Congress to Honor the ‘Six Triple Eight’: The Historic Black Female Unit of WWII

The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only Black, all-female unit to serve in Europe during World War II, will receive the Congressional Gold Medal on Tuesday. This long-awaited acknowledgment comes after a sustained campaign to highlight their significant contributions.

The battalion is credited with resolving a critical mail crisis while stationed in England and has since served as an inspiration for generations of Black women in the military. During their deployment, the battalion tackled a backlog of roughly 17 million pieces of mail in just three months, accomplishing this task at twice the expected speed.

They subsequently served in France before returning home, but like many other Black military units of the time, their achievements went largely unrecognized until recent efforts drew attention to their service. The medal presentation will take place in Emancipation Hall at the Capitol Visitor Center, where House Speaker Mike Johnson and others will honor the legacy of Lt. Col. Charity Adams Earley, the unit’s commander.

Kim Guise, the senior curator at the National WWII Museum, highlighted the significance of this recognition, noting that only two of the original 855 women from the unit are still alive today. “It is crucial to acknowledge their accomplishments and the challenges they faced while serving,” Guise stated.

Wisconsin Rep. Gwen Moore, a campaign co-sponsor, voiced her pride in ensuring that these “heroes” receive the recognition they deserve, especially for those like her constituent, Ms. Anna Mae Robertson. Congress unanimously voted in 2022 to award the 6888th the Congressional Gold Medal.

Retired Maj. Fannie Griffin McClendon, who joined the Air Force after military integration, described the honor as overwhelming. Throughout their service, the battalion managed to process 65,000 mail pieces per shift by developing a meticulous mail delivery system.

Over the years, their story has gained traction, with monuments and documentaries commemorating their legacy, including a forthcoming Netflix film directed by Tyler Perry.