Latest news with #CharityAdamsEarley
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Six Triple Eight presented with Congressional Gold Medal by Speaker Mike Johson
WASHINGTON, D.C. (KTAL/KMSS) – Members of an elite female WWII unit that notably improved the morale for soldiers on the European battlefront were honored by Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday. During a Congressional Medal Ceremony on April 30, the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, also referred to as the Six Triple Eight, received the honor during the bipartisan event. The Six Triple Eight was the first and only all-Black, all-female unit to serve overseas in Europe during WWII. Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams Earley, the unit was instrumental in clearing the U.S. Army's backlog of over 17 million pieces of mail in just three months, which was twice as fast as the projected completion time. 'The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest honor this body can bestow. It's reserved for those whose courage and service shaped our country and our nation's story,' Speaker Johnson said. 'It's in this spirit that we gather to award this medal to the 6888, the Central Postal Directory. It's 6888, but we call it the six triple eight.' The ceremony was held in Emancipation Hall of the U.S. Capitol, and House and Senate leadership were in attendance for the momentous event. Also present were Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams Earley's son, Stanley Earley III, and daughter, Judith Earley, who accepted the medal on behalf of the 855 women who served in the Six Triple Eight. Speaker Johnson continued his remarks saying, 'This battalion was the first and the only unit of African American women to serve overseas during World War II. As tens of thousands of Allied forces made their final push across Europe, the mail system was stretched thin from scarce resources. It was crippling under the weight of wartime logistics. Then, just as today, letters of home were very, very important. They were lifelines that grounded the soldiers. They reminded our brave heroes of all they were fighting for, it was actually waiting back at home. Morale reports during the war underscore just how important mail was to the soldiers' spirit, so much so that the phrase no mail, low morale became widespread. It was later adopted by the army as the official motto of the six triple eight yet for all the importance of mail, millions of undelivered letters piled up in dark warehouses across Europe, and those letters might well have stayed there, were it not for the work of the women that we celebrate today?' In 2024, Tyler Perry directed 'Six Triple Eight,' a biopic starring Kerry Washington as Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams Earley, which shares the long-forgotten story of women often overlooked in WWII history. Their dedicated service kept soldiers connected to loved ones while they valiantly fought to liberate Europe. 'Okay, these women and the entire Six Triple Eight, are great American patriots, loyal to a nation that, for far too long, failed to return that favor. And I'm glad to say that that's changing, and we're doing that here today,' Speaker Johnson said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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.
CBS News
29-04-2025
- General
- CBS News
The Six Triple Eight, an all-Black female WWII unit, receives Congressional Gold Medal
Julia McNeil's family reflects on her historic role in WWII's Six Triple Eight An all-Black, all-female World War II unit received the Congressional Gold Medal on Tuesday for improving soldiers' morale with their work sorting mail addressed to those on the frontlines. Congress passed bipartisan legislation in 2022 to recognize the unit with the gold medal, one of the highest civilian honors. On Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson hosted the ceremony to award the honor in Emancipation Hall at the U.S. Capitol building. "The entire Six Triple Eight are great American patriots, loyal to a nation that for far too long failed to return that favor," said the Louisiana Republican in his opening remarks at the ceremony. The unit, whose motto was "no mail, low morale," worked to sort through a two-to-three year backlog of mail in just three months, surpassing the six-month goal set by the Army. The women's work was credited with saving relationships and lifting spirits on the frontlines. The movie "The Six Triple Eight," directed by Tyler Perry and starring Kerry Washington as Charity Adams Earley, the commander of the battalion, was released last year, bringing the unit's story to a wider audience. Charity Adams Earley died in 2002. Her son, Stanley, spoke at the ceremony at the Capitol Tuesday to accept the honor on his mother's behalf. "The Congressional Gold Medal has reinforced the principle that those who dedicate themselves fully, regardless of race or gender can be recognized at the highest levels, and above all, that excellence matters," Earley said. Neither of the two living veterans of the Six Triple Eight were in attendance to receive the honor, according to retired Colonel Edna Cummings, who led a multi-year effort advocating for the honor. "I am more than honored to be with you today to present the Six Triple Eight with our nation's highest civilian award, the long-awaited, much-sought-after Congressional Gold Medal," Cummings said. "The Six Triple Eight is now listed among the less than 200 recipients since General George Washington first received it in 1776." The Six Triple Eight is one of the units whose pictures briefly disappeared from Defense Department websites as the Pentagon worked through its purge of content promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI.) "Please help us to ensure that the story of the Six Triple Eight and the honors and the recognition that they received are protected and remembered for future generations," Earley said when concluding his remarks at the ceremony.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Watch: House awards Congressional Gold Medal to only Black, all-female World War II battalion
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) hosted a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony to the members of the 'Six Triple Eight' battalion — the only Black, all-female unit to serve during World War II. The move came after a long-running campaign for the group — who was credited with helping to solve a growing mail crisis in England, according to The Associated Press — to be recognized. During the ceremony, which was held in Emancipation Hall at the Capitol, the family of unit commander, Lt. Col. Charity Adams Earley, was presented with the medal. The event was scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. EDT. Watch the video replay above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Watch live: House awards Congressional Gold Medal to only Black, all-female World War II battalion
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) will host a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony to the members of the 'Six Triple Eight' battalion — the only Black, all-female unit to serve during World War II. The move comes after a long-running campaign for the group — who was credited with helping to solve a growing mail crisis in England, according to The Associated Press — to be recognized. During the ceremony, which will be held in Emancipation Hall at the Capitol, the family of unit commander, Lt. Col. Charity Adams Earley, will be presented with the medal. The event is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. EDT. Watch the live video above.
