Legislation Awards Highest Congressional Honor to Women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, applauded news that the Six Triple Eight Congressional Gold Medal Act she introduced with Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) has been signed into law.
This bipartisan legislation would award a Congressional Gold Medal to the women who served in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, one of the only African-American Women’s Army Corps units to serve overseas during World War II.
“The heroic, barrier-breaking members of the Six Triple Eight Battalion — which included brave Nevada women — played a crucial role in the operations of our armed forces during World War II,” said Senator Rosen. “They deserve our nation’s highest honors for their service. There is no better time to give them this long-overdue recognition than during Women’s History Month, and I’m proud to see President Biden sign our bipartisan legislation into law.”
“The women of the Six Triple Eight have earned a special place in history for their service to our nation, and as of today, their sacrifice is enshrined into law with the highest distinction Congress can bestow,” said Senator Moran. “It has been an honor to meet members of the battalion and help lead this effort to award the Six Triple Eight with the Congressional Gold Medal – the highest expression of national appreciation from Congress. Though the odds were set against them, the women of the Six Triple Eight processed millions of letters and packages during their deployment in Europe, helping connect WWII soldiers with their loved ones back home – like my father and mother. Our nation will always be grateful to the members of the Six Triple Eight and now, nearly 80 years after their service, we are finally able to recognize these extraordinary women on the national stage. Thank you to the President for acting quickly to sign this legislation into law, Rep. Moore and Rep. LaTurner for leading this effort in the House, and Col. Edna Cummings for her tireless work advocating for the Six Triple Eight to be honored on behalf of a grateful nation.”
The 6888th consisted entirely of African-American women who were assigned to England and France during World War II. Their mission was to clear several years of backlogged U.S. Army and Red Cross mail in the European Theater of Operations. During their service, the women of the 6888th faced Nazi danger as well as gender and racial discrimination, all while facilitating mail operations to nearly 7 million Allied soldiers.
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