SGM (R) Charlie Turner has dedicated his life to volunteering and community service. After retiring from the Army in 2009, he became a JROTC Instructor for Atlanta public schools, ensuring his cadets performed numerous community service events, a yearly requirement. SGM (R) Turner went above and beyond district requirements, organizing additional volunteer opportunities and Color Guard requests to engage further with the community.
While teaching, SGM (R) Turner developed an interest in golf, learning the game from his mentor, Coach Willie Leon McGee. In 2013, following his initial golf lessons, he was approached by the high school athletic director to become the coach of the school’s new golf program. Embracing the challenge, SGM (R) Turner became the Maynard H. Jackson High School Golf Coach.
SGM (R) Turner’s community service extended to three roles: JROTC Instructor, Golf Coach, and Staff Member of the Atlanta Chapter 555 (Triple Nickles) Parachute Infantry Association. The Triple Nickles were the first African American Paratroopers, a fact SGM (R) Turner proudly acknowledges, having served as an Army Jumpmaster for multiple Airborne Units. He often says, “I am standing on the shoulders of the Triple Nickles Paratroopers.”
The Legacy of the Triple Nickles
The Robert F. Greene – Atlanta Chapter 555th Parachute Infantry Association honors the legacy of the Triple Nickles. In the Fall of 1943, First Sergeant Walter Morris led the Service Company of the Parachute School. As WWII escalated, Black soldiers under his command sought to contribute to the war effort. Understanding the need for recognition, First Sergeant Morris began training his company in the same drills as white paratroopers, after duty hours. Their goal was to prove their worth and earn the right to serve in combat.
Eventually, official orders authorized the formation of an all-Black unit of paratroopers. The company graduated the first class of all-Black paratroopers, ready to fight in WWII. However, instead of being sent to combat, they were assigned a top-secret mission: extinguishing fires caused by Japanese incendiary balloons on the west coast. These brave paratroopers, known as smokejumpers, parachuted into burning fires to extinguish them.
Community Impact and Scholarship Program
As a member of the Robert F. Greene – Atlanta Chapter 555th Parachute Infantry Association, SGM (R) Turner initiated the Triple Nickles Golf Tournament, directing all proceeds towards scholarships for college-bound seniors. To date, the chapter has held three golf tournaments and awarded 16 scholarships.
Dr. Tincie M. Lynch, Founder of T.M. Lynch Veterans Outreach Program and a certifier through Points of Light and the Office of the President of the United States, has collaborated with SGM (R) Turner on numerous projects. Recognizing his extensive community service, she submitted his name for a Presidential Community Service Award. President Biden approved the award, which Dr. Lynch presented to SGM (R) Turner on June 8th.
