6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion
6888 in Rouen, France.
Photo credit: National Archives
Mary McLeod Bethune
1875-1955
Maj. Charity Adams Earley
1918-2002
First Inspection in England
February 15, 1945
Congressional Gold Medal
February 28, 2022
The "Six Triple Eight" spent two weeks training at Fort Oglethorpe in January of 1945. They were the only all-black Women's Army Corps unit to be sent overseas into a combat zone during WW2. Their mission was to clear out the backlog of mail and packages that the Army failed to deliver to the troops in Europe. The African-American experience is an important part of Fort Oglethorpe history. During the entire time of Fort Oglethorpe's history, the country remained segregated. The 6888's experience is one of overcoming racism, sexism, and a nearly impossible military mission.
"No Mail, Low Morale."
The goal of this page is not to rewrite another version the 6888's story, but rather direct you to the resources below that both tell the story and have still and motion pictures. The author encourages you to spend time reading these pages.
The National Archives
No Mail, Low Morale: The 6888th Central Postal Battalion – The Unwritten Record
6888th Postal Battalion Delivered High Spirits to Weary WWII Troops | National Archives
Library of Congress
The US Army Center of Military History
6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion | U.S. Army Center of Military History
The Army Historical Foundation
6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion - The Army Historical Foundation
Women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion
Home / USA / Women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion
​National World War II Museum
The SixTripleEight: No Mail, Low Morale | The National WWII Museum | New Orleans
Biography of Major Charity Adams, 6888th Commanding Officer
Charity Adams Earley Biography
Biography of Mary McLeod Bethune, African American activist and friend of Eleanor Roosevelt
​​The 6888 produced their own battalion newsletter called the "Special Delivery." The author has not yet found any copies online.
Basic Training or Advanced Training?
​Did the 6888 soldiers received their basic training at Fort Oglethorpe, or were they already in the Army and trained before arriving there?
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From the newspaper articles that this author has found, it appears that all the soldiers were already trained and in the Army, stationed at other camps around the country. The 6888 was formed when these soldiers were then shipped in small or large groups from these other camps to Fort Oglethorpe. As a single unit, this was the first time they had ever met. Below are three good examples of prior service:
First Mention of Unit Number 6888
The 6888 unit underwent several name changes. The first reference to the unit name 6888 that I can find in any newspaper in the country is in a June 5, 1945, issue of "The State" from Columbia, SC (below). The article's original date is May 24. Columbia SC also happens to be the 6888 Commanding Officer Charity Adams' hometown. The unit had been in Europe since that February by time this article was published.
