Six Triple Eight Honored With Congressional Gold Medal \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black, all-female unit to serve in Europe during WWII, was honored with the Congressional Gold Medal. The battalion famously cleared a massive wartime mail backlog, yet remained underrecognized for decades. Their belated recognition celebrates their excellence, sacrifice, and historical significance.
Quick Looks
- The 6888th was the only Black, all-female unit to serve overseas in WWII.
- They sorted over 17 million backlogged mail items in Europe in record time.
- Congress awarded them the Congressional Gold Medal following a unanimous 2022 vote.
- Over 300 descendants attended the Emancipation Hall ceremony in Washington, D.C.
- Only two members of the original 855 women are still alive today.
- Their legacy is now commemorated through medals, monuments, films, and documentaries.
Deep Look
6888th Battalion Awarded Congressional Gold Medal in Historic Recognition of Black Women’s Service in WWII
In a long-awaited act of national recognition, the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion—known as the “Six Triple Eight”—was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal on Tuesday during a moving ceremony held at Emancipation Hall at the U.S. Capitol. This honor comes after decades of advocacy to recognize the trailblazing service of the only Black, all-female U.S. military unit deployed overseas during World War II.
Originally dispatched in 1945 to help resolve a massive wartime mail backlog, the battalion processed and redirected over 17 million letters and packages in just three months—twice as fast as anticipated. Working in three shifts around the clock, the women of the 6888th managed to restore a vital communication link between American service members and their families during a period of global chaos.
Yet, like so many Black military units of the era, their contributions went largely unacknowledged for decades.
A Ceremony for the History Books
At Tuesday’s ceremony, House Speaker Mike Johnson presented the medal to the family of Lt. Col. Charity Adams Earley, the unit’s pioneering commander. More than 300 descendants of the battalion’s members were in attendance, honoring a legacy that had long remained unsung.
“The Six Triple Eight are great American patriots, loyal to a nation that, for far too long, failed to return the favor,” Johnson said. “And I’m glad to say that’s changing today.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Senate Minority Whip John Thune also delivered remarks. The event drew dozens of lawmakers who had co-sponsored legislation to honor the battalion.
Stanley Earley III, the son of Lt. Col. Adams Earley, spoke emotionally about the women’s courage, perseverance, and leadership: “They overcame major obstacles to perceived success and made a substantial difference to the army. They serve as an inspiring role model for young soldiers entering service today.”
Long Road to Recognition
Only two living members of the 855-woman unit remain today, underscoring just how delayed this recognition has been. Kim Guise, senior curator at the National WWII Museum, noted: “It is really important to recognize the accomplishments of these women and what they went through to serve their country in wartime.”
The battalion’s path to deployment itself was an uphill battle. Pressured by civil rights organizations, the U.S. military reluctantly agreed to send Black women from the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) overseas, assigning them to postal duties in England and France. The mission: fix a chaotic, months-long backlog of military mail.
“They kept hollering about wanting us to go overseas, so I guess they found something for us to do,” said retired Maj. Fannie Griffin McClendon, now one of the two living members. “There was an awful lot of mail… and we got it straightened out quicker than they expected.”
Unmatched Efficiency in a Segregated Army
The battalion’s efficiency was nothing short of heroic. Working in harsh conditions, the women processed over 65,000 pieces of mail per shift, using a card index system to track service members by name and unit. The backlog they cleared in Europe restored morale among troops and reassured families back home.
Despite their success, the Six Triple Eight returned to a segregated America without fanfare, parades, or public thanks.
“They came home with no parade, no welcome, no acknowledgment,” said Sen. Jerry Moran, who co-sponsored the Congressional Gold Medal legislation. “That ain’t right. And we’re trying to correct that today.”
Moran, who met five surviving members in 2018, noted how personal the unit’s work was: “I don’t know if any of the letters between my mom and dad passed through the hands of the Six Triple Eight. But I do know they made it possible for millions of young men like my dad to keep up the fight.”
Renewed Legacy Through Media and Memorials
While long overlooked, the 6888th’s story has finally started gaining public attention. In 2018, a monument was erected at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The unit received the Meritorious Unit Commendation in 2019. A PBS documentary, The Six Triple Eight, further spotlighted their legacy.
Most recently, in 2024, Netflix released a dramatized film titled The Six Triple Eight, directed by Tyler Perry and starring Kerry Washington as Lt. Col. Charity Adams Earley. The film brought their story to a global audience, further solidifying their place in military and civil rights history.
Rep. Gwen Moore, a Wisconsin Democrat who co-sponsored the medal legislation, called the recognition “long overdue.” She added, “They did it for the love of country. Their story reminds us that while there’s much that divides us today, there’s even more that unites us—like a commitment to service.”
A Living Legacy of Courage and Duty
For Maj. McClendon, who later became the first woman to command an all-male squadron in the Strategic Air Command, the Congressional Gold Medal is not just a symbol of past deeds—it’s a statement about American values finally aligning with the truth.
“It’s overwhelming,” McClendon said in a 2022 interview after the vote. “It’s something I never even thought about.”
Her words capture the profound meaning of the moment—not just as a historical correction, but as a national affirmation of the dignity, excellence, and sacrifice of the Six Triple Eight.
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