[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 100 (Monday, June 15, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E579]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING DR. PAULENE ADRIENNE LEWIS HOPKINS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BRIAN BABIN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 15, 2026

  Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life 
and service of Dr. Paulene Adrienne Lewis Hopkins, a distinguished 
educator, community leader, World War II veteran, and member of the 
historic 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion--the legendary ``Six 
Triple Eight.'' Her life exemplified the highest ideals of patriotism, 
service, perseverance, and leadership.
  Dr. Hopkins was born on December 13, 1919, in Chambers County, Texas. 
She was the daughter of Fannie Patterson Lewis and Elbert Lewis and the 
eldest of five children. Following her mother's death, she moved to 
Marshall, Texas, where she graduated from Central High School and then 
attended Wiley College, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. She began 
her career as an educator in Double Bayou, Texas, where she invested in 
the lives of young Texans and demonstrated the dedication to public 
service that would define her life's work. She met and married Mack 
Henry Hopkins in Marshall before going to New York to attain her 
master's degree in educational administration from Columbia University.
  On May 2, 1943, at a pivotal time in World War II, she joined the 
Women's Army Corps and honorably served until 1946, attaining the rank 
of Technician Fifth Grade. Most notably, Dr. Hopkins served as a member 
of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only 
predominantly African American Women's Army Corps unit deployed 
overseas during World War II. The women of the Six Triple Eight were 
assigned one of the most daunting logistical missions of the war: 
eliminating a backlog of millions of letters and packages destined for 
American servicemembers and their families.
  At a time when troop morale was critical to the Allied war effort, 
these women worked around the clock in difficult conditions to restore 
communication between soldiers and loved ones. Guided by their famous 
motto, ``No Mail, Low Morale,'' the members of the 6888th accomplished 
what many believed impossible. Through efficiency, discipline, and 
determination, they cleared years of accumulated mail in a matter of 
months, reconnecting families and boosting the morale of American 
troops stationed abroad.
  For her honorable military service, Dr. Hopkins received the American 
Theater Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and World War II Victory 
Medal. Yet her greatest military legacy remains her contribution to the 
success of the Six Triple Eight and her role in a unit whose service 
has only recently received the national recognition it has long 
deserved.
  After the war, Dr. Hopkins continued her pursuit of excellence 
through education. She went on to serve as a teacher, principal, 
educational administrator, literacy advocate, and community leader. She 
devoted decades to helping students achieve their potential and 
strengthening educational opportunities for others.
  Upon her retirement, Dr. Hopkins returned to Marshall, Texas, where 
she remained active in civic and educational affairs. She served on the 
Wiley College Board of Trustees, the Marshall Independent School 
District Community Education Advisory Council, the Marshall Planning 
and Zoning Commission, and numerous community organizations. As 
Executive Director of the Truitt Ingram Literacy Center, she championed 
literacy and lifelong learning throughout East Texas.
  Whether serving schoolchildren in Chambers County, educating future 
generations in California, or serving her country overseas with the 
historic Six Triple Eight, Dr. Hopkins consistently answered the call 
to serve others.
  Mr. Speaker, the life of Dr. Paulene Adrienne Lewis Hopkins reflects 
the very best of America. Her service in the 6888th Central Postal 
Directory Battalion helped sustain the morale of American troops during 
World War II, while her lifelong commitment to education transformed 
countless lives. May her life as a pioneering educator, a dedicated 
community servant, and a proud member of one of the most significant 
military units in American history continue to inspire generations of 
Americans for years to come.

                          ____________________