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“RECOGNIZING WALTER MORRIS” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1550 on Oct. 23, 2013.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING WALTER MORRIS
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HON. PATRICK MURPHY
of florida
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of the first African-American paratrooper to be enlisted in the U.S. Army. Walter Morris, a retired Second Lieutenant who passed away at the age of 92, was the first African-American man accepted for airborne duty in the Army. At a time where segregation existed prevalently in our country, Mr. Morris broke a barrier, setting the precedent for an additional 400 Black paratroopers to serve before the end of World War II.
At the time, then Sergeant Morris led training sessions to mimic parachute practice after duty hours to raise the morale of African-
American soldiers. It is the strength, courage, dedication, and camaraderie of Mr. Morris for which I am humbled to honor his life here today.
Mr. Morris was an original member of the Triple Nickels, a battalion later assigned to a secret mission titled Operation Firefly, a maneuver for the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture. The Triple Nickels had to minimize the damage from aerial attacks by Japanese balloon bombs over the Pacific Northwest coast. The Army kept this operation secret because they wanted to disguise the fact that the Japanese balloon bombs had actually reached the U.S. coastline.
Mr. Morris's actions paved the way for African-American soldiers to become part of one of the most prestigious departments of the U.S. Army, the 82nd Airborne Division. He cofounded the African-American Cultural Association, an education facility for adults and children. Now in its 34th year, the association is a way to ensure the legacy of the Triple Nickels.
Together with Lt. Morris's two daughters, grandson, and two great-
grandsons, we remember the life of an American Hero--someone who stood tall in the face of adversity and in unison with his fellow soldiers and his country.
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