Known as the ‘six triple eight’, the battalion was the only group of African American women to serve overseas during second world war
Highlights
- The 6888th central post directory battalion, also known as the ‘six triple eight’, was the only group of African American women to serve overseas during second world war.
- Created in 1944, it included 824 enlisted Black women and 31 officers from the women’s army corps, the army service forces and the army air forces.
- In Europe, the battalion sorted and routed mail for over 4 million American service members and civilians.
- The battalion was also credited with solving a growing mail crisis due to a shortage of postal officers.
- The women faced racist and sexist treatment, including “hostility and rumors impugning their character spread by both white and Black male soldiers”