Episode 1
The Six Triple Eight
855 Women. Two-Year Backlog. Three Months.
In 1945, 855 Black women of the Women’s Army Corps served overseas with the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. Working around the clock, they restored mail flow for millions of U.S. personnel, first in Birmingham, England, and later in Rouen and Paris, France.
Sources reviewed
Sources and original records
- The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion and the Women’s Army Corps in World War II · National Archives and Records Administration
- No Mail, Low Morale: The 6888th Central Postal Battalion · National Archives and Records Administration
- 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion WAC · U.S. Army Center of Military History
- 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion: A Guide to First-Person Narratives · Library of Congress
Image records
- WAC officers inspect the first contingent assigned to overseas service. National Archives and Records Administration (NAID 531249; Local ID 111-SC-200791)
- Captain Charity Adams drilling her company. National Archives and Records Administration (NAID 531334; Local ID 111-SC-238651)
- 6888th at the snack bar in Rouen, France. National Archives and Records Administration (NAID 175539159; Local ID 111-SC-209179)
