CT HJ00006

Connecticut General Assembly formally recognizes and honors the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion for its outstanding contributions to the United States military during World War II

The 6888th Battalion was the only unit deployed to the European Theater exclusively composed of African-American and Latina women, with 855 members (824 enlisted, 31 officers) serving from February 1945 to March 1946

The battalion's mission was clearing a multiyear mail backlog for approximately 7 million military personnel and civilians stationed in Europe, processing an average of 65,000 parcels per shift while working three 8-hour shifts daily, seven days a week

Members cleared a 6-month backlog in Birmingham, England in 3 months, then cleared a 3-year backlog in Rouen, France in another 3 months, despite working in dark, unheated, rat-infested aircraft hangars during air raids

The battalion was disbanded in March 1946 at Fort Dix, New Jersey with no parade or official recognition, though later honored by President Obama in 2009 and with a monument at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 2018