The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion was a unique and historic military unit of the United States Army during World War II, known as the "Six Triple Eight." It was composed entirely of African American women, led by Commander Charity Adams Earley, and was the only African American women's unit deployed overseas during the conflict.
The battalion’s mission was to address a critical problem: a massive backlog of military mail intended for American soldiers stationed in Europe. This correspondence was essential for troop morale, but piles of undelivered letters and packages had accumulated due to logistical and organizational challenges. The "Six Triple Eight" was first sent to Birmingham, England, and later to Rouen, France, to tackle this task.
The women of the 6888th faced racism and sexism both within and outside the military, including segregation in their accommodations and workplaces. They worked in 24-hour shifts in cold, poorly lit warehouses.
Despite their vital contributions, the 6888th was largely overlooked in military history for decades. However, in recent years, their legacy has been recognized. In 2019, a monument was unveiled in their honor at the U.S. Army Women’s Museum. More recently, in March 2022, the members of the 6888th were posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor granted by the United States Congress.
You can find information about the movie through this link:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Six_Triple_Eight
The Library of Congress offers an intriguing collection of resources (in English) about this unit, including testimonies from its members. Access it here:
https://guides.loc.gov/6888th-central-postal-directory-battalion
This website is dedicated to these women and their achievements:
https://www.womenofthe6888th.org/
Photo source: https://www.womenofthe6888th.org/photo-gallery?lightbox=dataItem-jfe4criy4
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