17 MILLION PIECES OF MAIL: The Story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion.

17 MILLION PIECES OF MAIL: The Story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony on April 29, 2025.

WASHINGTON, DC - The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, known as the “Six Triple Eight,” was composed of 855 Black women—43 from Texas, including three from Fort Worth—who served in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) during World War II. They were given an impossible mission: to clear a staggering backlog of 17 million pieces of mail meant for U.S. troops across Europe.

Their journey was perilous. Unlike other military units, the Six Triple Eight sailed without an armed escort, making them vulnerable to German U-boat attacks in the treacherous Atlantic. With every passing day at sea, they knew they could be targeted by enemy submarines—a reminder that even in war, Black women were often sent into danger without the same protections afforded to their white counterparts.

Despite these challenges, they fulfilled their mission with remarkable speed and efficiency. Yet, their contributions were largely ignored, their service dismissed, and their sacrifices buried beneath the weight of racism, sexism, and systemic exclusion.

Fort Worth’s Forgotten Soldiers

Among the 6888th’s ranks were three women from Fort Worth, Texas:

• Technician Fifth Grade Florence Marie Rawls (née Cole)

• Sergeant First Class Helen Beatrice Minor

• Sergeant Lucille Smith (née Lewis)

Florence enlisted in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) in 1942, which later became the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) in 1943. Helen and Lucille both enlisted in 1943. At the time of their enlistment, Florence’s civil occupation was listed as nursemaid, Helen’s as waitress, and Lucille’s as teacher. They were each unmarried and without children when they enlisted, stepping forward to serve a nation that often denied them basic rights.

Their service, like that of their fellow soldiers, was overlooked for decades.

The Hurt: Racism and Sexism in the Military

From the moment they enlisted, the women of the 6888th faced hostility and discrimination. In a military structure that mirrored the racial hierarchy of civilian life, they were often denied the same training, resources, and respect given to their white counterparts. Segregation policies confined them to inferior living conditions, while leadership roles and career advancement remained largely out of reach.

When the 6888th was deployed to Europe in 1945, their assignment was grueling: clearing a six-month backlog of undelivered mail in war-torn warehouses filled with rodents and decaying packages. These letters—messages of love, encouragement, and hope—were vital to soldiers on the front lines. Without them, morale among the troops would crumble.

Despite the critical nature of their work, the Six Triple Eight received no hero’s welcome. They were met with racial slurs from white American soldiers and excluded from military social events. Even in a foreign land, far from Jim Crow America, they faced the same deep-seated prejudices that had plagued them at home. White military officials questioned their capabilities, doubting that these Black women could accomplish such an enormous logistical feat.

They proved them all wrong.

The Harm: Systemic Exclusion and Erasure

Beyond the daily indignities of racism, the greatest injustice was their erasure from history.

While white WACs were celebrated in newspapers and honored for their service, the Black women of the 6888th were ignored. Their names were omitted from military records, their achievements downplayed, and their existence nearly forgotten.

When the war ended, the injustice continued. Unlike their white counterparts, who returned to ceremonies and public praise, the 6888th came home to silence.

• They were denied military honors.

• They were denied praise.

• They were denied public acknowledgment.

Many struggled to find employment, their service dismissed as insignificant. They had fought for a country that refused to fight for them.

The Hindrances: A Long Fight for Recognition

For over 70 years, the story of the 6888th remained buried. It was not until 2018 that efforts to formally recognize their contributions gained momentum. Advocates and historians worked tirelessly to unearth their story, leading to long-overdue honors.

• In 2019, a monument was erected in their honor at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

• In 2022, Congress awarded them the Congressional Gold Medal, acknowledging their extraordinary service and the injustices they endured.

This honor, though symbolic, marked a historic victory against decades of erasure. It was not just for the surviving members but for every woman in the battalion who had been dismissed, disregarded, and forgotten by the nation they served.

Thanks to courageous Black women soldiers like retired Colonel Edna Cummings and retired Master Sergeant Elizabeth Anne Helm-Frazier—both of whom worked tirelessly to bring national recognition to the 6888th—their legacy shall live forever.

• Colonel Edna Cummings was instrumental in advocating for the Congressional Gold Medal.

• Master Sergeant Elizabeth Anne Helm-Frazier, a Staff Assistant in the Department of Veterans Affairs, has worked to ensure that the contributions of Black women soldiers are permanently enshrined in American military history.

Their dedication ensured that the Six Triple Eight would no longer be forgotten.

Faith and Fortitude: A Legacy of Triumph

Despite the racism and hardships, the 6888th embodied resilience. Their faith—in God, in their mission, and in themselves—sustained them.

They didn’t demand recognition with words; they earned it with action.

• They cleared the massive backlog of mail in just three months—half the expected time.

• They refused to let a prejudiced system define them, proving that Black women were just as capable, intelligent, and patriotic as anyone else in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Their story is more than history—it is a call to remember, a lesson to learn, and an inspiration to carry forward. It reminds us of the institutional barriers Black Americans, particularly Black women, have faced and continue to face. But it also stands as a testament to perseverance, proving that no amount of discrimination can erase the contributions of those who fight for justice and equality.

The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion did not just sort mail; they delivered a message that still echoes today:

“We have served. We have sacrificed. We will not be silenced.”

April 29, 2025 | Emancipation Hall, U.S. Capitol. Honoring the 6888th Congressional Gold Medal Recipients. With Special Delegates from The Texas 6888th Project.