In World War II, 150,000 American women had enlisted in the military, but only four percent were African American. Initially, Black women were not allowed to serve in the Women's Army Corps (WAC), but pressure from activists like Mary McLeod Bethune changed this. This effort paved the way for the creation of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, an all-Black battalion in the WAC under the command of Major Charity Adams that was tasked with various support roles including postal work. In February 1945 the 6888th Battalion was sent to Europe to sort an estimated 17 million pieces of mail. In doing so, they became the first and only all Black WAC unit sent overseas. Out of the 855 women that served in the 6888th, nineteen have connections to Maryland, four of which had ties to the Eastern Shore. In Maryland, March 9th is the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion Day.
To celebrate, the Beach to Bay Heritage Area, the Heart of the Chesapeake Heritage Area and the Maryland250 are planning a program on the women from the 6888th from the shore to be held at the Charles Chipman Center in Salisbury on March 19th at 7pm. The event is free and open to the public. Dr. Clara Small, Emerita Professor of History at Salisbury University will be leading the program.
