Latest news with #6888th
USA Today
30-04-2025
- General
- USA Today
'Six Triple Eight:' The all-Black female WWII unit awarded the Congressional Gold Medal
'Six Triple Eight:' The all-Black female WWII unit awarded the Congressional Gold Medal The unit, made up of 855 Black women, boosted the morale of soldiers fighting across Europe during World War II. Show Caption Hide Caption Milwaukee church celebrates 'Six Triple Eight' service member Anna Mae Robertson served in the only all-female African-American unit deployed overseas during the war, and her service was celebrated in February. Fox - Milwaukee The all-Black female WWII unit, the "Six Triple Eight," was honored with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest award that Congress can bestow upon a civilian. On Tuesday, the 6888th unit, which is known as the "Six Triple Eight," was awarded the medal for the work they did during World War II to "increase the morale of all United States personnel stationed in the European Theater of Operations during World War II," by helping deliver millions of pieces of backlogged mail, according to the U.S. House of Representative's History Art and Archives. A common issue with delivering mail to those stationed in Europe during the war was that a lot of people had the same name, according to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana. But the 6888th created a system of 7 million ID cards to help mitigate the issue. "They didn't have the high-tech gadgets we do today," said Johnson. "They had to do it manually." This allowed soldiers to receive more letters and boosted morale among those serving overseas. The unit is receiving the honor three years after former President Joe Biden signed the Six Triple Eight Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2021 into Public Law 117-97 in 2022, according to Congress. 'Six Triple Eight': Kerry Washington, Tyler Perry's movie tells true story of Black women in WWII What is the 6888th? The "Six Triple Eight" was the only unit of Black women to serve overseas during World War II, according to Johnson. The battalion, which was also known as the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, was led by Lt. Col. Charity Adams-Earley, the highest-ranking Black female officer during World War II, according to the National Museum of the United States Army. The unit was a part of the Women's Army Corps, which was created in 1943, according to the Wounded Warrior Project. The 6888th was then created in 1944. The unit was made up of 855 women of color, 824 enlisted soldiers and 31 officers, the museum stated on its website. Over 300 descendants and family members of the 6888th attended the ceremony, Johnson said during his speech at the ceremony. Why was mail so important? Soldiers, government officials, and Red Cross workers serving overseas faced low morale, so one way to boost their spirits was to ensure they received the letters, pictures, and packages their loved ones back home sent them. "No Mail, Low Morale" was the unit's battle cry while it worked to get mail sent to those stationed in Europe. The unit was sent to a warehouse in Birmingham, England, where mail was so backed up, a general said it would take six months to process, but the 6888th sorted it in three months, according to Public Law 117-97. 'The Six Triple Eight' movie "The Six Triple Eight," a movie written and directed by Tyler Perry, was released on Netflix in December 2024. The movie, starring Kerry Washington, Ebony Obsidian and Milauna Jackson, won the NAACP's Image Awards for Outstanding Motion Picture and Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture in 2025, according to IMDB. This story has been updated to correct typos. Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn,X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Congress awards gold medal to all Black female WWII unit, 'Six Triple Eight'
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The only Black, all-female unit to serve in Europe during World War II, known as the 'Six Triple Eight,' was honored Tuesday with the Congressional Gold Medal, following a long-running campaign to recognize their efforts. The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion was credited with solving a growing mail crisis during its stint in England and, upon their return, serving as a role model to generations of Black women who joined the military. The battalion cleared a backlog of 17 million pieces of mail in three months, it was projected to take six months. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) presented the medal to the family of the unit commander, Lt. Col. Charity Adams Earley, during a ceremony in Emancipation Hall at the Capitol Visitor Center. More than 300 descendants of the women who served in the battalion were in attendance. 'The Six Triple Eight are great American patriots, loyal to a nation that, for far too long, failed to return the favor. And I'm glad to say that's changing, and we're doing that here today,' he said. Stanley Earley III, the son of the battalion's commander, was among the speakers at the ceremony. He called the women who served 'true examples of American excellence.' 'These soldiers exemplified determination in the face of adversity and demonstrated the ability to go beyond what was thought to be possible,' Earley said. The 6888th was sent overseas in 1945, a time when there was growing pressure from African American organizations to include Black women in what was called the Women's Army Corps, and allow them to join their white counterparts overseas. The 6888th toiled around the clock, processing about 65,000 pieces of mail in each of the three shifts. They created a system using locator cards with service members' names and unit numbers to ensure mail was delivered. 'I don't know if any of the letters between my mom and dad passed through the hands of the Six Triple Eight, but I do know that the work they did made it possible for millions of young men like my dad to keep up the fight,' said Sen. Jerry Moran, who recounted meeting five of the battalion members in 2018. Moran, a Republican from Kansas, co-sponsored the medal legislation in the Senate. 'When these women returned home, there was no parade to greet them. No one lined the streets to thank them for their service. That ain't right. And we're trying to correct it today,' Moran said. A monument was erected in 2018 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas to honor them and in 2024 a movie was made for Netflix about the unit starring Kerry Washington. The Senate voted to bestow the Congressional Gold Medal, its highest honor, on the 6888th in 2021, and the House followed in early 2022. Reflecting wide bipartisan support, leaders of both parties spoke at Tuesday's ceremony. Wisconsin Democratic Rep. Gwen Moore, who co-sponsored the legislation to award the medal, called the recognition long overdue. 'This ceremony is a fitting end to a long journey to make sure that we do not forget their service,' said Moore, who represents one of the two living members of the battalion. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Six Triple Eight:' The all-Black female WWII unit awarded Congressional Gold Medal
The all-Black female WWII unit, the "Six Triple Eight," was honored with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest award that Congress can bestow upon a civilian. On Tuesday, the 6888th unit, which is known as the "Six Triple Eight," was awarded the medal for honor the work they did during World War II to "increase the morale of all United States personnel stationed in the European Theater of Operations during World War II," by helping deliver millions of pieces of backlogged mail, according to the U.S. House of Representative's History Art and Archives. A common issue with delivering mail to those stationed in Europe during the war was that a lot of people had the same name, according to House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson. But the 6888th created a system of 7 million ID cards to help mitigate the issue. "They didn't have the high-tech gadgets we do today," said Johnson. "They had to do it manually." This allowed soldiers to receive more letters and boosted morale among those serving overseas. The unit is receiving the honor three years after former President Joe Biden signed the Six Triple Eight Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2021 into Public Law 117-97 in 2022, according to Congress. The "Six Triple Eight" was the only unit of Black women to serve overseas during World War II, according to Johnson. The battalion, which was also known as the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, was led by Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams-Earley, the highest-ranking Black female officer during World War II, according to the National Museum of the United States Army. The unit was a part of the Women's Army Corps, which was created in 1943, according to the Wounded Warrior Project. The 688th was then created in 1944. The unit was made up of 855 women of color, 824 enlisted Soldiers and 31 officers, the museum stated on its website. Over 300 descendants and family members of the 3888th attended the ceremony, Johnson said during his speech at the ceremony. Soldiers, government officials, and Red Cross workers serving overseas faced low morale, so one way to boost their spirits was to ensure they received the letters, pictures, and packages their loved ones back home sent them. "No Mail, Low Morale" was the unit's battle cry while it worked to get mail sent to those stationed in Europe. The unit was sent to a warehouse in Birmingham, England, where mail was so backed up, a general said it would take six months to process, but the 6888th sorted it in three months, according to Public Law 117-97. In 2024, "The Six Triple Eight," a movie written and directed by Tyler Perry, was released on Netflix in December 2024. The movie, starring Kerry Washington, Ebony Obsidian and Milauna Jackson, won the NAACP's Image Awards for Outstanding Motion Picture and Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture in 2025, according to IMDB. Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn,X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Six Triple Eight': WWII unit is awarded the Congressional Gold Medal
USA Today
30-04-2025
- General
- USA Today
'Six Triple Eight:' The all-Black female WWII unit awarded Congressional Gold Medal
'Six Triple Eight:' The all-Black female WWII unit awarded Congressional Gold Medal The unit, made up of 855 Black women, boosted the morale of soldiers fighting across Europe during World War II. Show Caption Hide Caption Milwaukee church celebrates 'Six Triple Eight' service member Anna Mae Robertson served in the only all-female African-American unit deployed overseas during the war, and her service was celebrated in February. Fox - Milwaukee The all-Black female WWII unit, the "Six Triple Eight," was honored with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest award that Congress can bestow upon a civilian. On Tuesday, the 6888th unit, which is known as the "Six Triple Eight," was awarded the medal for honor the work they did during World War II to "increase the morale of all United States personnel stationed in the European Theater of Operations during World War II," by helping deliver millions of pieces of backlogged mail, according to the U.S. House of Representative's History Art and Archives. A common issue with delivering mail to those stationed in Europe during the war was that a lot of people had the same name, according to House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson. But the 6888th created a system of 7 million ID cards to help mitigate the issue. "They didn't have the high-tech gadgets we do today," said Johnson. "They had to do it manually." This allowed soldiers to receive more letters and boosted morale among those serving overseas. The unit is receiving the honor three years after former President Joe Biden signed the Six Triple Eight Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2021 into Public Law 117-97 in 2022, according to Congress. What is the 6888th? The "Six Triple Eight" was the only unit of Black women to serve overseas during World War II, according to Johnson. The battalion, which was also known as the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, was led by Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams-Earley, the highest-ranking Black female officer during World War II, according to the National Museum of the United States Army. The unit was a part of the Women's Army Corps, which was created in 1943, according to the Wounded Warrior Project. The 688th was then created in 1944. The unit was made up of 855 women of color, 824 enlisted Soldiers and 31 officers, the museum stated on its website. Over 300 descendants and family members of the 3888th attended the ceremony, Johnson said during his speech at the ceremony. Why was mail so important? Soldiers, government officials, and Red Cross workers serving overseas faced low morale, so one way to boost their spirits was to ensure they received the letters, pictures, and packages their loved ones back home sent them. "No Mail, Low Morale" was the unit's battle cry while it worked to get mail sent to those stationed in Europe. The unit was sent to a warehouse in Birmingham, England, where mail was so backed up, a general said it would take six months to process, but the 6888th sorted it in three months, according to Public Law 117-97. 'The Six Triple Eight' movie In 2024, "The Six Triple Eight," a movie written and directed by Tyler Perry, was released on Netflix in December 2024. The movie, starring Kerry Washington, Ebony Obsidian and Milauna Jackson, won the NAACP's Image Awards for Outstanding Motion Picture and Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture in 2025, according to IMDB. Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn,X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
All-female, mostly Black WWII unit receives Congressional Gold Medal
April 29 (UPI) -- Family members of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion accepted a Congressional Gold Medal on Tuesday and 80 years after the unit was deployed during World War II. "This remarkable story has rightly captured imaginations," House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said at the award ceremony. "It has now inspired books and movies [and] stirred the consciousness of millions of Americans who are just now hearing and sharing this incredible story," Johnson added. He presented the Congressional Gold Medal to the family of unit commander Lt. Col. Charity Adams Earley as more than 300 family members and descendants of 6888th battalion members attended the ceremony. Stanley Earley III and Judith Earley, who are Col. Earley's son and daughter, accepted the award. The U.S. Army deployed the predominantly Black and all-woman unit to Birmingham, England, in February 1945 to sort out a massive problem. The Army had about 17 million undelivered pieces of mail that needed to reach their 7 million intended recipients. Many service members hadn't received mail in more than a year. The 855-member battalion was tasked with sorting out the problem and accomplished the feat before being disbanded in 1946. The unit received a Meritorious Unit Commendation from the U.S. Armed Forces in 2019 and was the subject of a 2024 film directed by Tyler Perry. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award issued by Congress. The House in 2022 unanimously approved an enabling bill with a 422-0 vote after the Senate approved honoring the unit in 2021. President Joe Biden signed the enabling measure into law in 2022. Many incorrectly referred to the 6888th as an "all-black" unit, but it was "predominantly black" and had at least two Hispanic members. The unit's second-oldest surviving member, PFC Crescencia Garcia, 102, is Puerto Rican. The Army mistakenly referred to the unit as "colored" or "negro," which led to its false designation as an "all-Black" unit.
