“The Six Triple Eight” is a documentary that chronicles the previously untold stories of African-American women who made significant contributions in World War II. Among them is Anna Mae Wilson-Robertson from Milwaukee, who served in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, known colloquently as the “Six Triple Eight”.
The 6888th was an all-female, all-Black battalion tasked with sorting and routing millions of pieces of backlogged mail for American servicemen and civilians stationed in Europe. The work was vital to bolstering soldiers’ morale and maintaining communication between troops and their families in the United States.
The unit, consisting of 855 women, was stationed first in England in February 1945, and then in France later in the year. They worked under difficult conditions, including the lack of adequate supplies and dealing with racially biased attitudes. Despite these challenges, the women accomplished their mission in only three months, two months less than projected. They worked in shifts around the clock, earning the motto “No mail, no morale.”
Honoring the women of the 6888th, “The Six Triple Eight” was produced by James Theres, along with help from co-producers Edna Cummings and Liz Faublas. Theres said of the project, “These women from the 6888th were in World War II, and nobody knows about them. That was just wrong. They had a story that deserved to be told.”
Among the women whose stories were shared in the film was Milwaukee’s own Anna Mae Wilson-Robertson. Anna Mae, who passed away in 2002, grew up in Milwaukee’s Bronzeville neighborhood. She joined the Women’s Army Corps in 1942 and was assigned to the 6888th when it was organized in 1945.
The documentary also spotlights a key event in 2018, when six of the surviving members of the 6888th were honored at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. They were recognized for their crucial roles in the war, presenting a long overdue acknowledgement of the unit’s contribution.
The work of the “Six Triple Eight” speaks boldly to their patriotism and to their commitment to serving their country in ways hitherto unmarked in the history records. This documentary strengthens the remembrance of their service and exemplifies the courage and determination of these women committed to their duty in the face of adversity.
Last modified: December 14, 2024
