In 1945, the 6888th, an all-black, all-female Army unit, made history by clearing a massive mail backlog in support of troops during World War II. Her story remained largely untold for decades – until Tyler Perry brought her to life The Six Triple Eight, Stream now on Netflix.

During World War II, approximately 6,500 black women served in all five branches of the U.S. military and 432 lost their lives. The Six Triple Eight highlights the women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion who, despite discrimination and poor working conditions, sorted over 17 million pieces of mail ahead of schedule.

Kerry Washington, the film’s star and executive producer, plays Captain Charity Adams, the battalion’s commanding officer and the first African-American woman to become an officer in the Women’s Army Corps.

“Charity Adams and the women of the 6888th were extraordinary,” the said scandal the actress told BET.com. “You have achieved so much in such challenging circumstances. Following in their footsteps and telling this story is a privilege and a responsibility.”

Read on to discover the true story that inspired you The Six Triple Eight and how the remaining survivors are honored today.

Is The Six Triple Eight Based on a true story?

Yes, The Six Triple Eight is based on the true story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. Formed by the U.S. Army in late 1944, the unit consisted of 850 black women in five companies. It was led by Army Maj. Charity Adams, who was the highest-ranking black woman during World War II, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.

For the approximately seven million military, Red Cross and government personnel, the postal service was a vital lifeline, helping them stay connected to their loved ones at home. However, the lack of qualified postal workers resulted in a significant backlog of letters and packages, with some shipments delayed by up to three years.

According to Kimberly Guise, senior curator at the National WWII Museum, by 1945, over 3.3 billion pieces of mail were processed through military mail services to reach the front lines. To address the overwhelming backlog, the U.S. Army deployed the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. Officials estimated it would take six months to complete the work at each site, but the battalion accomplished it in just three months – half the expected time.

Led by Army Maj. Charity Adams, the 6888th underwent rigorous training in the United States before embarking on its missions. Their preparation included obstacle courses, gas mask drills, studying enemy aircraft, ships and weapons, and learning how to board and evacuate ships.

“We had to climb ropes… and descend the side of a ship as if it was sinking. We had to crawl under wire a little bit… We had to put on gas masks… So that was part of it. A lot of marching and just getting ready, gearing up, things like that,” recalled Gladys Carter, a member of 6888th Squadron, at the National Museum of the U.S. Army.

Deployment and missions of the 6888th Battalion

In February 1945, the 6888th Post Battalion was deployed to England and crossed submarine-infested waters to arrive in Glasgow, Scotland. Upon their arrival, a German V-1 rocket exploded near the docks, forcing them to take cover. They then traveled by train to Birmingham, England, where they began to deal with the enormous backlog of mail.

Once they reached Birmingham, the women faced difficult conditions, working around the clock in cold, dimly lit warehouses in three eight-hour shifts. Sorting through the mail, gifts, and letters was a daunting task, as they often encountered recipients with the same name, inadequate addresses, or letters addressed only by nicknames. To ensure successful delivery, they relied on serial and service numbers to identify the correct recipients.

After completing its work in Birmingham, the 6888th was sent to Rouen, France, in June 1945. “We found the same condition in France as in England; the mail had been held up for months… There was mail that was two or three years old,” recalled service member Myrtle Rhoden at the National Museum of the U.S. Army. They began their work a few weeks after the declaration of victory in Europe, sorting the mail together with French civilians and German prisoners of war and clearing the backlog within five months.

In October 1945, the unit was sent to Paris, where it faced the additional challenge of package thefts, a result of the hardships endured by the French people during the war. According to womenofthe6888th.org, the women had to investigate these thefts and work with local civilians to retrieve the stolen packages.

During their service, Black Women’s Army Corps (WAC) members faced segregation, racism, and discrimination. Despite their education and training, they were often given menial tasks. According to the National Museum of the U.S. Army, some black male service members assumed the women were sent to Europe solely as companions. When the Red Cross refused to allow women into its club and opened a separate club instead, the battalion collectively refused entry to express their disapproval.

Where are they? Members of the 6888th Battalion today? How are they honored?

On February 27, 1946, the unit’s remaining soldiers boarded the Claymont Victory en route to the United States. The unit received the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Women’s Army Corps Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. Unfortunately, it was not until many years later that there was further official recognition of their achievements.

The surviving members of the 6888th have held reunions over the years, including one in 1979 in Cincinnati, Ohio. They met again in 1981, this time returning to Birmingham, where they were honored at a reception hosted by the city’s Lord Mayor. They also visited London, where they were feted by civilian and military officials, and Paris, where they were given a tour of the city.

The work of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion has been celebrated and documented in written reports, documentation, museum exhibits, and public ceremonies. In 1995, Charity Adams wrote a memoir about her experiences as commander of the historic battalion. Dr. Brenda L. Moore published a book in 1996 entitled “To Serve My Country, to Serve My Race: The Story of the Only African-American WACS Stationed Overseas During World War II,” based on the memoirs and interviews with women who had served in 6888.

As of 2022, only six members of the Six Triple Eight were still alive: Romay Davis, Cresencia Garcia, Fannie McClendon, Gladys E. Blount, Lena King and Anna Mae Robertson. Davis, the oldest living member, died on June 21, 2024 at the age of 104, followed by Blount, who died just a day later on June 22, 2024.

In 2018, a monument honoring the 6888th was unveiled at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and the unit received the Meritorious Unit Commendation in 2019. In February 2022, the House of Representatives passed legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the 6888th. The Senate approved the measure last year, and President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan bill in March 2022.

“I wish more of the 6,888th members were here, and I hope I am still here. This will be a great day,” 6888th veteran Lena King said when signing the bill, according to the Army Women’s Foundation.

“This is a wonderful recognition of the critical service the 6888th Family has provided to this country under extraordinarily difficult circumstances,” added Stanley Earley, a member of the 6888th Family.

The Six Triple Eight is streaming on Netflix. Check out the official trailer below.