Compton Bids Farewell to Sgt. Joe Harris, 108-Year-Old WWII ‘Triple Nickles’ Veteran

Sgt. Joe Harris, a groundbreaking World War II veteran who spent over 60 years as a beloved Compton resident, was laid to rest Saturday with ceremonies reflecting both his historical significance and deep community impact. Harris, who died last month at 108 years old, was believed to be the oldest surviving World War II paratrooper and among the last members of the historic all-Black 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, known as the “Triple Nickles.”

Family, friends, veterans, military officers, and community leaders gathered at Lewis Metropolitan CME Church in Inglewood to honor Harris, whose flag-draped casket became the focal point for tributes celebrating his extraordinary life and legacy. His grandson, Ashton Pittman, spoke movingly about Harris’s impact both as a historical figure and as a family patriarch.

“He was our rock, and the foundation upon which generations have been built,” Pittman said. “He showed us, time and time again, that true greatness is not just found in the battles you fight, but in the love that you give and in the lives that you touch.”

Harris served with the Triple Nickles, who protected the U.S. mainland from Japanese balloon bombs in 1944-45 by training as smokejumpers to fight forest fires started by these weapons. At a time when Black Americans faced segregation in the military and were often restricted to support roles, Harris and his fellow paratroopers broke significant racial barriers.

“The reason that this thread of history is so important is that at this point in time, African Americans were not given these advanced roles,” said retired Sgt. Jordan Bednarz, a representative of Liberty Jump Team, who spoke at the service. “They honestly changed the face of the military.”

Local officials presented the Harris family with certificates honoring the sergeant, including representatives from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, California State Senate, State Assembly, and the city of Compton. In a significant moment for the Compton community, current Mayor Emma Sharif agreed to a proposal from former Mayor Rev. Omar Bradley to bring forward a motion to rename 131st Street, where Harris lived, in his honor.

Following the church service, a procession with a WWII Willys Jeep escort traveled to Inglewood Park Cemetery. Later, family and friends gathered at Harris’s Compton home for a celebration of life that included military dignitaries and representatives from WWII Beyond the Call. The 82nd Airborne Division coordinated a special WWII C-47 aircraft flyover above the Harris family home.

Born on June 19, 1916, in West Dale, Louisiana, Harris joined the military at age 25 in 1941. His military achievements included completing 72 combat jumps. After the war, he worked for the U.S. Border Patrol and settled in Compton, where he raised his family and influenced countless neighborhood children who went on to successful careers.

Harris’s legacy extends beyond Compton through Operation Perseverance, a movement to honor African American servicemen for their resolve during World War II. Before Harris’s death, a landing zone in Tuskegee, Alabama, was named the Sgt. Joe Harris Dropzone in his honor.

Harris is survived by his son, Pirate Joe Harris Sr., daughters Michaun Harris and Latanya Pittman, and five grandchildren. His wife, Louise Harris, passed away in 1981.