Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Software, E-Resource Audio Recording Walter Morris Collection

Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Service Unit/Ship: 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion
- Location of Service: Fort Benning, Georgia; Camp Mackall, North Carolina; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Pendleton Field, Oregon
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/2946
Walter Morris played an important role in integrating American troops in World War II. Morris submitted ideas on how to run an all-black guard unit attached to the parachute school and soon he and his men were learning to make jumps. Dubbed the 555th Parachute Infantry Company - "The Triple Nickles" - Morris and his men were disappointed when VE Day cut off their chance to fight in Europe. Like many other servicemen, they expected to participate in the upcoming invasion of Japan, but the Army-and the Department of Agriculture-had something else in mind.
Walter Morris Collection
Interview / Recording
Transcript
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Walter Morris Collection
Interview / Recording
Transcript
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About this Item
Title
- Walter Morris Collection
Names
- Kent, Judith J.
- Flagler County Public Library
- Morris, Walter
State of Residence at Time of Collection Donation
- Florida
Headings
- - Morris, Walter
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- Black or African American
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Service Unit/Ship: 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion
- Location of Service: Fort Benning, Georgia; Camp Mackall, North Carolina; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Pendleton Field, Oregon
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Dates of Service: 1941-1946
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran was the first African American assigned to the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion (the first all-African American parachute infantry test unit).
Materials
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of audio recording (collected 2002)
- Computer File: CD [1 item] -- Multiple types of electronic files (collected 2002; 2003-01-02)
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2002-11-21)
- Photograph: Mixed (Multiple types of photographs) [3 items] -- Photographs (collected 1944-2002)
- Audio: CD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2007-11-07; 2007-11-07)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/2946
Online Format
- audio
- image
- online text
Additional Metadata Formats
IIIF Presentation Manifest
Special Format
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Camp Mackall, North Carolina
- Fort Benning, Georgia
- Fort Bragg, North Carolina
- Pendleton Field, Oregon