The Inspiring True Story Behind Netflix’s ‘The Six Triple Eight’

In 1945, the 6888th, an all-black, all-female Army unit, made history by clearing a massive backlog of mail to support troops during World War II. Their story went largely untold for decades — until Tyler Perry brought it to life The six triple eight, now streaming on Netflix.

During World War II, approximately 6,500 black women served across all five branches of the U.S. military, and 432 lost their lives. The six triple eight highlights the women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, who sorted over 17 million pieces of mail ahead of schedule despite discrimination and poor working conditions.

Kerry Washington, who stars in and executive produces the film, plays Captain Charity Adams, the battalion commander and the first African-American woman to become an officer in the Women’s Army Corps.

“Charity Adams and the women of 6888. were extraordinary,” the Scandal actress told BET.com. “They achieved so much under such challenging circumstances. To step into her shoes and tell this story is a privilege and a responsibility.”

Read on to discover the true story that inspired The six triple eight and how the remaining survivors are honored today.

Is The six triple eight Based on a true story?

Yes, The six triple eight is based on the true story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. The unit was formed by the US Army in late 1944 and consisted of 850 black women divided into five companies. It was led by Army Major Charity Adams, who was the highest-ranking black woman during World War II, according to the US Department of Defense.

Mail was a vital lifeline for the approximately 7 million service members, Red Cross workers and government personnel, helping them stay in touch with loved ones back home. But a lack of qualified postal workers resulted in a significant backlog of letters and parcels, with some shipments delayed for as long as three years.

In 1945, over 3.3 billion pieces of mail were processed through military postal services to reach the front lines, according to Kimberly Guise, senior curator at the National WWII Museum. To deal with the overwhelming backlog, the US Army deployed the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. Officials estimated it would take six months to complete the work at each site, but the battalion achieved it in just three months – half the expected time.

Under the command of Army Major Charity Adams, the 6888th underwent rigorous training in the United States before beginning their missions. Their preparation included obstacle courses, gas mask drills, studying enemy aircraft, ships and weapons, as well as learning how to board and evacuate ships.

“We had to climb ropes … and come down the side of a ship as if it was sinking. We had to crawl a little under wire … We had to put gas masks on .. .So that was part of it. A lot of marching and just getting ready, that kind of thing,” 6888. member Gladys Carter recalled to the National Museum of the US Army.

Deployment and missions of the 6888th Battalion

In February 1945, the 6888th Postal Battalion deployed to England and crossed U-boat infested waters to arrive in Glasgow, Scotland. As they arrived, a German V-1 rocket exploded near the harbor, forcing them to take cover. They then traveled by train to Birmingham, England, where they began to tackle the massive mail volume.

When the women reached Birmingham, they faced challenging conditions, working around the clock in cold, dimly lit warehouses in three eight-hour shifts. Sorting through the mail, gifts and letters was a daunting task as they often encountered recipients with the same names, inadequate addresses or letters addressed only by nicknames. To ensure successful delivery, they relied on serial and service numbers to identify the correct recipients.

After completing their work in Birmingham, the 6888th was sent to Rouen, France, in June 1945. “We found the same condition in France as we had found in England; the mail had been held for several months … There was mail that was two or three years old,” service member Myrtle Rhoden recalled to the National Museum of the US Army. They began their work a few weeks after victory was declared in Europe, sorting mail alongside French civilians and German POWs, clearing the five-month backlog.

In October 1945, the unit was sent to Paris where they faced the added challenge of parcel theft, a result of the hardships endured by the French people during the war. The women were to investigate these thefts and work with local civilians to recover the stolen packages, according to womenofthe6888th.org.

During their service, members of the Black Women’s Army Corps (WAC) faced segregation, racism, and discrimination. Despite their training and education, they were often assigned menial tasks. According to the National Museum of the US Army, some black male service members assumed the women were sent to Europe solely as companions for them. When the Red Cross refused the women access to their club and instead opened a separate club, the battalion collectively refused to enter to express their disapproval.

Where are they? 6888th Battalion members today? How are they honored?

On February 27, 1946, the remaining soldiers of the unit boarded the Claymont Victory bound for the United States. The unit received the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Women’s Army Corps Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. Unfortunately, there was no other official recognition of their achievements until many years later.

The surviving members of the 6888th have held reunion over the years, including one in 1979 in Cincinnati, Ohio. They reunited in 1981, this time returning to Birmingham where they were honored at a reception hosted by the city’s Lord Mayor. They also visited London, where they were feted by civilian and military officials, and Paris, where they were given a guided tour of the city.

The work of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion has been celebrated and documented in written accounts, documentaries, museum exhibitions and public ceremonies. In 1995, Charity Adams authored a memoir about her experience leading the historic battalion. Dr. Brenda L. Moore published a book in 1996, “To Serve My Country, To Serve My Race: The Story of the Only African-American WACS Stationed Overseas During World War II,” based on recollections of and interviews with women who had served in 6888.

In 2022, only six members of the Six Triple Eight were still alive: Romay Davis, Cresencia Garcia, Fannie McClendon, Gladys E. Blount, Lena King, and Anna Mae Robertson. Davis, the oldest surviving member, departed by death on June 21, 2024, at the age of 104, succeeded by Blount, who passed just one day later on June 22, 2024.

In 2018, a monument honoring the 6888th was unveiled at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and the unit received the Meritorious Unit Commendation in 2019. In February 2022, the House of Representatives adopted legislation to award the 6888th Congressional Gold Medal. The Senate had approved the measure the previous year, and President Joe Biden signed the two-party bill in March 2022.

“I wish more of the 6888th members were here, and I hope I’m still here. It’s going to be a great day,” said 6888th veteran Ms. According to Lena King The Army Women’s Fundwhen the bill was signed.

“This is a wonderful recognition of the critical service the 6888th gave this country under extraordinarily difficult conditions,” added Stanley Earley, a family member of the No. 6888.

The six triple eight streaming on Netflix. Watch the official trailer below.