African American Women’s Army Corps in the Snow
African American Women’s Army Corps in the Snow depicts a rare moment of levity for members of the United States’ first and only all-Black female battalion to be deployed overseas during World War II. The U.S. Women’s Army Corps (WAC) was created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in July of 1943. After several units of all white women were deployed to Europe, civil rights leader Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt successfully advocated for the admittance of African-American women as enlisted personnel and officers. Thus, the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion was formed.
Nicknamed “Six Triple Eight”, the battalion’s mission was to clear the immense backlog of mail intended for soldiers throughout Europe. Working in three eight-hour shifts for seven days a week, the 6888th managed to sort and redirect an average of 65,000 pieces of mail per day. Given six months to complete this first mission, they finished in just three.
They were then sent to Rouen, France to clear almost three years of backed up mail. The unit’s Military Police were not allowed to carry firearms, so the women trained in jiu jitsu to ward off unauthorized personnel. Again, they completed this mission in only three months.
The battalion was reduced by about 300 in January 1946 after the end of the war. African American Women’s Army Corps in the Snow shows some of the first women to arrive back in the U.S. before the Six Triple Eight was officially disbanded one month later. There was no public recognition of their service at that time.
