Bakersfield Black Magazine
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Black Media
  • Celebrity
  • Lifestyle
  • Health
  • Fashion
  • Beauty & Hair
  • Events
  • Love
  • Recipe
  • Travel
Bakersfield Black Magazine
  • Home
  • Black Media
  • Celebrity
  • Lifestyle
  • Health
  • Fashion
  • Beauty & Hair
  • Events
  • Love
  • Recipe
  • Travel
No Result
View All Result
Bakersfield Black Magazine
No Result
View All Result

Joe Harris, believed to be the oldest surviving WWII paratrooper, has died – Los Angeles Sentinel

April 1, 2025
in Black Media
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
0
Home Black Media
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


By HALLIE GOLDEN Related Press

Sgt. Joe Harris, believed to be the oldest surviving World Warfare II paratrooper and a member of the U.S. Military’s first all-Black parachute infantry battalion, has died. He was 108.

This undated picture offered by Tracie Hunter reveals Sgt. Joe Harris. (Tracie Hunter through AP)

Harris died March 15 in a hospital in Los Angeles surrounded by household, grandson Ashton Pittman informed The Related Press. He will probably be honored with a full army funeral on April 5.

“He was a really loving, loving, loving man,” mentioned Pittman. “That was one of many issues that he was very strict upon was loving each other.”

Harris was among the many final surviving members of the historic 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, nicknamed the Triple Nickles. The battalion helped shield the U.S. from lethal Japanese balloon bombs, in line with Robert L. Bartlett, a retired Japanese Washington College professor who specializes within the 555th. In 1944 and 1945, the Japanese launched 1000’s of the balloons to be carried by the Pacific jet stream to the U.S. mainland to blow up and begin fires.

Throughout World Warfare II, Black Individuals had been usually relegated to extra support-level jobs within the racially segregated army and President Franklin Roosevelt confronted stress to place them in fight models. In consequence, the army recruited Harris and lots of of different Black males, skilled them and despatched them into blazes on the West Coast, the place they fought fires, Bartlett mentioned.

All through their time within the army, they confronted overt racism, together with being barred from going to the bottom commissary and officer’s golf equipment until they had been particularly for Black folks.

“This unit needed to battle to be acknowledged as human beings whereas coaching to battle an enemy abroad, battle in their very own nation for respect even inside the army,” Bartlett mentioned.

That was not misplaced on Pittman, who mentioned his grandfather was courageous sufficient to serve the U.S. “throughout a time when the nation didn’t love him, truthfully, didn’t care about him.”

Harris was born on June 19, 1916, in West Dale, Louisiana, in line with Tracie Hunter, spokesperson for WWII Past The Name, a nonprofit group that works to doc veterans’ accounts. After filling out his draft registration card, he started his army service in 1941 when he was 24.

By the point he was honorably discharged in November 1945, he had accomplished 72 parachute jumps, in line with Hunter.

After the battle, he labored for the U.S. Border Patrol. He additionally spent greater than 60 years in Compton, California, the place Pittman mentioned he was the neighborhood patriarch, a person everybody on the block knew and gravitated to.

“His life is to be celebrated,” Pittman mentioned. “Clearly individuals are going to morn as a result of he’s not right here anymore. However finally what I do know from conversations that I’ve had with my grandfather is that he desires to be celebrated. He deserves to be celebrated.”

He’s survived by his son, Pirate Joe Harris Sr., and two daughters, Michaun Harris and Latanya Pittman, together with 5 grandchildren, in line with Hunter. His spouse, Louise Harris, died in 1981, and a sixth grandchild has additionally died.

Pittman mentioned that his grandfather would generally ask him if he would ever bounce out of a aircraft. In October, Pittman had the chance to comply with in his grandfather’s airborne footsteps.

For every week, he did paratrooper bounce coaching in Corsicana, Texas, by the Liberty Bounce Workforce, a corporation that works to protect the reminiscence of veterans.

“After I received my wings, I really broke down and began crying as a result of every part in that second simply resonated with me,” he mentioned. “It was like, dang I’m actually doing what my grandfather did.”

Shortly earlier than Harris’ loss of life, he received a touchdown zone, in Tuskegee, Alabama, devoted in his title. Pittman mentioned he plans to be the very first particular person to leap within the Sgt. Joe Harris Dropzone.



Source link

Tags: AngelesBelievedDiedHarrisJoeLosOldestparatrooperSentinelsurvivingWWII
Previous Post

Altadena Artist Paints ‘Beauty For Ashes’ After Eaton Fire

Next Post

Korean Medical Thriller ‘Hyper Knife’ Makes Sharp Impact on Disney+

Related Posts

Donald Trump Fired the Federal Reserve Gov. But He Never Expected the Stunning Move She Made Next
Black Media

Donald Trump Fired the Federal Reserve Gov. But He Never Expected the Stunning Move She Made Next

August 26, 2025
Donald Trump’s Latest Hand Photos Spark Eerie Comparisons to Queen Elizabeth That No One Saw Coming
Black Media

Donald Trump’s Latest Hand Photos Spark Eerie Comparisons to Queen Elizabeth That No One Saw Coming

August 26, 2025
‘Racist, misogynistic, and unlawful attack’: Trump’s attempt to fire Lisa Cook draws accusations of authoritarianism
Black Media

‘Racist, misogynistic, and unlawful attack’: Trump’s attempt to fire Lisa Cook draws accusations of authoritarianism

August 26, 2025
Smithsonian exhibits under review for ‘woke’ ideology
Black Media

Smithsonian exhibits under review for ‘woke’ ideology

August 26, 2025
Nicholas Galitzine Looks to Seduce
Black Media

Nicholas Galitzine Looks to Seduce

August 26, 2025
First mpox case of 2025 in Senegal sparks urgent response
Black Media

First mpox case of 2025 in Senegal sparks urgent response

August 26, 2025
Next Post
Korean Medical Thriller ‘Hyper Knife’ Makes Sharp Impact on Disney+

Korean Medical Thriller 'Hyper Knife' Makes Sharp Impact on Disney+

Mike Miles sets ambitious yet cautious budget plan for next HISD school year

Mike Miles sets ambitious yet cautious budget plan for next HISD school year

Empowering Black women: Breaking the ‘ride or die’ mindset

Empowering Black women: Breaking the 'ride or die' mindset

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Discover Brand Transformation And Wellness In A Reset Program

Discover Brand Transformation And Wellness In A Reset Program

March 18, 2024
Black Homelessness – African American News and Issues

Black Homelessness – African American News and Issues

November 26, 2023
Shock as 2 men try to strike deal for lesser charge, saying items they stole were being offered on sale anyway

Shock as 2 men try to strike deal for lesser charge, saying items they stole were being offered on sale anyway

December 17, 2023
Family and friends mourn Nigerian bride-to-be who slumped during her bridal shower and died

Family and friends mourn Nigerian bride-to-be who slumped during her bridal shower and died

August 30, 2023
Why most goals fail and how to finally achieve yours

Why most goals fail and how to finally achieve yours

April 1, 2025
Marijuana holiday 4/20 coincides with Easter and Passover this year. Here’s what to know

Marijuana holiday 4/20 coincides with Easter and Passover this year. Here’s what to know

April 21, 2025
Donald Trump Fired the Federal Reserve Gov. But He Never Expected the Stunning Move She Made Next

Donald Trump Fired the Federal Reserve Gov. But He Never Expected the Stunning Move She Made Next

August 26, 2025
Funniest Tweets From The ‘Love Island USA’ Season 7 Reunion

Funniest Tweets From The ‘Love Island USA’ Season 7 Reunion

August 26, 2025
Benedict Cumberbatch on Playing Against Type

Benedict Cumberbatch on Playing Against Type

August 26, 2025
Issa Rae recalls an early mistake that nearly cost her every cent she’d made

Issa Rae recalls an early mistake that nearly cost her every cent she’d made

August 26, 2025
Donald Trump’s Latest Hand Photos Spark Eerie Comparisons to Queen Elizabeth That No One Saw Coming

Donald Trump’s Latest Hand Photos Spark Eerie Comparisons to Queen Elizabeth That No One Saw Coming

August 26, 2025
Is North West’s outfit ‘too grown’ or are grown folks obsessed with policing Black girlhood?

Is North West’s outfit ‘too grown’ or are grown folks obsessed with policing Black girlhood?

August 26, 2025

Popular Story

  • Suki & Rollie Get Into Heated Fight In ‘Baddies East’ Teaser

    Suki & Rollie Get Into Heated Fight In ‘Baddies East’ Teaser

    593 shares
    Share 237 Tweet 148
  • PulteGroup’s Jim Zeumer Responds to Black Employees’ Lawsuit and “Noose Meeting”

    592 shares
    Share 237 Tweet 148
  • Scents of Power: The Best Fragrances for Black Men and Women This National Fragrance Day

    592 shares
    Share 237 Tweet 148
  • Pamela Anderson The Latest Cover Girl For Elle Magazine

    591 shares
    Share 236 Tweet 148
  • Angela Rye and Jalen Rose Step Out As A Verified Couple

    591 shares
    Share 236 Tweet 148
Bakersfield Black Magazine

Brows the Latest Black News on Bakersfield Black Magazine. Beauty & Hair, Black Media, Celebrity, Events, Fashion, Health, Lifestyle and More News.

Categories

  • Beauty & Hair
  • Black Media
  • Celebrity
  • Events
  • Fashion
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Love
  • Recipe
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized

Recent News

  • Donald Trump Fired the Federal Reserve Gov. But He Never Expected the Stunning Move She Made Next
  • Funniest Tweets From The ‘Love Island USA’ Season 7 Reunion
  • Benedict Cumberbatch on Playing Against Type
  • DMCA
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact us

Copyright © 2023 Bakersfield Black Magazine.
Bakersfield Black Magazine is not responsible for the content of external sites.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Black Media
  • Celebrity
  • Lifestyle
  • Health
  • Fashion
  • Beauty & Hair
  • Events
  • Love
  • Recipe
  • Travel

Copyright © 2023 Bakersfield Black Magazine.
Bakersfield Black Magazine is not responsible for the content of external sites.