-
Diving into the 6888th with World War II Daily Podcast
I’m thrilled to share that I recently joined Pietro Deserti and Samuel DeKorte on the World War II Daily podcast to discuss one of the most compelling stories of World War II: the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. This podcast episode provided a platform to explore the inspiring history of the 6888th, the only all-Black Women’s Army →
-
Setting the Stage: The 6888th Central Postal Battalion
Eighty years ago, a significant chapter in military and social history began. The 6888th Central Postal Battalion—better known as the Six Triple Eight—was the only Black Women’s Army Corps (WAC) unit sent overseas during World War II. Their story, now brought to life in Tyler Perry’s Six Triple Eight, illustrates the complexities of military service during a →
-
20 July 1942
80 years ago today, the First Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps Training Center officially opened for the first WAAC Officer Candidates and Auxiliaries. The Post itself had been busy in the two months since the passage of the WAAC bill in May. Colonel Don Faith had been selected as commandant of the training center, having served →
-
The WWII Challenge
The National WWII Museum has just announced the 2022 WWII Challenge! Running from August 1 to December 1, the challenge is a virtual race, meaning you track your miles (walk, run, bike, swim, etc!) and submit them online. I participated last year in the short Liberty Road route, but this year I wanted to have →
-
HR 6293 Advances, “Petticoat Army Wins Backing”
Following Edith Nourse Rogers’ introduction of HR 6293 on December 30, 1941, the bill was sent to the Committee on Military Affairs for review on January 20, 1942. On Friday, January 28, the committee chairman, Andrew J. May (D) of Kentucky requested to “have until midnight to file a report on the bill relating to →
-
Oveta Culp Hobby’s Birthday
Happy Birthday to the OG WAAC, born this day in 1905. Oveta Culp Hobby was born in Killeen, Texas. An avid student, she became legislative parliamentarian of the Texas House of Representatives at age 20. In 1931, she transitioned out of state politics and into a career in newspaper publishing, becoming Executive Vice President of →
-
6888th Congressional Gold Medal
For those of you that know me, you know I curated an exhibit on the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion last year. Some of you were able to join me for the virtual exhibit opening, with special guest presenter Colonel (Ret.)Edna Cummings, who shared about the efforts to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the →
-
Year in Review
2021 is nearly in the books, and what better way to acknowledge it than by reviewing the last twelve months? This year, like last, didn’t have as many opportunities for living history so I had to make the most of the few chances I had to get out. However, it also gave me the time →
-
H.R. 6293
The last section of the Congressional Record for December 30, 1941 included a list of public bills and resolutions introduced to the House of Representatives: “By Mrs. ROGERS of Massachusetts: H. R. 6293. A bill to establish a. Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps for service with the Army of the United States; to the Committee on →
-
Today in WAAC News
The Knoxville News Sentinel reported that Rep. Edith Nourse Rogers believed the War Department, like the Bureau of the Budget, would soon approve the WAAC bill (HR 4906), originally introduced on May 28, 1941. Rogers was quoted as saying “This bill gives women a chance to volunteer to serve their country in a patriotic way. →
Lipstick & War 