TIC Heritage & Community Assets Manager Annie von Domitz at (503) 373-0864.

View more news releases from Oregon Travel Information Council.