Latest news with #AnnaMaeRobertson
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Anna Mae Robertson: Milwaukee resident who was a member of famed Six Triple Eight during World War II dies at 101
Milwaukee's Anna Mae Robertson, who was part of the only all-Black female unit stationed overseas during World War II, has died at 101.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Milwaukee's Anna Mae Robertson, one of last surviving members of World War II's famed Six Triple Eight unit, dies at 101
Anna Mae Robertson, one of the last surviving members of the famed Six Triple Eight unit, has died. She was 101. Robertson was among the 855 women in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black female unit stationed overseas during World War II. The women were sent to Birmingham, England, to clear a nearly three-year logjam of mail. Sacks of letters were piled ceiling-high in a dark and damp warehouse, destined for homesick soldiers fighting in Europe. They came up with their own system — some were only addressed to "Junior, U.S. Army" or "Bob Smith." The battalion was charged with clearing it in six months. They cleared it in three, breaking all Army records. With the slogan 'No Mail, Low Morale,' the unit worked 24 hours a day, processing an average of 195,000 pieces of mail in three eight-hour shifts. They did it again in France. In 2022, Robertson, then 98, and other members of the Six Triple Eight received the Congressional Gold Medal. At the time, there were only six known living veterans of the unit. 'They broke barriers,' granddaughter Kenya Robertson told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel at the time. 'It took about 70 or so years for the world to know the role of Anna Robertson and the women of Six Triple Eight played in War World II.' Robertson was born in Mississippi and was living in Arkansas when her mother died. She had no way to support herself and decided to join the Army at 19 years old. Her brother, Zeredee Griffin, served in the Navy. "I felt as though we were relieving a man who could go over and fight. We could do what the men had been doing," Robertson told Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Meg Jones in 2014. After the war, Robertson visited Milwaukee to attend the wedding of a fellow Six Triple Eight member. She found a job as a nurse's aide at the VA hospital and lived in Milwaukee since. Her husband, John Robertson, died in 1982. In a May 31 statement about Robertson's passing, Democratic U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore said she joins the community in mourning her loss and remembering her trailblazing legacy. "I am thankful that my constituent, Ms. Robertson, was able to receive her flowers while she could still smell them," Moore said. More: Barrier breaker: Anna Mae Robertson played key role in stabilizing soldiers' morale during WWII After decades of little recognition or honor for their service, the story of Robertson's unit reached the big screen. "The Six Triple Eight," written and directed by Tyler Perry and starring Kerry Washington, began streaming on Netflix in December. It received an Academy Award nomination for best original song. The battalion was also featured in a 2019 documentary, produced by Wisconsin native James Theres, and the subject of a musical. In an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ahead of the film's release, Sheree Robertson described her mother as a "quiet warrior." She worked hard, raised eight children and lived a good life, Sheree said. She never expected anything in return but enjoyed the love and attention she received in recent years, she said. 'People need to realize the contributions those women made to their country and the sacrifices they made to their country when their country did not treat them with respect and dignity,' Sheree said. 'They still felt a duty to go in there and do an outstanding job.' American military units were segregated by race and gender during World War II. Members of the Six Triple Eight could not eat meals with other American soldiers. They ran their own dining facility and slept in separate barracks. Washington, who portrayed Six Triple Eight's leader Maj. Charity Adams in the film, said in a May 31 Facebook post that the day she met Robertson will be "forever cherished deeply in my heart." "Your legacy will live on through the strength of your beautiful family and in the hearts of Black people everywhere," Washington wrote. "You, and the extraordinary women of (the Six Triple Eight) you're meeting up in heaven, paved the way with grace, grit and bravery." Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter La Risa R. Lynch contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Anna Mae Robertson, member of Six Triple Eight battalion, dies at 101
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
'Six Triple Eight' service member Anna Mae Robertson dies at 101
The Brief A long-time Milwaukee resident who was recently honored for her service during World War II has passed away. Ann Mae Robertson served in the 'Six Triple Eight' during WWII, an all-female African American unit that cleared backlogs of mail sent to American soldiers. She was 101 years old. MILWAUKEE - Anna Mae Robertson, who served in the only all-female African-American unit deployed overseas during World War II, has died at age 101. Her service was recently celebrated and honored back in February 2025 in Milwaukee. What they're saying "I am deeply saddened to learn of Ms. Anna Mae Roberston's passing. Ms. Robertson was a hero who served her country in the Six Triple Eight Central Postal Directory Battalion, helping connect service members during World War II to their loved ones at a time when letters were the only way to stay in touch. Their selfless service played a crucial role in boosting morale during World War II. The story of the Six Triple Eight Battalion has since inspired Americans across the country." I am honored to have championed legislation to award Six Triple Eight members a Congressional Gold Medal. After receiving the Congressional Gold Medal and national recognition decades after her heroic service, I am thankful that my constituent, Ms. Robertson, was able to receive her flowers while she could still smell them. Though Ms. Robertson was born and raised in Arkansas, she moved to Milwaukee and established roots here, and we are so appreciative of that." "I join our community in mourning her loss and remembering her trailblazing legacy." SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News The backstory She broke barriers and played a pivotal role in World War II. Anna Mae Robertson served in the only all-female African American unit deployed overseas during the war, and her service was celebrated on Sunday, Feb. 23, in Milwaukee. There was praise and prayer inside Tabernacle Community Baptist Church. Even poetry for Black History Month. And it's the strength of a 100-year-old woman fueling celebration during the Sunday service. A quilt covers Anna Mae Robertson, fitting for a woman stitched into the fabric of American history. The backstory "Mother Anna Robertson was part of the 6888 all-women of color postal battalion unit who served in World War II," said Pastor Donna Childs. The "Six Triple Eight" was the first and only all-female African-American unit deployed overseas during World War II. The unit was tasked with clearing a two-year backlog of mail to send to American troops. "Their motto was "no mail, low morale," Childs added. They had to clear millions of pieces, and they did it in record time. They were given six months to finish the job. They did it in three. The unit received little recognition shortly after the war. In 2024, Tyler Perry wrote and directed a movie based on the women's experience for Netflix. What they're saying "Today, we recognize one of our own for her service and engagement to this country," said Gregory Jones with the NAACP. Robertson received recognitions from the NAACP and County Executive David Crowley. "Let's understand that she fought for us, and she fought for our ability to stand up and use our voices as well," Crowley said. The mother of eight sat quietly with her family around her during the event. There was pure pride from the front row for a woman who helped support the front lines. "While we recognize her, that we give her her flowers, that we have a role to play because we have a responsibility to her as well," Crowley added. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android Gov. Tony Evers also honored Robertson with a resolution. It's another recognition for a trailblazing woman who turns 101 next month. The Six Triple Eight women received a Congressional Gold Medal. The Source FOX6 originally reported on Anna Mae Robertson's service at a celebration back in February 2025. U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore provided the information on her passing in a statement sent to FOX6.
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@
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@
