COLUMBUS — They faced segregation, sexism and millions of pieces of mail that needed to get to soldiers during the deadliest conflict in human history.
They are the mostly African American women who made up the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. The women in the battalion sorted millions of pieces of backlogged mail in three months.
Their efforts getting the mail to the frontlines helped improve soldiers’ morale during World War II.
This year, their efforts have the chance to be permanently recognized in the state of Ohio.
State Rep. Melanie Miller (R-Ashland), along with Erika White (D-Toledo), are working to preserve the women’s legacy by declaring March 9 as a day to honor the battalion.
“They did a job that was enormous,” Miller said. “They did it in half the time that all the other military leaders thought would be possible, and they made the impossible, possible.
“So it just shows what women can do when you work together, and what an awesome way to honor them, and also, all men and women who have served our country.”
For Miller, women’s issues are a topic she is especially passionate about. She said she’d just watched “The Six Triple Eight,” a 2024 film about the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, and signing on as a co-sponsor for House Bill 204 was an easy choice.
She helped secure several other Republican co-sponsors for the legislation. The bill currently sits in the House Veterans and Military Development Committee. A companion bill — Senate Bill 17 — has already passed the state Senate. It earned a 32-0 vote in the Senate with bipartisan support.
A bit of history
The battalion made history for their work sorting a backlog of mail and distributing it to service members in Europe. That backlog contained millions of pieces of mail, estimated to take six months to process.
The battalion cleared it in three months. They processed 65,000 pieces of mail per day.
Miller emphasized the job’s importance, particularly in a time when mail was the primary method of communicating with loved ones.
“When you’re hearing from home and you’re getting that encouragement, you’re getting updates, it keeps you going,” Miller said. “It keeps you fighting. It helps you remember what you’re fighting for.”
The large backlog wasn’t the only challenge the battalion faced.
“Women already were kind of looked down upon serving in the military at that time, and then this was a time when segregation was big,” Miller said. “So they had those obstacles and barriers as well.”
In fact, prior to World War II, Black women were essentially excluded from military service. But the need for people to serve in the war sped up the process to develop a women’s corps.
The Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps was signed into law in May 1942. It was converted to the Women’s Army Corps only 14 months later. Women were then granted full military status, rank and benefits.
But Black women were only allowed to make up 10% of the force.
The members of the 6888th faced sexism and racism as part of their service, but still did their jobs incredibly effectively. They received several honors for their service.
World War II also marked a transformative period for changes in policy in the military regarding race and sex.
The unit has also received a larger platform as their story has been told in recent years.
The battalion’s leader, Major Charity Adams, even has an Ohio connection — she is an alum of The Ohio State University. She began studying there before the war, and received her master’s of education from the school after returning.
Remembering their service
Miller said commemorating the 6888th comes with several important takeaways.
“First of all, when I think of generally, just, service to our country, we have less than one percent of our graduates who are going into the armed forces,” Miller said. “So number one, it is honorable and worthy to serve your country.”
Ashland recently hosted its inaugural Our Community Salutes event. It aimed to honor students who chose to enlist.
Miller added she thinks it important for young women to have role models they can look up to. In her eyes, the women of the 6888th demonstrated perseverance, even in the face of adversity.
“There’s no mission that’s impossible, and that’s what these women show,” Miller said.