One might ask why combat trained paratroopers jumped into a forest fire instead of the fields of Germany. After all, this was 1945 and the United States was at war with Germany. The answer was simple. In 1945, the Army, along with the rest of the nation, was a segregated society. The Army assigned black soldiers or "colored soldiers," as they were referred to in the 40's, to serving in menial units such as truck drivers, port companies (loading ships), mess halls (waiting on tables), and guard duty. So, how did we have black paratroopers? This paper will present a short history.

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