​​The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, also known as the “Six Triple Eight,” was a unique unit in the history of the Second World War. Composed entirely of African American women, it was the only all-Black, all-female battalion deployed overseas by the United States Army during the conflict. Activated in 1945, the battalion was formed to address a critical morale issue among American forces in Europe: an overwhelming backlog of undelivered mail.

​By early 1945, warehouses in Birmingham, England, were filled with millions of letters and parcels intended for American servicemen. Mail had piled up due to poor storage, misaddressed letters, frequent troop movements, and the impact of the ongoing conflict. The situation affected troop morale, leading the War Department to deploy the 6888th to restore the mail system’s efficiency. 

​Led by Major Charity Adams, the highest-ranking African American woman in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC), the battalion arrived in England in February 1945. Comprising over 800 women, the unit was divided into four companies and began work in Birmingham under harsh conditions. The women operated in cold, poorly lit facilities with windows blacked out due to the threat of air raids. They worked in shifts around the clock, sorting and redirecting mail using a card index system that recorded over 7 million names. 

​The battalion cleared the six-month backlog in just three months—half the time allocated. In May 1945, the 6888th was sent to Rouen, France, where they faced a similar backlog. Once again, they succeeded in restoring mail service efficiently. Later, they were transferred to Paris, continuing their work until the end of their deployment. 

​Despite their success, the women of the 6888th faced racial and gender discrimination both during and after the war. They received no formal recognition at the time and returned home largely unacknowledged. Their service has since been re-evaluated and honoured: in 2022, the unit was collectively awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.​