Editorial: Honoring Fort Worth’s Yellow Roses – The Courageous Women of the 6888th.

HOPE IN AN ENVELOPE!

Editorial: Honoring Fort Worth’s Yellow Roses – The Courageous Women of the 6888th

By Pastor Kyev Tatum, Sr.

New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church

President, Ministers Justice Coalition of Texas

Founding Director, Texas 6888th Project & Little Miss 6888th Youth Ambassadors

As we move forward in the days after Memorial Day, our hearts remain full of gratitude—not only for those who gave their lives in service but also for those whose sacrifices, though less visible, carried the weight of a nation’s morale. Among these heroes are three remarkable women from Fort Worth: Florence Marie Rawls, Helen Beatrice Minor, and Lucille Smith, who proudly served in the trailblazing 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion during World War II.

Known as the “Six Triple Eight,” this all-Black, all-female battalion was born at a time when segregation and discrimination limited opportunities for Black women in the military and beyond. Yet, despite these barriers, the women of the 6888th courageously crossed the Atlantic with a vital mission: clear a six-month mountain of undelivered mail choking the military postal system. For the soldiers on the front lines, these letters weren’t just paper and ink—they were lifelines to home, family, and hope.

Working in cold, dim warehouses under brutal twelve-hour shifts and constant reminders of racism and sexism, these women achieved a logistical miracle. In just three months, they processed 17 million pieces of mail in Birmingham, England, then continued their service in Rouen and Paris, France. Their motto, “No Mail, Low Morale,” was not an empty phrase—it was a battle cry that fueled their determination.

Among them, Fort Worth’s Florence Rawls, Helen Minor, and Lucille Smith carried the spirit of our city overseas. These young, unmarried women put their own futures on hold to serve a country that often denied them equality, laying down the foundations not only for military success but also for the future civil rights advances that would reshape America.

Yet when they came home, there were no parades, no medals, no headlines. Their contributions were left in the shadows for decades—until now.

Thanks to the work of advocates, historians, and community leaders, the Six Triple Eight was finally awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2022, with the formal presentation held just last month in Emancipation Hall. Here in Texas, House Resolution 1086 was passed in 2024 to honor their service. And right here in Fort Worth, we stand proudly at the forefront of keeping their memory alive through the Texas 6888th Project and the Little Miss 6888th Youth Ambassadors, who are inspiring the next generation with the Hope in an Envelope Campaign.

In recognition of their extraordinary service, the Fort Worth City Council has officially designated July 8, 2025, as Fort Worth Women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion Day—a day when we will stand together as a city to honor their courage, sacrifice, and enduring legacy.

Their story is about more than mail; it’s about dignity in the face of discrimination. It’s about excellence when the world expected failure. It’s about Black women stepping into history and leaving it forever changed.

Let us speak their names—Florence, Helen, and Lucille—in our homes, churches, and schools. Let us teach their stories, honor their resilience, and live by the ideals they embodied: service, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to a cause greater than ourselves.

As we look ahead to July 8 and beyond, may Fort Worth rise with pride, honoring our Yellow Roses who lifted a nation’s spirits and showed the world what true patriotism looks like.

No Mail, Low Morale? Thanks to the women of the 6888th, the morale of a nation soared—and we will never forget it.