While many Second World War heroes served on and off the battlefield to protect freedom, some did not get the recognition they deserved. For some, it seems, recognition takes time. The unit known as “the Six Triple Eight,” or the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion was denied honors they earned for decades.
This group earned an important spot in the history books as the only all-female, African American unit to serve in Europe during the Second World War. While, on the surface, they were addressing an issue with mail backlog, their presence meant much more. Morale was low as millions of pieces of mail were undelivered to service members and volunteers. Of course, processing this mail was important, but even more so was what The Six Triple Eight represented.
It was a time when women and African Americans slowly gaining more opportunities. The 6888th inspired many Americans and opened doors for other under-represented populations.
Unfortunately, the 855 members did not receive much recognition upon returning home. With only seven members still living, a bill passed the U.S. Senate in April 2021 which President Biden signed into law last year, finally awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the battalion.
The story of the Six Triple Eight shows how easy it is for those who helped shape America to be forgotten and left behind. It is unacceptable. We are working to encourage Congress to do more for members of the greatest generation who did so much. See what we are doing here.
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