This was a time before internet, email, and cellphones. A time before many of us can recall, but most of us know because of movie adaptations. Correspondence has become a casual expectation because of the many forms in which we can easily communicate now, but we forget how extremely important mail was before the advancement of technology. It was so important the military made their correspondence a high priority. Something later realized but not always practiced.
In February 1945, amid World War II, Europe had a crisis of mail. Warehouses in Birmingham, England, were filled with millions of pieces of mail intended for members of the United States military, U.S. government personnel, and Red Cross workers. There was a need for soldiers in other areas leaving no one to combat the mail crisis.
Army officials at the time reported that the lack of reliable mail delivery was hurting morale. This should not be dismissed — words of love and encouragement were highly important to sustaining soldiers amid the chaos and atrocities of war, including now. Waiting weeks sometimes, to hear a word from someone outside of war to keep them going, could make a person even in this 21st century anxious, especially with the near-instant communication we’ve adapted to. When mail is the primary way of communication for those outside of the country, particularly for a soldier during wartime who doesn’t know what day could be there last, getting mail in a timely manner can be critical.
These challenges unfolded during periods of pervasive racism, segregation, and sexism in the U.S. and around the world. In 1943, President Franklin Roosevelt signed into law a bill that created the Women’s Army Corps of the U.S. Army (WAC). First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and civil rights leader Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune advocated for the admittance of African-American women as personnel and officers into the WAC. Several units of White women were sent to serve in the European theater, but African-American women of the WAC were left out. Black organizations pressed the military officials to give the same opportunity for the African American women of the WACs to also serve overseas.
In November 1944, the War Department granted African-American women of the WAC permission to serve overseas. Initially, recruitment was slow but a battalion of 824 personnel and 31 officers enlisted all African American women from the WAC. The battalion of 855 Black women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory were transported to Europe. They faced both racism and sexism after bravely traveling into Europe to combat the crisis of mail, estimated at over 17 million pieces of letters and packages described as reaching as high as a ceiling.
If the task didn’t seem challenging enough, the conditions certainly were. They lived and worked in unheated and poorly lit buildings. They were practically forced to stay in an environment with blacked-out windows to prevent light from creeping out at night due to air raids. Rats often sought out care packages that contained spoiled pastries. During the harsh winters, they had to wear multiple layers of clothing under their coats in the warehouse. They worked 24/7 in three separate eight-hour shifts so that work could continue around the clock. The workers would track individual soldiers with almost 7 million information cards that included serial numbers to distinguish soldiers who may have had the same name. They often investigated insufficient addressed mail for clues to determine who the correspondence was intended for, as well as oversaw the unfortunate duty of returning mail addressed to servicemembers who had died in the war.
The sexism women of the 6888th endured was not simply from White men. They were subjected to hostility and rumors questioning their character, Black male Soldiers as well, resented women being allowed in the Army.
Despite the adversities they faced, women processed an average of 65,000 pieces of mail per shift and cleared a six-month backlog of mail within three months. The women adopted a motto of “No mail, low morale.” After completing the duties in Birmingham, the battalion went to France, including Paris, to help with mail services before returning to the U.S. in February 1946.
Unbeknownst to the women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory, they went into history as the only all Black female battalion sent overseas during World War II.
The Congressional Gold Medal, highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions, is one of the, highest civilian awards given out. Congress approved the the award for the 6888th Central Postal Directory was approved on Feb. 12, 2021, and on February 28, voted unanimously to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the 6888th Central Postal Directory. On March 14, President Joe Biden signed legislation awarding the Gold Medal to all 855 members of the Battalion. Only 173 Congressional Gold Medals have been awarded since 1776. Currently, the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion are the only military women’s unit to receive a Congressional Gold Medal.
Only six of the 855 members of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion are known to be living. Romay Davis, the oldest of six survivors of the Battalion, was one of the women who received a call from First Lady Jill Biden congratulating her of the achievement thanking Davis for her service. Davis, at the age of 102, attended a ceremony on July 26 in Montgomery, Alabama, honoring her military service. She received her black belt in martial arts at age 70, and worked at a store until age 101. Davis’ story is one of the many women stories of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion that are filled with hard work, perseverance, trials and determination.
The 855 women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion demonstrated strength, bravery and courage, paving the way for so many women of color. They served their country despite the battles that were being fought to make a better place for themselves and generations to come. They prevailed through war, harsh living conditions and they surpassed expectations by successfully completed their mission. So many of the women like Davis continue to build upon the incredible stories of their lives and served their country into their late years. We all owe a great deal of gratitude to these extraordinary women, which is why I salute the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion and thank them for their service.
