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The much-awaited American war drama The Six Triple Eight premiered on Netflix on December 20, 2024. Directed and written by Tyler Perry, the film follows the lives and careers of the United States' 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion during World War 2.
The Six Triple Eight stars Kerry Washington in the central role of Major Charity Adams, alongside Ebony Obsidian, Milauna Jackson, Oprah Winfrey, Susan Sarandon, Sam Waterston, Dean Norris, and many others.
The Netflix movie is inspired by real events. The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion was the only all-Black, all-female unit to serve overseas during World War II. The script of The Six Triple Eight is derived from historian Kevin M. Hymel's February 2019 article, Fighting a Two-Front War, published in WWII History magazine.
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What was The Six Triple Eight Central Postal Directory Battalion?
As stated above, The Six Triple Eight, formally known as the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, was an all-Black, all-female unit of the U.S. Army during World War II.
Created in 1944, the primary purpose of this battalion was to address a massive backlog of mail that had failed to reach the soldiers stationed overseas.
Over 17 million items had accumulated in Europe, and the absence of letters from loved ones was affecting the morale of U.S. troops. The 855 women of the battalion were first deployed to Birmingham, England, and later to France.
They worked tirelessly in difficult conditions, sorting and delivering mail around the clock. Even when they faced racism and sexism, they upheld their motto "No mail, low morale". After the war was over, they returned to the U.S. but gained little public recognition.
Over the years, the battalion has been honored, and they have received multiple accolades including the Congressional Gold Medal in 2022.
This battalion remains a symbol of resilience, breaking barriers of race and gender during a pivotal time in history.
The legacy of the all-Black, all-female unit of the U.S. Army in World War II
The Six Triple Eight received the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal during their service, but their contributions were largely unrecognized for a long time.
One of the first public acknowledgments of their service was in 2009 when the surviving members were honored at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.
In 2016, the battalion was given a place in the U.S. Army Women's Foundation Hall of Fame, and in 2018, a monument was dedicated to them at Fort Leavenworth.
In 2022, The Six Triple Eight were given the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor in the United States signed into law by then-President Joe Biden.
The story of the courageous battalion is preserved in documentaries, autobiographies, and now in the Netflix film, The Six Triple Eight.
The movie is produced by Keri Selig, Carlota Espinosa, Tony Strickland, Angi Bones, Nicole Avant, and Tyler Perry. It has an 80% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 250+ ratings.
What happened to the members of The Six Triple Eight?
Three women of the 6888 battalion - Sergeant Delores Browne, Private Mary Bankston, and Private Mary Barlow lost their lives in France. They were three of the only four women buried at the Normandy American Cemetery in France at the time of war.
After their return to the U.S., some of the women pursued further careers in the military, education, social work, or other professions. Charity Adams completed her education and became an educator and civil rights advocate.
Lena Derriecott King, another member, consulted on the Netflix film The Six Triple Eight and even saw a rough cut of the movie shortly before her death at age 100 in January 2024.
Tyler Perry dedicated a video to her on his Instagram after her death, captioned:
"If you are ever fortunate enough to sit at the feet of wisdom, learn all that you can. I will miss you my friend. You have journeyed well, Ms. Lena King."
Major Fannie Griffin McClendon and Anna Mae Robertson remain the two surviving members of the 6888 battalion as of December 2024.
In an interview with Tudum by Netflix dated December 20, 2024, producer Nicole Avant shared her vision for the movie, saying:
“The women of the 6888th Battalion represent the best of America. They represent strength. They represent courage. They represent bravery. But they also represent humanity. They represent the energy in all of us that wants to quit, but never does."
She continued:
"They understood that they may not ever receive any accolades for the fruits of their labor, but they didn’t do it for themselves. They did it for the greater good. And that is why I have such respect for this battalion and these women, and I’m so excited to tell the story.”
The Six Triple Eight is now streaming on Netflix.
