A RESOLUTION honoring the members of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion for its outstanding service to the United States during World War II.

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A RESOLUTION honoring the members of the 6888th Central Postal Directory 1
Battalion for its outstanding service to the United States during World War II. 2
WHEREAS, the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, also known as "the Six 3
Triple Eight", was the first and only all -female, African American unit in the Women's 4
Army Corps to be deployed overseas during World War II; and 5
WHEREAS, 855 African American women, bot h enlisted and officers, served with 6
distinction in the European Theater of Operations after the United States War Department 7
lifted the ban on African American women serving in the Women's Army Corps; and 8
WHEREAS, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt encouraged t he military to create 9
impactful positions for African American women in which to serve, and there was a 10
significant shortage of postal workers in the European Theater. This shortage allowed for 11
the utilization of the new unit; and 12
WHEREAS, after training a t Fort Oglethrope, Georgia, "the Six Triple Eight" was 13
given the mission to organize and clear a prolonged backlog of mail for nearly seven 14
million service members representing the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, 15
uniformed civilian specialists, and Am erican Red Cross workers stationed in Europe 16
during World War II; and 17
WHEREAS, under the command of Major Charity Adams, "the Six Triple Eight" 18
was deployed in February 1945, and arrived in Birmingham, England, where they 19
discovered warehouses overflowing with millions of mail pieces and packages that were 20
stacked from the floor to the ceiling. Much of the mail was difficult to sort due to its 21
being addressed only to first names or nicknames; and 22
WHEREAS, "the Six Triple Eight" worked in difficult conditi ons that involved 23
both racism and sexism. In addition, they had a poor work environment that included rats, 24
no heat, minimal lighting, and military air raids; and 25
WHEREAS, despite these brutal circumstances, "the Six Triple Eight" was a self -26
sufficient uni t that consisted of postal clerks, cooks, mechanics, and other support 27
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positions, all who operated under the motto "No mail, low morale." They devised their 1
own system of sorting the parcels that involved three shifts working around the clock, 2
turning a six-month backlog into an astounding three-month delivery; and 3
WHEREAS, "the Six Triple Eight" received its next assignment in Rouen, France, 4
to complete a similar job, except that this mail was dating as far back as three years. 5
However, despite this monumental task, they proceeded to successfully process and clear 6
it three months ahead of schedule; and 7
WHEREAS, the efficient delivery of mail by "the Six Triple Eight" Battalion 8
significantly boosted troop morale, strengthened the connection between service 9
members and their loved ones, and contributed materially to th e overall effectiveness of 10
the United States Armed Forces during the war; and 11
WHEREAS, in February 1946, "the Six Triple Eight" returned to the United States 12
and was disbanded at Fort Dix, New Jersey, with no further fanfare or official recognition 13
of its accomplishments; and 14
WHEREAS, "the Six Triple Eight" was the largest contingent of African American 15
women to ever serve overseas, and during their service they dispelled stereotypes and 16
represented a change in racial and gender roles in the military. They were recognized for 17
their efforts not instantly, but decades later, being awarded the Women's Army Corps 18
Service Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the European -African-Middle Eastern 19
Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. In 2022, President Joseph R. 20
Biden signed a bill granting the Congressional Gold Medal to the women of the 6888th 21
Battalion; and 22
WHEREAS, at least 18 women from Kentucky served in the 6888th Central Postal 23
Directory Battalion, including Technician Henrietta G. Adams, Corpora l Jennetta 24
Schooler Blythe, Private 1st Class Emma H. Brock, Private Effie Chambers, Corporal 25
Alberta Coleman, Private Venus B. Cox, Private 1st Class Minnie Grace Cross, 26
Technician Marilyn E. Gill, Corporal Ruth Henrielle Hammond, Staff Sergeant Norene 27
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Harris, Private 1st Class Vivian G. Hayden, Private Julia M. Jackson, Private 1st Class 1
Sara Elizabeth Longmire, Private Grant Esther Marshall, Private Evelyn Eva Miller, 2
Private 1st Class Carrie Ethel Nelson, Private 1st Class Adele Ricketts, and Private Nettie 3
Mae Saunders; and 4
WHEREAS, the Commonwealth admires the nobility of the Kentucky daughters 5
who selflessly and admirably served the nation; and 6
WHEREAS, honoring the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion acknowledges 7
not only their military excellence, but their perseverance, professionalism, and patriotism 8
in the face of widespread discrimination; 9
NOW, THEREFORE, 10
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 11
Kentucky: 12
Section 1. The Senate honors and commends the 6888th Central Postal 13
Directory Battalion for its outstanding service to the United States during World War II; 14
Section 2. The Senate recognizes and expresses its p rofound gratitude to the 15
members of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion and their families for their 16
lasting contributions to military history, racial equality, and the advancement of women 17
in the Armed Forces. 18
Section 3. The Clerk of the Senate is directed to transmit a copy of this 19
Resolution to Senator Gerald Neal. 20