World War II Honoree

Charity Adams Earley

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Columbia, South Carolina

Honored By

Charles Henry Atkinson

Relationship

Vietnam Veteran

THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN COMMISSIONED AS AN OFFICER IN THE WOMEN'S ARMY CORPS (WAC), ALSO ATTAINED THE HIGHEST RANK POSSIBLE IN THE CORPS BELOW THE DIRECTORSHIP. SHE WAS ALSO THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE FIRST BATTALION OF BLACK SERVICE WOMEN TO SERVE OVERSEAS DURING WWII. THIS UNIT, THE 6888TH CENTRAL POSTAL DIRECTORY BATTALION (OR 'SIX TRIPLE EIGHT'), DID JOB OF REDIRECTING MAIL IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. THE SIX TRIPLE EIGHT BROKE ALL RECORDS FOR REDIRECTING MAIL. THEY KNEW THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR JOB, IN MAINTAINING MORALE. HER UNIT FACED THE TYPICAL DISPARAGEMENT'S OF THOSE DAYS. THE RED CROSS WANTED TO ESTABLISH A SPECIAL HOTEL FOR BLACK WOMEN ARMY CORPS (WAC) IN LONDON, SHE REFUSED THIS AND HER UNIT STOOD BEHIND HER. WHEN SHE ENTERED THE ARMY IN 1942. AS THE 6888TH MAINTAINED ITS EFFICIENCY, WE WERE INSPECTED, VISITED, GREETED, CHECKED OUT, CONGRATULATED, CALLED UPON, SUPERVISED AND REVIEWED BY EVERY OFFICER OF ANY RANK IN THE UNITED KINGDOM WHO COULD COME UP WITH AN EXCUSE TO COME TO BIRMINGHAM.