Courage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickles

by Tanya Lee Stone Degree in English from Oberlin College

Sergeant Henry Jones was one of many soldiers who wrote to Mrs. Roosevelt. He told her that the men in his unit were “loyal Americans . . . ready and willing to do their part . . . the fact that we want to do our best for our country and be valiant soldiers, seems to mean nothing to the Commanding Officer of our Post.” Jones was writing on behalf of 121 other soldiers who signed the letter. “We do not ask for special privileges. . . . All we desire is to have equality; to be free to participate in all activities, means of transportation, privileges and amusements afforded any American soldier.” Eleanor Roosevelt sent so many requests like this to Army Chief of Staff General George C. Marshall to investigate that Marshall had to assign two staff members just to answer them.