Latest news with #6888thCentralPostalDirectoryBattalion
Toronto Star
30-04-2025
- General
- Toronto Star
Black female WWII unit, ‘Six Triple Eight,' receives congressional medal
WASHINGTON (AP) — 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.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Historic Black female WWII unit receives congressional honor
The only Black, all-female unit to serve in Europe during World War II, commonly 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. They cleared out a backlog of about 17 million pieces of mail in three months, twice as fast as projected. The battalion would go on to serve in France before returning home. And like many Black units during World War II, their exploits never got the attention afforded their white counterparts — until now. Black female WWII unit hoping to get congressional honor At a ceremony held in Emancipation Hall at the U.S. Capitol's visitor center, House Speaker Mike Johnson presented the medal to the family of the unit commander, Lt. Col. Charity Adams Earley. More than 300 descendants of the women who served in the battalion were present in the crowd. 'This ceremony reflects one of the highest and most cherished traditions of our republic, one that's roots stretch back all the way to General George Washington,' Johnson said in remarks at the event. '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,' the House speaker continued. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer delivered remarks alongside the lawmakers who co-sponsored the legislation enabling the medal. At least two dozen members of Congress were in attendance. Kim Guise, senior curator and director of curatorial affairs at the National WWII Museum, said there are only two women living from the 855 who served in the unit. 'That really shows how long this recognition took,' Guise said. 'It is really important to recognize the accomplishments of these women and what they went through to serve their country in war time.' Wisconsin Democratic Rep. Gwen Moore, who co-sponsored the legislation to award the medal to the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, called it a long-overdue honor for the women in the unit. 'These heroes deserve their dues; and I am so glad their story is being told,' Moore told The Associated Press on Monday. 'I am especially honored to ensure my constituent, Ms. Anna Mae Robertson, and the many others who served with her, are recognized for their selfless service.' In 2022, Congress voted 422-0 to bestow its highest honor on the 6888th. 'It's overwhelming,' retired Maj. Fannie Griffin McClendon, who lives in Arizona, told The AP after the vote. 'It's something I never even thought about it.' McClendon joined the Air Force after the military was integrated and retired in 1971. She was the first female to command an all-male squadron with the Strategic Air Command. 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. 'They kept hollering about wanting us to go overseas so I guess they found something for us to do overseas: Take care of the mail,' McClendon said. 'And there was an awful lot of mail. … They expected we were gonna be there about two or three months trying to get it straightened out. Well I think in about a month, in a month and a half, we had it all straightened out and going in the right direction.' 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 a service member's name and unit number to ensure mail was delivered. Over the years, the unit's story started to gain wider recognition. A monument was erected in 2018 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to honor them, and the 6888th was given the Meritorious Unit Commendation in 2019. A documentary 'The Six Triple Eight' was made about their exploits. In 2024, Tyler Perry directed a movie for Netflix about the unit, starring Kerry Washington. Associated Press writer Michael Casey contributed to this report.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Congress honors Six Triple Eight, the Black, all-female WWII unit
The nation's only Black, all-female unit to serve in Europe during World War II was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal on Tuesday, decades after their efforts helped lift morale for soldiers fighting in battle. 'The Six Triple Eight are great American patriots, loyal to a nation that, for far too long, failed to return the favor,' House Speaker Mike Johnson said at Tuesday's ceremony. 'And I'm glad to say that's changing, and we're doing that here today.' The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, often referred to as the Six Triple Eight, cleared a backlog of nearly 17 million pieces of mail in three months during the war — twice as fast as expected. The women, who faced both racial and sexism during their service, were credited with ensuring service members received letters from their loved ones. They served first in England before moving to France. In 2021, the Senate passed legislation to award the women the highest honor in Congress: the Congressional Gold Medal, followed by a 422-0 House vote in 2022. Former President Biden signed the bill into law that year. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), who co-sponsored the legislation for the award, said at the time that the medal 'is only fitting for these veterans who received little recognition for their service after returning home.' Tuesday's ceremony took place in Emancipation Hall at the U.S. Capitol, a 'fitting place' to recognize the Six Triple Eight's work, Moore said, because of the enslaved and free Africans who built it with little to no recognition — much like the women of the 6888th Battalion. 'The Six Triple Eight Battalion were these unsung sheroes who served their country,' Moore said. 'They did it because they were patriotic, not because they ever thought they would get any recognition.' Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said the battalion was that of 'extraordinary women.' 'These fiercely passionate, patriotic and persistent members of the women's army corps, deployed knowing that they would confront the dual challenges of racism and sexism at the hands of their own military and beyond,' Jeffries said. He referenced the women's battle cry — No mail, low morale — as he spoke of how they accomplished 'what others could not, in a war zone with bombs dropping above and horrific warehouse conditions.' Tuesday's ceremony, Jeffries added, was the opportunity to salute these 'mighty veterans,' including those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Of the 855 women who served in the battalion, only two are still alive, according to the Associated Press. Johnson on Tuesday presented the medal to the family of the unit commander, Lt. Col. Charity Adams Earley. The award followed years of advocacy, including having a monument erected in their honor in 2018 at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. In 2019, the women were awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation. Just last year, a Netflix film starring Kerry Washington and directed by Tyler Perry explored the women's story. The award comes amid President Trump's crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion in federal agencies, including the military. Trump signed an executive order earlier this year directing the military to remove all DEI programs and policies from the armed forces. But in its efforts to comply with Trump's order, the Pentagon faced backlash for removing webpages dedicated to Black service members — including Army Maj. Gen. Charles C. Rogers, a recipient of the Medal of Honor — the Navajo Code Talkers and Japanese Americans. 'Amid Trump's efforts to rewrite history, the Six Triple Eight story is so important to share,' Moore told The Hill in a statement on Tuesday. 'We cannot forget their contributions and heroic service to our country, boosting service member morale under the difficult conditions of war. I'm honored to help lift up their stories and to see more Americans learn this history.' Jeffries on Tuesday emphasized that the ceremony was bipartisan. 'We reject any efforts now to erase this history,' said Jeffries. 'That is why this bipartisan ceremony is so particularly important. The women of the Six Triple Eight overcame the odds, disproved the doubters and courageously contributed to the allied victory in World War II.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Only Black female WWII unit receives Congressional Gold Medal
The only Black, all-female unit serving in Europe during World War II received the Congressional Gold Medal on Tuesday at the United States Capitol. The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, commonly known as the "Six Triple Eight," addressed a backlog of roughly 17 million pieces of mail in three months before serving in France and eventually returning to the U.S. Alongside Congressional bipartisan leaders, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) presented the honor, which is the highest civilian honor awarded by Congress, to the family of the unit commander, Lt. Col. Charity Adams Earley. Over 300 descendants and family members of the Six Triple Eight battalion were present for the ceremony, according to Johnson in his speech. "This remarkable story has brightly captured imaginations, it has now inspired books and movies, stirred the consciousness of millions of Americans, who are just now hearing and sharing this incredible story," Johnson said. Earley's children, Stanley Earley III and Judith Earley, received the award from the House and Senate leaders. During their service in 1945, the 855-member battalion did not gain any fanfare or recognition for their feats. This medal comes after years of campaigning for the overlooked battalion that many say set an example for Black women in the military. Congress voted 422-0 to award the 6888th with this honor back in 2022. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.), who co-sponsored the legislation, spoke at the ceremony, praising the "unsung heroes" receiving the acknowledgement 80 years later. This honor marks the latest development in the unit's overdue recognition. A monument was erected in 2018 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in their honor, and the 6888th was given the Meritorious Unit Commendation by the U.S. Army in 2019. The 2024 Tyler Perry-directed Netflix film about the unit, which starred Kerry Washington, earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song. Retired Col. Edna Cummings, who shared a few words of acceptance at the ceremony, directed a documentary on the unit in 2019. "This history has now restored the passion of service, as evidenced by young girls who now dress up as members of the Six Triple Eight," she said. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) shared a few words at the ceremony, emphasizing the importance of a bipartisan celebration in today's political climate. "We gather here today to salute these mighty veterans. We salute the ingenuity with which they sprang into battle," Jeffries said. "We salute the barriers that they broke in the system designed to push them aside. We salute their trailblazing spirit and the road that they paved for others." The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion joins the less than 200 recipients to receive the Congressional Gold Medal. Only Black female WWII unit receives Congressional Gold Medal originally appeared on
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
Only Black female WWII unit receives Congressional Gold Medal
The only Black, all-female unit serving in Europe during World War II received the Congressional Gold Medal on Tuesday at the United States Capitol. The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, commonly known as the "Six Triple Eight," addressed a backlog of roughly 17 million pieces of mail in three months before serving in France and eventually returning to the U.S. Alongside Congressional bipartisan leaders, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) presented the honor, which is the highest civilian honor awarded by Congress, to the family of the unit commander, Lt. Col. Charity Adams Earley. Over 300 descendants and family members of the Six Triple Eight battalion were present for the ceremony, according to Johnson in his speech. "This remarkable story has brightly captured imaginations, it has now inspired books and movies, stirred the consciousness of millions of Americans, who are just now hearing and sharing this incredible story," Johnson said. Earley's children, Stanley Earley III and Judith Earley, received the award from the House and Senate leaders. During their service in 1945, the 855-member battalion did not gain any fanfare or recognition for their feats. This medal comes after years of campaigning for the overlooked battalion that many say set an example for Black women in the military. Congress voted 422-0 to award the 6888th with this honor back in 2022. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.), who co-sponsored the legislation, spoke at the ceremony, praising the "unsung heroes" receiving the acknowledgement 80 years later. This honor marks the latest development in the unit's overdue recognition. A monument was erected in 2018 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in their honor, and the 6888th was given the Meritorious Unit Commendation by the U.S. Army in 2019. The 2024 Tyler Perry-directed Netflix film about the unit, which starred Kerry Washington, earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song. Retired Col. Edna Cummings, who shared a few words of acceptance at the ceremony, directed a documentary on the unit in 2019. "This history has now restored the passion of service, as evidenced by young girls who now dress up as members of the Six Triple Eight," she said. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) shared a few words at the ceremony, emphasizing the importance of a bipartisan celebration in today's political climate. "We gather here today to salute these mighty veterans. We salute the ingenuity with which they sprang into battle," Jeffries said. "We salute the barriers that they broke in the system designed to push them aside. We salute their trailblazing spirit and the road that they paved for others." The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion joins the less than 200 recipients to receive the Congressional Gold Medal.
