Seventy-nine years after their trailblazing service in World War II, the women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion — the only all-Black Women’s Army Corps unit to serve overseas during the war — have finally received one of the nation’s highest honors. Two years after President Joe Biden signed a proclamation paving the way, the battalion has been awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.
“These heroes deserve their dues,” said Rep. Gwen Moore of Wisconsin. “And I am so glad their story is being told.”
Formed in 1944 amid mounting pressure to include Black women in overseas military roles, the 6888th was created to resolve a massive mail crisis. With more than 7 million U.S. troops, Red Cross workers, and government personnel stationed across Europe, timely mail delivery had ground to a halt. By early 1945, the Army estimated a backlog of nearly 17 million undelivered letters and packages — some dating back years.
The Army’s solution was a battalion of approximately 850 Black women, led by Maj. Charity Adams, who would go on to become the highest-ranking Black woman in the Army during the war. The unit arrived in Birmingham, England, in February 1945 and immediately set to work, sorting an estimated 65,000 pieces of mail per shift, 24 hours a day. They used a system of locator cards to track service members and ensure mail reached the right recipients.
“They expected we were going to be there two or three months trying to get it straightened out,” recalled retired Maj. Fannie Griffin McClendon, one of only two surviving members. “Well, I think in about a month, month and a half, we had it all straightened out and going in the right direction.”
Completing the job in half the projected time, the battalion not only cleared the massive backlog but also helped restore morale for soldiers desperate to hear from loved ones back home.
The women were later deployed to Rouen and Paris, France, continuing their mission while confronting additional challenges — including widespread mail theft, systemic racism and sexism, and the trauma of burying fellow soldiers killed in a tragic vehicle accident. When the War Department refused to fund the funerals, the women paid for them themselves.
Despite their remarkable efficiency and praise from fellow service members, the 6888th returned home to a country that failed to recognize their contributions. They received only the standard medals awarded to most who served, without any special commendation. Recognition began to grow in the 1980s, as their story reemerged through books, reunions, museum exhibits, and documentaries.
A monument honoring the 6888th was erected at Fort Leavenworth in 2018, and the unit received the Meritorious Unit Commendation in 2019. In 2022, Congress unanimously passed a resolution — 422-0 — to award them the Congressional Gold Medal. President Biden signed the bipartisan bill the following year.
“That really shows how long this recognition took,” said Kim Guise, senior curator at the National WWII Museum. “It is incredibly important to honor these women and acknowledge what they endured to serve their country.”
The medal is a posthumous tribute for most of the battalion’s 855 members. Only two are alive today, including McClendon, who went on to join the Air Force after military integration. She later became the first woman to command an all-male Strategic Air Command squadron.
In addition to the medal and other honors, the story of the Six Triple Eight has entered popular culture. Netflix recently released a feature film titled The Six Triple Eight, directed by Tyler Perry and starring Kerry Washington.
“They kept hollering about wanting us to go overseas,” McClendon said. “So I guess they found something for us to do: take care of the mail. And there was an awful lot of mail.”
“It’s overwhelming,” she added. “It’s something I never even thought about.”
