Celebrating Black history month with the inspiring story of the Six Triple Eight
The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, nicknamed the “Six Triple Eight”, was the only all-black, all-female battalion overseas during World War II. They were dedicated to the mission to boost morale for service members but it would take decades for their country to acknowledge them for their service.
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Letters offer insight into personal relationships during World War II. More than 16 million Americans were drafted into service and their letters home painted a real picture of what it was like to be at war.
Letters from the homefront offered soldiers a reminder that there was a world apart from war. Someone who knew them not only as a soldier but as a father, husband, sibling or friend.
Their letters were historical records of the war and something tangible. A source of connection and comfort through the only form of communication during wartime that offered soldiers and their loved ones something to hold on to.
By the time the war ended in 1945, nearly 300,000 American soldiers had died and their letters would be all that many families had left of them.
Many families had their treasured letters because of a group of women who served in World War II…but received no recognition when they returned from their overseas mission.
Trained in Georgia, the women were part of the US Army’s 6888 Central Postal Directory Battalion…they were the only all Black all female battalion to serve overseas during World War II.
They were dedicated to the mission to restore order in a chaotic situation and help boost morale for service members but it would take decades for their country to acknowledge and thank them for their service.
Episode Photos
Videos
Uncut footage of the Six Triple Eight working in Birmingham, England school buildings in 1945. Source: National Archives
Six Triple Eight Documentary trailer. The 56-minute documentary is available for purchase at Lincolnpennyfilms
SixTripleEight trailer from James Theres on Vimeo.
Episode Sources
Double V Campaign. Newspapers.com
LTC Charity Adams Early. Women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion
6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. National Museum United States Army
Lena King, 6888 Central Postal Directory Battalion U.S. Army, World War II. Veterans Chronicles. Dec 5, 2019
These Black Female Heroes Made Sure U.S. WWII Forces Got Their Mail. History. February 21, 2019.
Procession, funeral for Bertha Dupre set for Friday morning. The Salisbury Post. March 20, 2019
The SixTripleEight: No Mail, Low Morale. National World War II Museum New Orleans. February 10, 2021
Sen. Moran Introduces Bill to Award the Congressional Gold Medal to the WWII “Six-Triple-Eight” Battalion. Jerry Moran United States Senator for Kansas. February 2021
Black female WWII unit hoping to get congressional honor. Associated Press. July 13, 2021
Honoring Veterans of WWII: Women of the 6888th. Burns and McConnell. November 18, 2021
And Still, They Served: Black Servicewomen in World War II. Military Women’s Memorial.
Invisible Warriors: African American Women in World War II. Charlie Horse Productions
Episode Music
Sugar Pines by Wes Hutchison Licensed under Creative Commons
Alone With My Thoughts by Esther Abrami Licensed under Creative Commons
Theme Song “Dark & Troubled” by Pantherburn. Special thanks to Phillip St Ours for permission for use
