The U.S. 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion (the SixTripleEight) was the first all-black and all-female army corps stationed abroad during World War II, according to Women of the 6888th. These brave ladies ensured the delivery of letters to almost 7 million troops across war-torn Europe, facing harrowing obstacles along the way (via Army History). Created in 1942, the battalion worked diligently, remaining true to their motto, “No mail, low morale.”
Despite focusing behind the lines on the mail, the women of the battalion faced real physical risks. These included German U-boat threats to their convoy on the way to Europe. Upon arrival, a German V1 rocket or “Buzz Bomb” nosedived the area where they disembarked from the ship, forcing the women to flee for cover. Fortunately, no one was injured.
Some 855 women served in the SixTripleEight under the direction of Major Charity Adams in Birmingham, England; Rouen, France; and finally Paris, France. Tasked with tackling many years’ worth of backlogged mail on the Continent, they worked out of dirty, dank, and rat-infested warehouses and aircraft hangars. Although they had six months to complete their assignment, the women did it in half the time. According to Audacy, a monument at Fort Leavenworth commemorates the brave women of this unit, as does a 2019 documentary called “The SixTripleEight.” This story has movie magic written all over it.
