Latest news with #KarenJordan
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
New Jersey lawmakers look to honor the women of Six Triple Eight
ALLENTOWN, N.J. (PIX11) — Unsung, and largely unseen, these women were heroes of World War II. They were the Women's Army Corp's 6888th Postal Directory Battalion – the first and only battalion of women of Color who served overseas in the war. Their mission was to make sure troops received their mail – a task more daunting than you might imagine. More Local News 'They had six airplane hangars full of mail packed to the ceiling,' said Dr. Karen Jordan, a descendent of one of the Six Triple Eight's soldiers, 'and the Army gave them six months to clear this.' With soldiers not getting letters from their families, and morale falling fast, the Six Triple Eight was sent to do the impossible – all while dealing with poor conditions, racism, and sexism. Not only did they finish the job, they did it ahead of schedule. 'These trailblazing women broke barriers, demonstrated extraordinary resilience and dedication to our country,' said Assemblywoman Tennille McCoy (D-NJ 14th District). In New Jersey, their story could soon be etched into history. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State On Monday, the Assembly Veterans and Military Affairs committee moved forward with a joint resolution bill to formally recognize the Six Triple Eight. If it is passed by both chambers and signed by the Governor, New Jersey will recognize May 18th every year as Six Triple Eight Day. One of the soldiers of the battalion hails from the small town of Allentown, New Jersey, just a 15-minute drive from the State House. 'It's a huge source of pride as a little town,' said Michael McCormick of the Allentown Village Initiative. Marion VanOrkey was one of the 855 women of the battalion, almost 30 of which were from New Jersey. 'We want them… to learn the story, to know, and be inspired by it,' said McCormick. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Honoring Black History: Savannah and ‘The Six Triple Eight'
By now, many of you have heard the story of the 6888– the all-Black, all-female army unit tasked with the critical mission of sorting and delivering backlogged mail to soldiers overseas during World War did you know that at least one of the women in that battalion has a local connection?WSAV's Kim Gusby shares the story of the soldier who helped challenge barriers of both race and gender. For more on the women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, contact Dr. Karen Jordan at ktjordan6888@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
