By Fernanda Figueroa and Matt BrownThe Related Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The one Black, all-female unit to serve in Europe throughout World Conflict II, generally known as the “Six Triple Eight,” was honored April 29 with the Congressional Gold Medal, following a long-running marketing campaign to acknowledge their efforts.
The 6888th Central Postal Listing Battalion was credited with fixing a rising mail disaster throughout its stint in England and, upon their return, serving as a job mannequin to generations of Black ladies who joined the navy.
They cleared out a backlog of about 17 million items of mail in three months, twice as quick as projected. The battalion would go on to serve in France earlier than returning dwelling. And like many Black items throughout World Conflict II, their exploits by no means obtained the eye afforded their White counterparts — till now.
At a ceremony held in Emancipation Corridor on the U.S. Capitol’s customer middle, Home Speaker Mike Johnson introduced the medal to the household of the unit commander, Lt. Col. Charity Adams Earley. Greater than 300 descendants of the ladies who served within the battalion have been current within the crowd.
“This ceremony displays one of many highest and most cherished traditions of our republic, one which’s roots stretch again all the way in which to Basic George Washington,” Johnson stated.
“The Six Triple Eight are nice American patriots, loyal to a nation that, for much too lengthy, did not return the favor. And I’m glad to say that’s altering, and we’re doing that right here at the moment,” the Home speaker continued.
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Chief John Thune and Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer delivered remarks alongside the lawmakers who co-sponsored the laws enabling the medal. At the least two dozen members of Congress have been in attendance.
“Whereas illustration is necessary, it can be crucial after excellence,” Stanley Earley III, the son of the battalion’s commander, stated through the occasion.
“These troopers exemplified willpower within the face of adversity and demonstrated the flexibility to transcend what was regarded as potential. They overcame main obstacles to perceived success and made a considerable distinction to the military. They function an inspiring function mannequin for younger troopers getting into service at the moment, and they’re true examples of American excellence,” he added.
Kim Guise, senior curator and director of curatorial affairs on the Nationwide WWII Museum, stated there are solely two ladies dwelling from the 855 who served within the unit.
“That basically reveals how lengthy this recognition took,” Guise stated. “It’s actually necessary to acknowledge the accomplishments of those ladies and what they went by way of to serve their nation in wartime.”
Wisconsin Democratic Rep. Gwen Moore, who co-sponsored the laws to award the medal, known as it lengthy overdue.
“This ceremony is a becoming finish to a protracted journey to ensure that we don’t neglect their service,” stated Moore, who represents one of many two dwelling members of the battalion.
“They did it for the love of nation. And the story reminds us a lot that whereas there’s a lot that divides our nation at the moment, there’s much more than joins us collectively, like a dedication to service, a dedication to doing one thing greater than your self, to stay and volunteer, to enter service in a conflict zone, even within the face of segregation at dwelling,” stated Moore.
“I don’t know if any of the letters between my mother and pop handed by way of the arms of the Six Triple Eight, however I do know that the work they did made it potential for thousands and thousands of younger males like my dad to maintain up the combat,” stated Sen. Jerry Moran, who recounted assembly 5 of the battalion members in 2018.
Moran co-sponsored the Gold Medal laws within the Senate.
“When these ladies returned dwelling, there was no parade to greet them. Nobody lined the streets to thank them for his or her service. That ain’t proper. And we’re making an attempt to right it at the moment,” the Kansas Republican continued.
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, instructed The AP after the vote. “It’s one thing I by no means even considered.”
McClendon joined the Air Pressure after the navy was built-in and retired in 1971. She was the primary feminine to command an all-male squadron with the Strategic Air Command.
The 6888th was despatched abroad in 1945, a time when there was rising strain from African American organizations to incorporate Black ladies in what was known as the Girls’s Military Corps, and permit them to affix their White counterparts abroad.
“They stored hollering about wanting us to go abroad so I assume they discovered one thing for us to do abroad: Deal with the mail,” McClendon stated. “And there was an terrible lot of mail. … They anticipated we have been gonna be there about two or three months making an attempt to get it straightened out. Nicely I believe in a couple of month, in a month and a half, we had all of it straightened out and getting in the precise course.”
The 6888th toiled across the clock, processing about 65,000 items of mail in every of the three shifts. They created a system utilizing locator playing cards with service members’ names and unit numbers to make sure mail was delivered.
Over time, the unit’s story began to achieve 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 film for Netflix in regards to the unit, starring Kerry Washington.
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Related Press author Michael Casey contributed to this report.
