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William769

(59,147 posts)
Fri Dec 27, 2024, 09:16 AM Dec 2024

The Six Triple Eight



The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, nicknamed the "Six Triple Eight", was a predominantly Black battalion of the US Women's Army Corps (WAC)[1] that managed postal services. The 6888th had 855 women and was led by Major Charity Adams.[2] It was the only predominantly Black US Women's Army Corps unit sent overseas during World War II.[2] The group motto was "No mail, low morale".[3] The battalion was organized into five companies: Headquarters, and Companies A, B, C, and D.[4] Most of the 6888th worked as postal clerks, but others were cooks, mechanics and held other support positions, so that the 6888th was a self-sufficient unit.[5].

During World War II, there was a significant shortage of soldiers who were able to manage the postal service for the U.S. Army overseas.[6] In 1944, Mary McLeod Bethune worked to get the support of the First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, for "a role for black women in the war overseas."[7] Black newspapers, too, challenged the U.S. Army to "use black women in meaningful Army jobs."[8]

The women who signed up went to basic training in Georgia.[7] Women who were already in the WAC, like Alyce Dixon, served at different locations, including the Pentagon, before they joined the 6888th.[9]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6888th_Central_Postal_Directory_Battalion

MUST SEE!

46 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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The Six Triple Eight (Original Post) William769 Dec 2024 OP
Movie was very good. scarletlib Dec 2024 #1
I watched it a couple of days ago, a very good film ItsjustMe Dec 2024 #2
There needs to be a course called Ugly History in school. RhapsodyFav Dec 2024 #37
i dare ya to watch the movie and not cry. mopinko Dec 2024 #3
Agreed. William769 Dec 2024 #4
Excellent movie. I cried. NT Nululu Dec 2024 #32
I lost yesphan Dec 2024 #16
Very good movie SocialDemocrat61 Dec 2024 #5
I agree. 3catwoman3 Dec 2024 #6
i dunno. mopinko Dec 2024 #17
For that period of history SocialDemocrat61 Dec 2024 #18
Totally was a great movie BUT ... Jkanad Dec 2024 #20
Not all of us ItsjustMe Dec 2024 #40
Excellent movie. 💙💙💙💙💙 TommieMommy Dec 2024 #7
Must see for sure! onecaliberal Dec 2024 #8
Agreed! calimary Dec 2024 #26
I am glad I watched it. Delmette2.0 Dec 2024 #9
Thanks for the promo. It stirred my interest. oasis Dec 2024 #10
Outstanding film. Kid Berwyn Dec 2024 #11
never heard of this film. thanks for the history lesson. note , this is the history that the r s want to bury. AllaN01Bear Dec 2024 #12
How very interesting. greatauntoftriplets Dec 2024 #13
So sorry late responding. William769 Dec 2024 #46
Definitely a must watch- Fort Lee was renamed to honor Major Charity Adams MissB Dec 2024 #14
That is progress. Evolve Dammit Dec 2024 #34
Good movie GeoWilliam750 Dec 2024 #42
JFC, I just watched the official trailer on youtube, and then made the niyad Dec 2024 #15
My wife and I watched the movie this morning. It was really good. LuvLoogie Dec 2024 #27
Great movie kimbutgar Dec 2024 #19
Enjoyed the movie but would have liked more detail onenote Dec 2024 #21
The love story was beautiful and needed Dem4life1234 Dec 2024 #25
We watched Christmas Day TNNurse Dec 2024 #22
I just watched that last night. HIGHLY recommend! nt CousinIT Dec 2024 #23
One of the best movies I've seen Dem4life1234 Dec 2024 #24
our paper had the story of 6888 a few years ago about a local member. so i am looking forward to the movie. pansypoo53219 Dec 2024 #28
Now I would like to see a film about the WASP's. Of course, the same niyad Dec 2024 #29
I enjoyed it very much. NT Bird Lady Dec 2024 #30
More of that "woke history" Trumpers are trying to ban from schools Blue_Tires Dec 2024 #31
Awesome history and movie. mdbl Dec 2024 #33
Not to detract from this film, but "Hidden Figures" is also a very powerful tribute to pioneers in the space industry. Evolve Dammit Dec 2024 #35
Loved this movie... Biglinda 52 Dec 2024 #36
Hoping to start watching soon! PortTack Dec 2024 #38
History buff here... bluboid Dec 2024 #39
Just watched the movie on Netflix this evening. h2ebits Dec 2024 #41
Lena Derricott passed earlier this year, days short of her 101st birthday Brother Buzz Dec 2024 #43
kick niyad Dec 2024 #44
We just watched it. Quiet Em Dec 2024 #45

RhapsodyFav

(69 posts)
37. There needs to be a course called Ugly History in school.
Fri Dec 27, 2024, 11:45 PM
Dec 2024

I really liked to movie and learned something I didn't know. Buy why is there always one seeming "sympathetic" white person in these historical movies. Like, they always have to portray that not ALL white people were like this? Not saying it couldn't have been true, but there always seems to be one.

AllaN01Bear

(29,805 posts)
12. never heard of this film. thanks for the history lesson. note , this is the history that the r s want to bury.
Fri Dec 27, 2024, 11:44 AM
Dec 2024

William769

(59,147 posts)
46. So sorry late responding.
Mon Dec 30, 2024, 04:56 AM
Dec 2024

Not been a good week for me (actually not a good month). 95% MAGA family.

MissB

(16,344 posts)
14. Definitely a must watch- Fort Lee was renamed to honor Major Charity Adams
Fri Dec 27, 2024, 12:05 PM
Dec 2024

Fort Lee (once named for confederate general Robert E. Lee) was renamed in 2022 to Fort Gregg-Adams (now the first US military base honoring two African Americans.)

niyad

(134,051 posts)
15. JFC, I just watched the official trailer on youtube, and then made the
Fri Dec 27, 2024, 02:36 PM
Dec 2024

mistake of starting to read the comments.. Vile, racist, misogynistic hatred just dripping from some of the most disgusting I have ever encountered.

I know their story, and am looking forward to seeing this film, so thank you.

LuvLoogie

(8,917 posts)
27. My wife and I watched the movie this morning. It was really good.
Fri Dec 27, 2024, 06:32 PM
Dec 2024

Those comments on that YouTube trailer are vile. This is what has been elevated and cultivated by the GOP for decades. There are a lot of shitty people in this country.

We really liked the movie.

kimbutgar

(27,560 posts)
19. Great movie
Fri Dec 27, 2024, 03:25 PM
Dec 2024

I had tears in my eyes at the end.

They put up with so many challenges and they succeeded! Sorry that like 80 years later we are hearing this story.

onenote

(46,228 posts)
21. Enjoyed the movie but would have liked more detail
Fri Dec 27, 2024, 04:05 PM
Dec 2024

on how these amazing women managed to clear a backlog of 17 million pieces of mail in just 90 days and maybe a bit less on the love story.

Dem4life1234

(2,533 posts)
25. The love story was beautiful and needed
Fri Dec 27, 2024, 05:11 PM
Dec 2024

I felt that it was integral as that character found her missing love letter from her beloved to help with closure. Added a multi layer to the film. And the love story was true.

TNNurse

(7,550 posts)
22. We watched Christmas Day
Fri Dec 27, 2024, 04:06 PM
Dec 2024

Tears were shed...by all three of us, and not just once.

I posted about it on FB and every comment has also been more than positive.

I suggest that it should be shown in history classes.

Dem4life1234

(2,533 posts)
24. One of the best movies I've seen
Fri Dec 27, 2024, 05:09 PM
Dec 2024

These stories need to be told. Kerry did a great job in this film, beautiful, smart, and tough as nails.

pansypoo53219

(23,175 posts)
28. our paper had the story of 6888 a few years ago about a local member. so i am looking forward to the movie.
Fri Dec 27, 2024, 06:44 PM
Dec 2024

niyad

(134,051 posts)
29. Now I would like to see a film about the WASP's. Of course, the same
Fri Dec 27, 2024, 07:08 PM
Dec 2024

ugly mentality will be spewing about them, as well.

Evolve Dammit

(21,818 posts)
35. Not to detract from this film, but "Hidden Figures" is also a very powerful tribute to pioneers in the space industry.
Fri Dec 27, 2024, 08:18 PM
Dec 2024

Biglinda 52

(131 posts)
36. Loved this movie...
Fri Dec 27, 2024, 08:33 PM
Dec 2024

I watched the beginning and thought the acting was so-so, but thought Tyler Perry might be introducing some new actresses and hey, that's ok. Kerry Washington was great, as usual. But the story was riveting. Just keep putting out those stories of history, women , minorities. I'm just loving it. Another on Netflix is "Rez Ball". Based on a true story. Gotta give Netflix credit for diversity. I also watch a LOT on its international channel. Lots of good films there.

bluboid

(845 posts)
39. History buff here...
Sat Dec 28, 2024, 02:04 AM
Dec 2024

more please about women's roles in WW2 history, especially prior to the 60's civil rights movement that significantly changed the world as we know it...

Brother Buzz

(40,438 posts)
43. Lena Derricott passed earlier this year, days short of her 101st birthday
Sat Dec 28, 2024, 02:30 PM
Dec 2024

I didn’t initially recognize Oprah Winfrey playing Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune in the White House.



“No mail, low morale,”

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