by Barbara Smith

In 1945, the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion was the only all-female, all-Black, Army battalion sent to World War II and Europe. These women were assigned the tremendous task of sorting through millions of backlogged pieces of mail intended for members of the U.S. military, U.S. government personnel, and Red Cross workers. If you’ve never heard of this unit, you are not alone, as so many stories of heroism among female troops, especially troops of color, get lost between the lines of our American history books.  Thanks to a documentary, “Six Triple Eight,” released in 2019 and which enjoyed a special screening earlier this week in honor of Black History Month, the once-untold story of these heroic women helps to amplify the voices and experiences of Black women in the military and ensure that their contributions are recognized and celebrated.

The special online screening was hosted by the Foundation for Women Warriors, a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring the women veteran community. “Our organization is about empowering women of all generations and honoring those before us that paved the way to make our experiences different,” says Keshia Javis-Jones, Director of Community Partnerships. The organization, which is based in Vista, has outreach throughout California and the rest of the country, and provides programs to enhance the personal and economic wellbeing of women veterans while addressing the needs of military women transitioning to civilian life. In its 103rd year, the Foundation began as a housing association, serving war nurses and widows.  Now, recognizing the obstacles and unique challenges women veterans face, the organization assists with unmet basic needs such as financial stability, adequate childcare, professional and personal development, stable employment, and a far-reaching support system. A big part of their mission is to supply the tools and skills for transitioning and adapting to the civilian workforce that may not have been part of the military transition training.

Keshia Javis Jones

Javis-Jones, a 10-year veteran of the Marine Corps who has seen combat and who also served as an administrator and reserve career planner, has a unique perspective on the experiences and needs of the women veteran community. And she has a special connection that drew her to the 6888 story. Her grandfather, Berlin Sanders, served in World War II, she explains. “He used to talk about receiving letters from my grandmother and how that gave him hope to return home,” said Javis-Jones.  “There was a time he didn’t get any mail and now we know it was because of that incredible backlog.”

In the documentary, we learn how In February 1945, the U.S. Army sent 855 Black women from the Women’s Army Corps (WACs) to England and France to clear the backlog of mail in the European Theater of Operations.  The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, known as the Six Triple Eight, worked three shifts a day, seven days a week, under grimy conditions at the warehouses in Birmingham, England. Confronted with racism and sexism from their own leadership and troops, they served with honor and distinction, exceeding all expectations, completing their mission in six months.  By war’s end, they had amazingly cleared over 17 million pieces of backlogged mail ensuring the troops stayed in touch with their loved ones back home.   And because of their success, it opened the doors for other Black women in the Army and other military services.

The last of the women returned home in March 1946, but until recently, their story remained untold. As a result of research, publications, this documentary and other outreach, a bill was led through Congress by Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), Jake LaTurner (R-Kan.), and Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the 6888 veterans. The bill was signed into law in 2022 by President Joe Biden. Said Moore at the ceremony, “Facing both racism and sexism in a war zone, these women…ensured service members received letters from their loved ones. A Congressional Gold Medal is only fitting for these veterans who received little recognition for their service after returning home.”

Javis-Jones, who assisted in advocacy efforts to garner support for the Congressional Gold Medal, had the opportunity to meet with one of these veterans, Corporal Lena Derriecott King, who is featured in the documentary. “I was able to visit her in her home in Las Vegas,” offers Javis-Jones. “We spoke about her experiences in the 6888th one-on-one and she shared memorabilia with me, which was very meaningful.” Sadly, King passed away this past January at age 99.

At this point, we have only 4 known veteran survivors of the 6888th. But the stories live on in the documentary, and, says Javis-Jones, “As a viewer you get to honor women’s military history as well as engage with Black History month. You learn about the history of women veterans during war time, especially the World War II era. Many times, women have been unrecognized or under recognized for their time in the service, so taking that time and capturing that story about them, what they accomplished and what it really meant to those troops is of great value. Many people don’t know these stories, and this is a great way to honor them.”

Black women have historically been underrepresented in mainstream media, and this extends to their portrayal in stories about the military. To complement the documentary and bring more well-deserved attention to the women pioneers of the 6888th, later this year, their story will hit the big screen with actor/director Tyler Perry’s full-length Netflix film “Six Thirty Eight,” another step forward to shine more light on a too-long untold part of our American history.

For more information on the Foundation for Women Warriors, visit foundationforwomenwarriors.org.