[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 125 (Tuesday, July 22, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H3533-H3534]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     COMMEMORATING SIX TRIPLE EIGHT

  (Mr. Davis of Illinois was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and 
commemorate the extraordinary service and enduring legacy of the 6888th 
Central Postal Directory Battalion, known with pride and reverence as 
the Six Triple Eight.
  Formed in 1944 during World War II, the Six Triple Eight was the 
first and only all-Black, all-female battalion deployed overseas in 
United States military history. Comprising over 850 courageous women 
from the Women's Army Corps, the WAC, the unit represented 32 States 
across our Nation. Many trained at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, a rare 
opportunity afforded to African-American women at the time.
  These women answered the call to serve their country despite the dual 
burdens of racism and sexism, which too often obscured their 
contributions. Yet, their mission was essential.
  Deployed to England and later France, the Six Triple Eight was tasked 
with clearing an enormous backlog of more than 17 million pieces of 
undelivered mail, reconnecting American troops with their loved ones.
  Operating in grueling conditions in cold, dark, and often dangerous 
warehouses, they worked around the clock in three shifts, accomplishing 
in just 3 months what had been projected to take 6 months. Their 
guiding motto: No Mail, Low Moral. It was more than a slogan. It was a 
lifeline.
  By restoring vital communication between soldiers and their families, 
they uplifted the spirit of the Armed Forces and strengthened the 
emotional backbone of a nation at war.
  Despite their unprecedented success, the women of the Six Triple 
Eight returned home to a country that failed to

[[Page H3534]]

properly recognize their valor. For decades, their contributions were 
left out of the mainstream military narrative.
  That silence began to break, though, in 2022 when Congress passed and 
the President signed the Six Triple Eight Congressional Gold Medal Act, 
affirming that these women's sacrifice and excellence are integral to 
our national story.
  Let the record show, let the record reflect, the Six Triple Eight was 
not merely a military unit. It was a living testament to discipline, 
resilience, and the unyielding patriotism of Black women in service to 
a country that had yet to fully serve them in return.
  As we enter this legacy into the Congressional Record, I call upon my 
colleagues and future generations to honor the Six Triple Eight, not 
only in commemoration but in our ongoing pursuit of justice, equity, 
and historical truth.
  It is recognized that August 10, 2025, is Six Triple Eight Day in 
Illinois.

                              {time}  1030

  Mr. Speaker, I urge all residents across the Nation to honor the 
service, sacrifice, and legacy of the women of the 6888th Central 
Postal Directory Battalion. The women who served in the 6888th 
battalion from Illinois are listed in this communique.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank them for their service and dedication.

                          ____________________