Clarence Beavers (soldier)

Clarence Hylan Beavers (June 12, 1921 - December 4, 2017) was an African American paratrooper who served during World War II with the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion. He was part of the groundbreaking group of black paratroopers assigned to the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion also known as the Triple Nickels and later Smoke Jumpers. The unit served stateside, mostly on the West Coast, protecting against Japanese fire balloons, which were described as the world’s first intercontinental-range airborne weapons — giant bomb-laden balloons launched from Japan and aimed at North America.

Beavers died on December 4, 2017 at the age of 96.