History Happy Hour: The Women of the 6888th Central Postal Battalion

In February 1945, a massive backlog of letters and packages intended for U.S. troops, government, and civilian personnel serving in Europe, was being held in airplane hangars and warehouses in England and France. As troop movements and incomplete addresses brought mail delivery to a standstill, morale began to decline. But who would tackle the enormous project? The 6888^th Battalion, nick-named the “Six Triple Eight,” was a unit of African-American women who braved dark, freezing, and rat-infested warehouses, working around the clock to create a tracking system and get the mail to its recipients. Led by Major Charity Adams, the women maintained their dignity and professionalism while enduring segregation and the resentment of male service personnel.

Join us for the compelling story of the perseverance and success of the women of the 6888^th Battalion, invisible heroes whose service was finally recognized in the 1990s by the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum, the U.S. Army Commendation Program, and other institutions.

The program begins with film clips from “The Six Triple Eight” directed by James Theres, and continues with a panel discussion with the director, producers Lizz Helm-Frazier and Edna Cummings, and Stanley Earley, the son of battalion commander Major Charity Adams.

This History Happy Hour is free of charge. History Happy Hours are sponsored by Therrien Waddell Construction Group.