#armywomensmuseum

[sfc-paulchambers]

Led by Major Charity Adams, the highest-ranking Black woman in the U.S. Army during WWII, the 6888th was the only all-Black women’s battalion sent overseas during the war. Composed of 824 enlisted soldiers and 31 officers from the Women’s Army Corps (WAC), the 6888th was activated in November 1944 due to a scarcity of qualified postal directory personnel in the European Theater and tasked with helping resolve serious postal delays that were harming troop morale. Arriving in Birmingham, England in February 1945, they found warehouses crowded from floor to ceiling with letters and packages. The women of “Six Triple Eight” worked in three rounds of eight-hour shifts all week long, in a building that was not heated and often had rodents searching for goods in packages. Sorting the mail was challenging because so many soldiers had common names, much of the mail had incorrect addresses, and because units were constantly relocating. The 6888th used seven million information cards to stay organized, and their work ethic marveled the community around them. Their goal was further complicated by racism and sexism. For example, a local club run by the American Red Cross hosted Black and white servicemen and white servicewomen but refused to host the women of the 6888th. This prompted Major Adams to lead the unit in a boycott of all segregated Red Cross services. Six Triple Eight also dealt with rumors and hostility from white and black soldiers who were not fond of black women in the Army. The 6888th persevered, processing 65,000 pieces of mail every shift and completing their initial mission in three months rather than the expected six. They were trailblazers of their time and their commander, Major Charity Adams, became the first Black woman to earn the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. If you’re ready to be a part of #history & #armyhistory then contact me now #blacksoldiers #bearmystrong #bedifferent #theydiditwhycantyou #whatsyourexcuse #usarmyreserve #bedifferent #blackhistorymonth #bearmystrong #dosomethingpositive for your #futureself #dosomethingworthwatching #usarmyreserve #globallypositioned #armywomensmuseum Posted @withregram • @armyhistory (at Spring Hill, Tennessee) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoSSz4SOLL4/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sfc-paulchambers]

12 JUNE 1948 - WOMEN'S ARMED SERVICES INTEGRATION ACT Like its counterparts in the other services, the Women's Army Corps (WAC) had been intended to exist only until six months after the end of World War II. Efforts to keep the separate female corps in the services during peace time resulted in passage of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, which was signed into law by President Harry S. Truman on 12 June 1948. Although women had served with the Army starting with the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) in 1942, and after it became the Women's Army Corps (WAC) in 1943, the branch was not considered permanent. When the president signed the 1948 legislation, the WAC became a permanent corps of the Regular Army and Army Reserve. Women finally had most of the benefits men had, except Congress set ceilings on the percentage of women in uniform and the number who could be Army lieutenant colonels and colonels and Navy commanders and captains. Women officers were prohibited from being generals or admirals until President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Public Law 90-130 on 8 November 1967, which removed the restrictions on promotion of female officers to flag rank. The U.S. Army promoted the first women officers to brigadier general on 11 June 1970—Anna Mae Hays, Chief of the Army Nurse Corps, and Elizabeth P. Hoisington, Director of the Women's Army Corps. Shortly after World War I, the Army gave its nurses relative rank up to major, but they were prohibited from commanding men. Women's Army Corps (WAC) members held regular rank, and received the same pay and most benefits as the men. #Armyhistory #USArmy #TRADOC #Equality #WomensHistory #armywomensmuseum #thisdayinarmyhistory Secretary of the Army U.S. Army Chief of Staff U.S. Army U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) U.S. Army Women's Museum ALSO SEE: https://go.usa.gov/xJ5vF https://go.usa.gov/xJ5ve #repostedfrom @armyhistory https://www.instagram.com/p/Cet1OHVOdsc/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=