State Representative Melanie Miller presented testimony on House Bill 204 before the House Veterans and Military Development Committee. The bill seeks to recognize the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, an all-Black women’s unit that served overseas during World War II, by designating March 9th of each year in Ohio as a day of remembrance.
Miller, who is sponsoring the bill along with State Representative Erika White, highlighted the achievements of the battalion. “These remarkable women are worthy of recognition as the unsung heroes of World War II,” said Miller. “They preserved through numerous obstacles and challenges. Accomplishing their mission was critical to boosting the morale of the American people and American soldiers—making the impossible, possible!”
Known as the “Six Triple Eight,” the battalion comprised 855 women and was led by Major Charity Adams, the highest ranking Black female officer in the U.S. Army during the war. Their work involved processing and delivering mail for military personnel in Europe, handling an estimated 65,000 pieces of mail per shift and resolving massive backlogs more quickly than anticipated.
The battalion was disbanded on March 9, 1946, at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. House Bill 204 is pending further review by the committee.
