More About Harry E Sutton, My Step Grandmother's First Husband

Members of the 555th (Triple Nickel) Parachute Infantry Battalion are 

briefed before takeoff from Fort Dix in New Jersey in 1947
Image courtesy of the National Archives

Okay, so if you missed my post about my step grandmother Vadnie Harrison, you may want to go back and read that one first. Here's the link:  And Then...That Was When I Felt It.

Vadnie was married to a Harry Earl Sutton before she married my maternal grandfather Lemuel Harrison. Sadly, my grandmother became a widow when Harry died in the Korean War. Let's take a look at some of the things I found on Harry.

Images courtesy of Ancestry.com

Now when I came across this I said "Say what?!"  He was a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army back in 1951. That's extraordinary! I realized this guy was a real hero, who paid the ultimate sacrifice for his country. I had to know more so I did some Googling.

I came across something on Wikipedia next. This was listed under the history of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion (United States):

It turns out that Harry was a member of "The Triple Nickles", an all black parachute battalion. You can learn more about the battalion's history if you visit this link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/555th_Parachute_Infantry_Battalion_(United_States)

Take a look at this excerpt from the Wikipedia entry:

Disbandment
On 22 August 1950 the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion was disbanded. Many of its former members later fought in the Korean War, in other units. First Lieutenant Harry Sutton, one of the battalion's former officers, died leading a rearguard action during the Hungnam Evacuation and was decorated posthumously with the Silver Star.


I've been all over the internet today trying to see if I would be lucky enough to find a picture of Harry, to see if my mother's description of him was somewhat accurate.  She told me that he reminded her of Harry Belafonte. Well, I found a picture!

Tell me what you think?  Do you think my mother's description was accurate.

To see a picture of Harry Sutton and to learn more about the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalian, click on this link:  http://www.metroherald.com/metroherald.data/SmartObjects/PDF%20files/02-17-06%20archive.pdf