Latest news with #SixTripleEight
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.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Family reacts to 6888th Battalion receiving highest honor
SAVANNAH, Ga (WSAV) — One 'Six-Triple-Eight' trailblazer, Annie Beatrice Knight, called Savannah home before she passed away in 2010, and Knight's daughter attended the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony on her mother's behalf on Tuesday. The Six Triple Eight, the only all black, all-female battalion deployed to Europe during WWII, has finally received one of the nation's highest civilian honors, the Congressional Gold Medal. The unit was tasked to tackle a backlog of millions of pieces of undelivered mail to build morale among U.S troops. Knight's daughter, Karen Jordan, said it has been a long time coming. 'The happiest part is that we did finally get the coin,' Jordan said. 'The saddest part about it is there are only two of the women left. The whole time I'm sitting there thinking, 'boy, my mother would have really loved this.'' It took 80-years for the nation to recognize the unit for their extraordinary feats. 'When you're doing a job, you're just doing it, and you just want to do your best and you're not thinking about what it means on a grander scale,' said Jordan. 'You're not thinking about how people will view it 80 years later. You just want it to do a good job. So, it's not surprising that it took 80 years for people to recognize things.' She said the 855 women left a lasting impact on generations. 'They say that if our mothers, these women, had not done the job that they did, that the black women who went into the military after feeling like they would never have had the opportunities that they had,' she said. 'They showed the military, and they showed the country that black women in the military can make a major contribution of historical significance.' Jordan said she will continue to preserve her mother's legacy and carry their story forward. 'We need we need to spend time trying to find out who our ancestors are and what they've contributed to the United States history, because we're major players in this country,' she said. 'And it's not just the few that you see in history books. I would say, if anything else, this has taught me that we need to do a lot of digging and we need to find out who we are.' Congress voted unanimously in 2022 to award the unit with the highest honor. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Congress honors WWII's All-Black, All-female battalion with Gold Medal
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – This week, in a rare moment of bipartisan unity, Congress awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, better known as the Six Triple Eight, the only all-Black, all-female unit to serve overseas during World War II. The ceremony brought together more than 300 descendants from across the country to honor the women whose work had remained largely unrecognized for decades. 'They had a painstaking job, but because they were not expected to succeed, it made them want to push forward,' said Stelena Hooper Evans, daughter of Pfc. Mildred Hooper, one of the unit's members. The Six Triple Eight was deployed to England and France in 1945 to sort a massive backlog of more than 17 million pieces of mail intended for American troops and their families. Tasked with completing the job in six months, the battalion succeeded in just three. Their work provided more than just logistical relief, it offered hope and connection during one of the darkest periods in modern history. 'And it could be something simple,' Evans said. 'Like: 'Your mother has started a new bakery.' Or it could have been a 'Dear John': 'I have left you and married your brother.'' For many descendants, the ceremony was not just an honor, but a revelation. Tremika Massey only learned about her grandmother, Pfc. Hester Givens Massey's service, while writing her obituary after her passing. 'She never talked about it,' Massey said. 'She was just a hard, stern grandmother. It all made sense later. She was over there making history, with bombs falling.' Among the 855 women who served in the unit was Lt. Col. Charity Adams Earley, the first African American woman commissioned in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. Her son, Stanley Earley, says she would be proud. 'She'd be really happy,' he said. Despite the critical role they played, the Six Triple Eight received no formal recognition when they returned home. Many later used the G.I. Bill to pursue higher education and became leaders in their communities. 'It doesn't matter about the obstacles in life,' said Jeri Marshall, daughter of Odessa Taylor Marshall. 'It's: can you meet the challenge?' 'They were history,' Massey added. 'And we are too, because they instilled those things in us.' Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) spoke at the event, emphasizing the impact of the long-overdue recognition. 'They will never, ever be hidden figures again,' he said. Only two surviving members of the Six Triple Eight are alive today. Neither was able to attend the ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. 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 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.
