RANK, RESPECT, AND RECOGNITION. Texas NAACP Honors Black Women Veterans Resilience and the 6888th Battalion as They Issue the Call to Action: The Fierce Urgency of Now — Building the Beloved Community.

RANK, RESPECT, AND RECOGNITION. Texas NAACP Honors Black Women Veterans Resilience and the 6888th Battalion as They Issue the Call to Action: The Fierce Urgency of Now — Building the Beloved Community

Special Cover Feature for Black Texans, Inc.

The 6888th faith, resilience and fortitude helped them to rise in rank, respect, and now in recognition.

— Pastor Kyev P. Tatum, Sr., Historian, The Texas 6888th Project

AUSTIN, TEXAS —

In a historic gathering infused with dignity, reverence, and pride, the 88th Annual Texas State Conference of the NAACP opened with a remarkable tribute to Black women veterans — a circle of trailblazers whose combined service totals over 250 years. Their presence was a living testament to sacrifice, resilience discipline, and the enduring power of service.

At the heart of this celebration stood Dr. LaShondra Jones, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran whose dedication extends far beyond her time in uniform. As Director of the Mayor’s Office of Veterans and Military Affairs for the City of Houston, Dr. Jones has emerged as a tireless advocate for women who have served. She has championed legislation, policies, and programs that elevate their visibility, protect their rights, and provide critical support for their well-being.

Her work has led to the establishment of Texas Women Veterans Day and the Texas Women Veterans Program, offering recognition, legal protection, and institutional support for women who served in the armed forces. Beyond legislation, Dr. Jones invests personally in veterans’ lives through mentorship, mental health initiatives, housing assistance, and financial literacy programs. She demonstrates that leadership is measured not just by office held, but by lives touched. Her dedication has shaped policy, strengthened communities, and set a model for advocacy across the nation.

Lt. Col. Patricia Jackson-Kelley: A Living Legacy of Leadership

The conference reached a pinnacle of honor with Lieutenant Colonel Patricia Jackson-Kelley, National President of the National Association of Black Military Women. Lt. Col. Jackson-Kelley’s presence symbolized the power of perseverance, resilience the weight of legacy, and the responsibility of service.

A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Army, and Navy Reserves, she devoted 26 years to opening doors that had long been closed to women, particularly Black women, in the military. Her leadership extended beyond active duty, helping countless veterans navigate challenges such as homelessness, post-traumatic stress, and reintegration into civilian life.

As a founding board member of U.S. VETS, she helped develop one of the most effective networks in the country for veterans facing risk and instability. The model she helped establish has been replicated nationwide, giving countless men and women veterans renewed purpose and opportunity. Her lifetime of awards — from the Crystal Eagle Award to the Lifetime Legacy Award — speaks to decades of service, sacrifice, and mentorship. Yet her focus has never been on accolades; it has always been on ensuring every woman veteran is seen, supported, and saluted.

Honoring the Six Triple Eight: The Unsung Sheroes of World War II

This year’s Texas NAACP conference also marked a moment of long-overdue recognition for the resilience of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black, all-female unit deployed overseas during World War II.

Formed in 1944 through the advocacy of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune and commanded by Major Charity Adams Earley, these 855 women overcame both racial and gender discrimination. They were deployed to Europe with a daunting mission: clear a two-year backlog of over 17 million pieces of mail destined for American troops.

Working in freezing, unheated warehouses across Birmingham, Rouen, and Paris, the battalion operated under their rallying cry: No Mail, Low Morale. In just three months, they accomplished what was expected to take two years, restoring hope, morale, and the vital connection between troops abroad and their loved ones back home.

Among the battalion were 44 proud daughters of Texas, whose courage, precision, and patriotism have inspired generations of military women and civilians alike. The Six Triple Eight are more than historical figures; they are enduring symbols of resilience, intelligence, and faith-driven service.

The Legacy Timeline of the 6888th Battalion

The story of the Six Triple Eight is one of delayed recognition, triumph over adversity, and eventual national honor:

• 1944–1946 – The 6888th serves across Europe, clearing millions of letters and lifting troop morale.

• 2018 – A monument is dedicated at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, honoring the Six Triple Eight.

• 2022 – President Joe Biden signs legislation awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the battalion.

• 2023 – Fort Lee, Virginia, is renamed Fort Gregg-Adams in honor of Lt. Col. Charity Adams Earley and Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg.

• 2024 – Tyler Perry’s Netflix film The Six Triple Eight brings their story to a global audience.

• 2025 – On April 29, members and descendants receive the Congressional Gold Medal in Emancipation Hall at the U.S. Capitol, honoring their courage, discipline, and enduring legacy.

This timeline reflects the long arc of justice and recognition, demonstrating that history sometimes takes decades to catch up with heroism.

Panels of Power, Purpose & Promise

The Texas NAACP conference hosted an array of panels celebrating leadership, resilience, and the shared strength of women veterans. These sessions were more than discussions; they were intergenerational conversations, bridges connecting past struggles with present victories, and inspiration for future service.

• Standing on the Shoulders of Lt. Col. Charity Adams (6888)

Moderator: Dr. LaShondra Jones, Ph.D.

Panelists: Lt. Col. Patricia Jackson-Kelley; Pastor Kyev P. Tatum, 6888th Historian; Ms. Stelena Hooper Evans, Daughter of a Six Triple Eight member

• Leadership Lessons from Military and Veteran Women

Moderator: Dr. LaShondra Jones

Panelists: Lt. Col. Quindola Crowley; Sgt. Maj. Paula Johnson; Lt. Col. Shamana Stevens; Tracey Brown

• Mental Health for Military and Veteran Women

Moderator: Susan Lewis, U.S. Air Force Veteran

Panelists: Dr. Quindola Crowley; Dr. Andrea L. Tanner; Marilyn Harris; Capt. Emily Winfield

• Balancing Family and Military Duty

Moderator: Susan Lewis

Panelists: Lesa Jackson; Marilessie Stokes; Katherin Molina; Jackie Bazile; Lagaydra Murphy

These sessions blended academic insight, lived experience, and mentorship, illuminating the spiritual, intellectual, and emotional fortitude that defines Black women in uniform.

The Texas NAACP: A Legacy of Faith, Courage, and Continuity

Founded in 1915 in El Paso, the Texas NAACP quickly became the largest state conference in the nation. By 1918, it boasted over 7,000 members and 31 branches, serving as a bulwark against systemic oppression. The organization endured violent opposition from the Ku Klux Klan, chapter suppression, and decades of societal inequities, but it survived, strengthened, and adapted.

From Sweatt v. Painter (1950), which desegregated the University of Texas School of Law, to contemporary battles for education, housing, and criminal justice reform, the Texas NAACP has remained steadfast in advancing equality and justice.

The 2025 conference in Austin built upon this legacy, blending history, faith, and hope. It honored women who rose in rank, earned respect, and now stand in recognition as pillars of freedom, justice, and grace. It was a sacred reminder that courage, discipline, and moral fortitude are timeless qualities deserving of acknowledgment and reverence.

Expanding the Recognition of Black Women Veterans

The gathering illuminated a truth often overlooked: women veterans, particularly Black women, have historically been marginalized despite their service. Recognition must be intentional, comprehensive, and enduring. Programs, policies, and commemorations like those spearheaded by Dr. Jones, Lt. Col. Jackson-Kelley, and the NAACP provide visibility and validate decades of sacrifice.

Moreover, these efforts serve as inspiration for younger generations. By highlighting the stories of the Six Triple Eight and contemporary veterans, Texas NAACP ensures that service and leadership are seen as attainable goals, rooted in faith, resilience, and moral commitment.

About Black Texans, Inc.

Black Texans, Inc. is a multimedia platform dedicated to preserving, promoting, and publishing stories of African American excellence, resilience, and contribution across the Lone Star State.

Founded by Pastor Kyev P. Tatum, Sr., the platform chronicles the untold narratives of Texas’s Black trailblazers in faith, education, military service, and community transformation. A former Texas NAACP Third Vice President (1995–2000) and founder of Skills City, USA, HoodBuild U, and the Fort Worth Film Collaborative, Pastor Tatum continues the civil rights mission through a faith-fueled formula for freedom.

Through programs like Camp Buffalo Soldiers, Souls Made of Gold, and Little Miss Six Triple Eight Troopers, Black Texans, Inc. ensures that the legacy of heroes — from the Buffalo Soldiers to the 6888th Battalion — lives on for generations to come.