DATE WITH HISTORY- “THE SIX TRIPLE EIGHT”

The Six Triple Eight – No Mail, Low Morale
The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, known as the Six Triple Eight, was the only all-black female battalion to serve in Europe during World War II. In February 1945, 855 black women from the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) were sent to England and France to clear the backlog of mail in Europe. By the end of the war, the Six Triple Eight had made sure that over 17 million pieces of backlogged mail made it to their destination and ensured that troops stayed in touch with their loved ones back home.

Copies of the featured documentary will be sold at the Cantigny Gift Shop before and after the discussion.

A cash bar will be available along with a small selection of food. Coffee is complimentary.

This event is part of the First Division Museum’s popular series, A Date with History. The monthly programs feature an evening of lively discussion with authors, panelists, historians, and special speakers.

Meet the Director: James William Theres is an award-winning Executive Writer at the National Cemetery Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington D.C.  He has received 10 Veterans Affairs national awards for speech writing, feature writing, event planning and media affairs.  As an independent filmmaker, he has written, directed, and produced three documentary films, The 30th of May (2016), The Hello Girls (2018), and The SixTripleEight (2019).  His films have received over 40 filmmaking awards and have appeared on Mississippi and Wisconsin Public Television; and on National PBS.

James is a Persian Gulf War/US Army Veteran.