Photos: All-Black Female WWII Unit to Receive Congressional Gold Medal
MARCH 18, 2022 | BY KATIE LANGE, DOD NEWS
A Historic Mission Abroad
Of the more than 140,000 women who served in the Women's Army Corps during World War II, about 6,500 of them were Black. The Army created the 6888th in late 1944 and included five companies totaling about 850 Black women. They were commanded by Army Maj. Charity Adams, who finished the war as a lieutenant colonel, becoming the highest-ranking Black woman during the war.
While the unit wasn't heading to the frontlines, its soldiers still had to go through weeks of basic training, which included obstacle courses and gas mask drills, Guise said. Army historians said the women studied enemy aircraft, ships and weapons; they learned to board and evacuate ships and even went on long marches with rucksacks.
Long-Awaited Accolades
By March 1946, all of the women of the 6888th had returned to the U.S, and the unit was disbanded. Its members received the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Women's Army Corps Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal; however, there was no other official recognition of their accomplishments.
That slowly changed, though. Over the years, the surviving women of the 6888th have taken part in several reunions for Black members of the Women's Army Corps. In 1981, many of them returned to England and France, where they were honored for their wartime service.
On Feb. 28, the House of Representatives passed legislation to award the 6888th the Congressional Gold Medal. The Senate passed the measure last year, and President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan bill on March 14. It's not clear yet when the ceremony to honor the women will be.
Although there are only a handful of members of the 6888th still living to receive the medal, the honor will cement their place in World War II history.
https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/Article/2971608/all-black-female-wwii-unit-to-receive-congressional-gold-medal/
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