TITLE: Commending the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion for its contributions during World War II.

SUMMARY: Commending the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion for its contributions during World War II.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The members of the legendary 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion rendered exceptional service to their country during World War II; and WHEREAS, The battalion was formed in 1941, when U.S. Representative Edith Nourse Rogers introduced a bill to create the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps; President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the bill into legislation the following year, and the WAAC's name was changed to the Women's Army Corps in 1943; after several units of White women were sent to serve in the European theater, African American organizations lobbied for the deployment of a Black WAC unit overseas; the U.S. War Department approved the request, and a battalion of enlisted personnel and officers were drawn from the WAC, the Army Service Forces, and the Army Air Forces for the establishment of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion; the 855-member unit, which included 44 Texans, became known as the "Six Triple Eight" and was deployed to Europe in November 1944; and WHEREAS, Making history as the only WAC unit of color to serve overseas in World War II, the mostly African American battalion set about its mission of clearing a vast backlog of undelivered mail for U.S. service members, government personnel, and Red Cross workers in England and France; beginning its effort in Birmingham, England, the 6888th was given half a year to clear several warehouses stacked to the ceilings with returned mail and packages; working in shifts around the clock, the women completed their work in just three months; following Victory in Europe Day, the unit was sent to Rouen, France, where it once again resolved a backlog in half the time allotted; and WHEREAS, Adopting the motto of "No mail, low morale," the Six Triple Eight served from 1945 to 1946 and demonstrated great skill and efficiency in solving the military's postal issues as well as tremendous resilience when encountering racism and sexism; in 2022, the battalion was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor bestowed by the U.S. Congress; in February 2025, the George W. Bush Presidential Center hosted an event in celebration of the battalion; the program followed the December 2024 release of the Netflix film The Six Triple Eight;and WHEREAS, The 6888th had strong ties to Texas, with the unit serving at Amarillo Army Air Field and Camp Maxey; Texan women who served in the unit included Private First Class Hazel Jones Allen, Private Bessie Booker-Lusk, Private Erma Pauline Boyd, Technician Fifth Grade Ruth Verjil Reuben Brown, Private First Class Freddie Williams Chinn-Kline, Technician Fifth Grade Florence Marie Cole-Rawls, Private First Class Marguerite J. Ellis-Parker, Staff Sergeant Jaunita Jewel Goodloe, Private First Class Mary Louise Hill, Private First Class Mildred Lois Hooper, Private First Class Paulene Adrienne Lewis Hopkins, Corporal Dorothy Lee Howard, Technician Fifth Grade Ernestine Elizabeth Hughes-Thompson, Private First Class Georgia Clarence Hughes-Jones, Private First Class Ella Mae Jackson, Staff Sergeant Jerrell Lawrence, Private First Class Catherine Lee, Sergeant Lucille Lewis-Smith, Sergeant Ruby Lee McClung, Private Martha Anna McKnight, Private First Class Ophelia Mills-Outley, Private First Class Helen Beatrice Minor, Sergeant Catherine Louise Nelson-Bowie, Sergeant Ruby Jessie May O'Brien, Private First Class Essie Oralea O'Riley, Technician Fifth Grade Mablyne Ortiz, Private First Class Kate Louise Pate-Walker, Private Essie Lee Penn-Underwood, Private Mildred Elizabeth Peterson, Second Lieutenant Calonia V. Powell-Boykin, Technician Fifth Grade Jewell G. Rettig, Private Minerva Loraine Revernal, Private Eddie Toliver Richards, Private First Class Winnie Beatrice Richardson-West, Private First Class Onnie Lois Roberts-Stanley, Technician Fourth Grade Florida Elizabeth Robey, Private First Class Erma L. Smith, Private First Class Lucille Smith, Technician Fourth Grade Rose Stuart, Private Millie Mary Taylor-Moore, Corporal Johnnie Mae Walton, Private First Class Myrtle Elizabeth Wright, and Private Mable Jeannette Zenon-Williams; and WHEREAS, Inspired by a deep sense of patriotism and a devotion to duty, the members of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion made a significant impact on future generations of women in the military, and it is a privilege to join in honoring their enduring legacy; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas Legislature hereby commend the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion for its outstanding contributions during World War II. Rose Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1074 was adopted by the House on May 23, 2025, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House