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The “Six-Triple-Eight ”


Subdeacon Joe

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6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion

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The women of the U.S. Army’s first and only all-African-American, all-female WWII unit could be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, thanks to legislation introduced Wednesday.

The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, also known as the “Six-Triple-Eight, ” was a segregated unit that served in Europe during World War II. Huddled in damp, rat-infested warehouses, some 800 women worked tirelessly to process about 65,000 pieces of mail per shift, ensuring soldiers on the ground would receive messages from their loved ones back home. 

Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) recently introduced the bill that would highlight the contributions of the historic unit with a Congressional Gold Medal.

“These brave women and their service to our country deserve to hold a special spot in history and I will continue working with my colleagues in a bipartisan manner to make certain the Senate does our part in honoring their service and sacrifice,” Moran said in a statement. 

 

 

6888th_documentary1.jpg (Photo courtesy of Department of Defense)
 

 

This legislation is a major accomplishment for the 6888th committee whose goal was to have a memorial erected in the unit's honor. That goal was realized last year when a monument was unveiled in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Sen Moran’s district, and home of 10th Cavalry (Horse), Buffalo Soldier.

Related: U.S. Army’s only all-female, African American WWII unit honored with monument

"It’s long overdue,” said Edna Cummings, a retired Army colonel who has been championing this legislation. “It’s an honor to be part of the process…I’m just grateful and honored to witness the introduction of this bill and so are the living members.”

According to Cummings, the bipartisan bill needs 67 co-sponsors from Senate but the House companion bill has yet to be introduced.  

The Congressional Gold Medal bill has received bipartisan support from Senators Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) and now waits to be passed in the Senate.

In addition to this latest award, Cummings along with other members of the 6888th committee were notified last week the U.S. Army approved an Army meritorious unit citation for the members of the Six-Triple-Eight.

Related: Women of U.S. Army’s only all-black WWII unit highlighted in new documentary

 

 

 

 

Text of the bill:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/633/text?format=txt&q={"search"%3A["H.R.5"]}

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16 hours ago, Sedalia Dave said:

Those ladies performed a vital service that was instrumental to our winning the war.

'Bout time they received some recognition.

+1  Took a long time for many of the minority/female units to get the recognition they deserved!  Women's Air Service Pilots (WASP) to get their recognition.  Same with the all-male Merchant Marine personnel from WWII.  Native American Code Talkers, ditto. (Although the reasons for that had to do with cyber-security.) :FlagAm:

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5 minutes ago, Trailrider #896 said:

+1  Took a long time for many of the minority/female units to get the recognition they deserved!  Women's Air Service Pilots (WASP) to get their recognition.  Same with the all-male Merchant Marine personnel from WWII.  Native American Code Talkers, ditto. (Although the reasons for that had to do with cyber-security.) :FlagAm:

Cipher security maybe. No cyber in WWII. ;)

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