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jesscinco's review against another edition
4.0
A well done account of a part of history that has been mostly overlooked or ignored. I liked the use of pictures, it really helped me connect with the history. I'd have liked it if more maps were included.
ama_reads's review against another edition
5.0
I especially enjoyed the section in the back about the author's research process.
amberzieg's review against another edition
4.0
While I would have made some changes to the structure of the book, including more historical context, this is a respectful and genuine look at a compelling group of people and the important part they played in American history.
afro8921's review against another edition
5.0
African American Servicemen wanted on thing during World War II,an opportunity to serve in a meaningful way. Walter Morris, a African American sergeant stationed at the Company of the Parachute School at Fort Benning, Georgia, Knew that the men in his charge needed a morale boost. Although he was a first sergeant, he and his men were assigned to guard patrol posts. African American servicemen were often given menial tasks like digging ditches, or kitchen duties. The lack of opportunity to serve wholly in the army had a demoralizing effect on many African American servicemen. After watching the training white servicemen underwent, Walter began secretly training his men in the same manner. Word of his night time training expeditions came to the attention of General Ridgely Gaither. Much to Morris’s surprise, Gaither gave him the opportunity to form and all black paratrooper battalion. As the men trained to become America’s first all African American parachute infantry battalion, they received support from some unlikely allies.
Ms. Lee does a fantastic job of chronicling the history of the triple nickels. Not only is the text factually accurate, Ms. Lee details her method of verification in the text. The other nice feature of the book is the index that lists the various quotes from different service men and on which page they appear. This would be a great common core text for students who need to read a non-fiction book. The story is well written and engaging.
Ms. Lee does a fantastic job of chronicling the history of the triple nickels. Not only is the text factually accurate, Ms. Lee details her method of verification in the text. The other nice feature of the book is the index that lists the various quotes from different service men and on which page they appear. This would be a great common core text for students who need to read a non-fiction book. The story is well written and engaging.
amysutton's review against another edition
3.0
I absolutely loved learning about the Trip Nickels and other diverse groups in WWII America. This book was very well researched and I actually learned about a few other books that I want to read now. I'll admit that I've only really learned a lot about the Tuskegee airmen, so reading more about other troops was great. It's heartbreaking to hear the first hand accounts and the reality of what African American soldiers had to overcome. I think I was especially shocked to learn that European POWs were allowed more privileges and more respect on base than the black American soldiers.
I only wish that this information was a bit better edited and organized. The book gave a lot of great info about the 555th Infantry, but it also scattered in random paragraphs about Japanese-Americans and Japanese balloon bombs and President Truman taking office and POWs. Stone said in the epilogue, “I chose parts of the larger history that were needed to give readers the context to better understand the contents of this story.” It is true that she added so much information from so many great sources. But to me, it felt a bit disjointed. She even mentioned that she got sidetracked on researching Japanese balloon bombs for a month.
I only wish that this information was a bit better edited and organized. The book gave a lot of great info about the 555th Infantry, but it also scattered in random paragraphs about Japanese-Americans and Japanese balloon bombs and President Truman taking office and POWs. Stone said in the epilogue, “I chose parts of the larger history that were needed to give readers the context to better understand the contents of this story.” It is true that she added so much information from so many great sources. But to me, it felt a bit disjointed. She even mentioned that she got sidetracked on researching Japanese balloon bombs for a month.
froggylibrarian1's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a fascinating account of the first black paratroopers. I learned a lot from this book. I did not realize how much prejudice was still in the armed forces during WWII. This book exposed a lot of what was going on, the efforts made to remedy the situation, and how the Triple Nickles came into existence. What was sad was that after all their training they never actually went into combat. What they did do was work as smoke jumpers in the west. This is where I truly learned something new. I did not know that the Japanese sent over balloons with bombs in them and that they were actually causalities as a result. In theory the Triple Nickels were sent to fight fires caused by the balloon bombs. In actuality there were not many fires started by the balloons but the paratroopers were valuable in pioneering smoke jumping.
This was very informative. My one concern would be finding the audience for the book...
This was very informative. My one concern would be finding the audience for the book...
rj_novotny's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
3.5
iffer's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed Courage Has No Color very much, and I think that it's definitely a good read for younger readers. Courage Has No Color is easily-understandable and engaging, with photographs (many which hadn't been seen for decades since information about the contributions of black servicemen during WWII was oftentimes ignored, or even suppressed) on nearly every spread. The book is very informative not only about the Triple Nickles, the first and only all-black paratroopers during WWII, but also touches upon many other facets of WWII about which young readers, depending on their education, may or may not have heard: Japanese relocation camps, Japanese balloon bombs, the vital role of black troops on D-Day and the in the Battle of the Bulge, and the GI bill. I also like the fact that the author explored the idea that blacks were willing to fight in WWII, for freedom and justice, despite the fact that they were treated as second class citizens.
However, I feel that I need to include the caveat that Courage Has No Color made me feel a little uneasy for a couple of reasons.
1) As the title would imply, it's a common thread throughout the book that the ideal is a "colorless" society. While this sounds good, at least in the sense that people should be judged by their character and abilities rather than their race, and it might just sound like me being a ridiculous over-educated liberal, but the idea of a "colorblind" society has always bothered me, because it's not only impossible, but it also ignores and/or devalues the positive contributions of race and culture. For instance, one of the reasons that I think that the Triple Nickles, and the other black military contingents described in the book, were "the best" (many interviewed for the book said this) is at least partially *because* they were black. They had a strong motivation to succeed, to prove to themselves, and everyone else,that blacks were capable and willing to serve their country honorably (even though they shouldn't have had to). (I suppose that the same people who are bothered by the "melting pot" versus "salad bowl" metaphors for American multiculturalism might feel the same as I did.)
2) Although I understand the historical and cultural reasons that blacks in the armed services during WWII were incensed at being largely confined to service jobs (cooking, cleaning, maintenance), I felt like the book overly stressed the "honor" of armed combat. While this is obviously how many people felt from their quotes, I feel that, overall, the tone of the book was too optimistic about the heroism of war, and winning "glory" in battle.
3) While I agree that it's a civil rights victory that the US armed services are now fully integrated, and that the GI bill provides many with the opportunity of education regardless of race, once again, I thought that the book may have had an overly optimistic tone, especially in light of the fact that now, people of color and those of lower socioeconomic status tend to be overrepresented in the military for complex reasons, and not always for the better.
However, I feel that I need to include the caveat that Courage Has No Color made me feel a little uneasy for a couple of reasons.
1) As the title would imply, it's a common thread throughout the book that the ideal is a "colorless" society. While this sounds good, at least in the sense that people should be judged by their character and abilities rather than their race, and it might just sound like me being a ridiculous over-educated liberal, but the idea of a "colorblind" society has always bothered me, because it's not only impossible, but it also ignores and/or devalues the positive contributions of race and culture. For instance, one of the reasons that I think that the Triple Nickles, and the other black military contingents described in the book, were "the best" (many interviewed for the book said this) is at least partially *because* they were black. They had a strong motivation to succeed, to prove to themselves, and everyone else,that blacks were capable and willing to serve their country honorably (even though they shouldn't have had to). (I suppose that the same people who are bothered by the "melting pot" versus "salad bowl" metaphors for American multiculturalism might feel the same as I did.)
2) Although I understand the historical and cultural reasons that blacks in the armed services during WWII were incensed at being largely confined to service jobs (cooking, cleaning, maintenance), I felt like the book overly stressed the "honor" of armed combat. While this is obviously how many people felt from their quotes, I feel that, overall, the tone of the book was too optimistic about the heroism of war, and winning "glory" in battle.
3) While I agree that it's a civil rights victory that the US armed services are now fully integrated, and that the GI bill provides many with the opportunity of education regardless of race, once again, I thought that the book may have had an overly optimistic tone, especially in light of the fact that now, people of color and those of lower socioeconomic status tend to be overrepresented in the military for complex reasons, and not always for the better.
beecheralyson's review against another edition
5.0
I had looked through the book but hadn't read it yet. A friend recommended the audiobook and I listened to it during a car ride. The narrator brought Stone's book alive. I felt like I was truly listening to their story. Excellent to combine audiobook and actual book in print in order to see the photographs, etc.