Black Female Military History (DEI recall THAT MFers!) - WWII's Central Postal Directory Battalion
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This week's podcast episode is a nod to Military Appreciation (May is Military Appreciation Month. Can someone let the government know?), and black women in history (which is ALL of US history).
The 6888th: The Unsung Heroes Who Delivered Hope During WWII
In the throes of World War II, when chaos and uncertainty loomed large, a remarkable group of women took on an enormous task that boosted morale and bridged the emotional gap between the front lines and home. The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, known as the "Six Triple Eight," was the only all-Black, all-female battalion sent overseas during the war.
Comprising over 800 women from the Women’s Army Corps (WAC), the 6888 was deployed to Europe in 1945. Their mission: to tackle the massive backlog of undelivered mail—some of it over two years old—that had piled up in warehouses in Birmingham, England. Letters and packages were stacked to the ceiling, crammed into every available space, and soldiers’ morale was sinking with every undelivered word from home.
Despite facing racism, sexism, and the pressure of an enormous task, the 6888 worked tirelessly in three shifts around the clock. They processed an average of 65,000 pieces of mail per shift, completing in three months what was expected to take six. Later, they performed similar feats in Rouen and Paris, France.
Their motto was simple yet powerful: “No mail, low morale.” The Six Triple Eight lived by it, and their work made a difference not just logistically, but emotionally—for thousands of soldiers desperate for a connection to home.
For decades, their story went largely untold. But in recent years, recognition has grown. In 2022, the battalion was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for their service, courage, and pioneering spirit.
The legacy of the 6888 is not just about mail—it’s about breaking barriers, lifting spirits, and reminding us that even in war, hope can arrive in an envelope.
There is a movie on Netflix about this amazing group of women, titled, "The Six Triple Eight" and it's excellent! |
| The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion parades at the marketplace in Rouen on May 27, 1945. Courtesy of the National Archives NAID: 531431 |