HR1074 - Commending the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion for its contributions during World War II.

      H.R. No. 1074       R E S O L U T I O N          WHEREAS, The members of the legendary 6888th Central Postal   Directory Battalion rendered exceptional service to their country   during World War II; and          WHEREAS, The battalion was formed in 1941, when   U.S. Representative Edith Nourse Rogers introduced a bill to create   the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps; President Franklin D. Roosevelt   signed the bill into legislation the following year, and the WAAC's   name was changed to the Women's Army Corps in 1943; after several   units of White women were sent to serve in the European theater,   African American organizations lobbied for the deployment of a   Black WAC unit overseas; the U.S. War Department approved the   request, and a battalion of enlisted personnel and officers were   drawn from the WAC, the Army Service Forces, and the Army Air Forces   for the establishment of the 6888th Central Postal Directory   Battalion; the 855-member unit, which included 44 Texans, became   known as the "Six Triple Eight" and was deployed to Europe in   November 1944; and          WHEREAS, Making history as the only WAC unit of color to serve   overseas in World War II, the mostly African American battalion set   about its mission of clearing a vast backlog of undelivered mail for   U.S. service members, government personnel, and Red Cross workers   in England and France; beginning its effort in Birmingham, England,   the 6888th was given half a year to clear several warehouses stacked   to the ceilings with returned mail and packages; working in shifts   around the clock, the women completed their work in just three   months; following Victory in Europe Day, the unit was sent to Rouen,   France, where it once again resolved a backlog in half the time   allotted; and          WHEREAS, Adopting the motto of "No mail, low morale," the Six   Triple Eight served from 1945 to 1946 and demonstrated great skill   and efficiency in solving the military's postal issues as well as   tremendous resilience when encountering racism and sexism; in 2022,   the battalion was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest   civilian honor bestowed by the U.S. Congress; in February 2025, the   George W. Bush Presidential Center hosted an event in celebration   of the battalion; the program followed the December 2024 release of   the Netflix film The Six Triple Eight ; and          WHEREAS, The 6888th had strong ties to Texas, with the unit   serving at Amarillo Army Air Field and Camp Maxey; Texan women who   served in the unit included Private First Class Hazel Jones Allen,   Private Bessie Booker-Lusk, Private Erma Pauline Boyd, Technician   Fifth Grade Ruth Verjil Reuben Brown, Private First Class Freddie   Williams Chinn-Kline, Technician Fifth Grade Florence Marie   Cole-Rawls, Private First Class Marguerite J. Ellis-Parker, Staff   Sergeant Jaunita Jewel Goodloe, Private First Class Mary Louise   Hill, Private First Class Mildred Lois Hooper, Private First Class   Paulene Adrienne Lewis Hopkins, Corporal Dorothy Lee Howard,   Technician Fifth Grade Ernestine Elizabeth Hughes-Thompson,   Private First Class Georgia Clarence Hughes-Jones, Private First   Class Ella Mae Jackson, Staff Sergeant Jerrell Lawrence, Private   First Class Catherine Lee, Sergeant Lucille Lewis-Smith, Sergeant   Ruby Lee McClung, Private Martha Anna McKnight, Private First Class   Ophelia Mills-Outley, Private First Class Helen Beatrice Minor,   Sergeant Catherine Louise Nelson-Bowie, Sergeant Ruby Jessie May   O'Brien, Private First Class Essie Oralea O'Riley, Technician Fifth   Grade Mablyne Ortiz, Private First Class Kate Louise Pate-Walker,   Private Essie Lee Penn-Underwood, Private Mildred Elizabeth   Peterson, Second Lieutenant Calonia V. Powell-Boykin, Technician   Fifth Grade Jewell G. Rettig, Private Minerva Loraine Revernal,   Private Eddie Toliver Richards, Private First Class Winnie Beatrice   Richardson-West, Private First Class Onnie Lois Roberts-Stanley,   Technician Fourth Grade Florida Elizabeth Robey, Private First   Class Erma L. Smith, Private First Class Lucille Smith, Technician   Fourth Grade Rose Stuart, Private Millie Mary Taylor-Moore,   Corporal Johnnie Mae Walton, Private First Class Myrtle Elizabeth   Wright, and Private Mable Jeannette Zenon-Williams; and          WHEREAS, Inspired by a deep sense of patriotism and a   devotion to duty, the members of the 6888th Central Postal   Directory Battalion made a significant impact on future generations   of women in the military, and it is a privilege to join in honoring   their enduring legacy; now, therefore, be it          RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas   Legislature hereby commend the 6888th Central Postal Directory   Battalion for its outstanding contributions during World War II.     Rose     ______________________________   Speaker of the House                 I certify that H.R. No. 1074 was adopted by the House on May   23, 2025, by a non-record vote.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House