The 6888th: She Raised Her Right Hand
It Is Time to Talk About Reparations For Women Who Served Without Full Recognition
The 6888th (Six-Triple-Eight) Central Postal Directory Battalion is the subject of Tyler Perry’s movie on Netflix.
The Six-Triple-Eight was formed in 1945 and would become the only all-female, all-black unit to serve overseas during the war. When the eight-hundred and fifty-five women arrived in England in 1945, they found a staggering amount of backlogged mail. “No mail, no morale,” became the units motto. And if you were ever far from home before cell phones, you know that to be true.
The 6888th operated in a space where racism intersected with sexism. Like many females serving in uniform during WWII, they were fighting a multi-front war no matter where they were physically stationed.
WAC Missions During WWII
WACs were deployed across different regions in Europe, supporting various operational commands. They served in roles such as clerks, typists, and administrative assistants to ensure effective military operations.
WACs were also stationed in areas such as Hawaii, Australia, and Alaska. They contributed to logistics, communications, and support services critical to the war effort in the Pacific.
Certain specialized units, including the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion were deployed to the European Theater, where they were responsible for sorting and delivering mail to U.S. troops.
WAVES Mission During WWII
WAVES served in various capacities within Navy commands in the Pacific, including bases in Hawaii and other strategic locations throughout the region. Their roles included administrative positions and support in naval operations.
WAVES were deployed to Europe primarily for naval support. They worked in various roles at naval bases, including those in England and France, primarily focusing on logistics, administrative tasks, and medical support.
WAVES also served in critical communications and intelligence roles, supporting naval operations and contributing to code breaking and information processing efforts throughout both theaters.
SPAR Mission During WWII
SPARs were primarily stationed at Coast Guard installations along the coasts of the United States. They served in administrative, logistics, communication, and operational support roles at bases, helping to free up male personnel for active duty.
Many SPARs were assigned to training centers where they facilitated the training of Coast Guard personnel. They contributed to the organization and management of training programs, ensuring that operational effectiveness was maintained during a time of high demand.
Women in the SPARs took on critical roles related to communications and intelligence, often serving as radio operators, clerks, and administrative assistants. They supported the coordination of Coast Guard missions, including those involving search and rescue operations and maritime law enforcement.
More Movies For Your List
"The Initiative" (2023): This film focuses on the courageous women who served in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) and the Women's Army Corps (WAC). It portrays the challenges, successes, and experiences of women as they helped fill the gaps in the military during World War II. The film emphasizes their struggles for recognition and respect within a predominantly male military structure and showcases the significant roles women played in various support capacities, ultimately paving the way for future generations of female service members.
"Their Finest" (2016): Set in London during World War II, this film follows a woman named Catrin Cole, who is hired as a scriptwriter for the British Ministry of Information to create propaganda films. As she navigates the filmmaking industry, which is largely male-dominated, Catrin faces challenges related to her gender, skill, and the expectations of society. The film blends humor and drama to explore the significance of women’s contributions in the arts during wartime, illustrating how storytelling and creativity played essential roles in boosting morale and shaping public perception during the conflict.
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In 1916, Congress passed the Naval Act of 1916. The Act was passed with language that allowed “all persons” who were capable to serve to join the Navy. Women began joining to serve during World War I. The “oversight” was corrected and female Sailors were processed out by 1920.
In World War II, when America once again needed additional bodies, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt pushed her husband’s administration to create the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC). By 1943, the WAAC was officially converted into the Women's Army Corps (WAC), which allowed women to serve as full-fledged members of the Army, paving the way for WAVES, WMs, and SPARs.
This transition granted women more access to the benefits and protections afforded to male servicemembers, including the right to move up the ranks and receive military benefits. Additionally, the roles accessible to WAVES included shipboard duties in communication and intelligence.
The Women's Army Corps (WAC), Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES), which included Women Marines (WMs), and Semper Paratus, Always Ready (SPARs) were primarily assigned to support and administrative roles but that doesn’t mean they weren’t in harms way or had it any easier than male service. In fact the women who served endured many threats that men did not.
During and after World War II, women were limited to non-combat positions, which made combat-related and higher-ranking positions off-limits to women without regard to their qualifications. It also limited the access women had to training and development opportunities for women. Structurally, the military financially rewards physical risk, these limits meant that women were paid less.
They were just paid less during periods of risk, they were paid a lesser base pay. During World War II, a male Navy Lieutenant earned approximately $220 per month and male Marine Lieutenant was paid $250 monthly. Meanwhile WAVES' of the same rank were paid $199 per month. In todays dollars, that’s equal to a monthly pay gap of $350.00 to $875.00. Captains in WAC were paid $200 while male Captains were paid $250 per month. Again, that’s around an $875.00 pay gap in today’s economy.
After the War, both WAVES and WACs were eligible for benefits like the VA Loan but it was a hurdle too big for most women who didn’t have legal protections affording them homeownership, college enrollment, or even bank accounts.
Due to the nature of their roles, less than one percent of women died while in service. Of the approximately 100,000 women who served in WAVES during the War, eleven (11) were killed in service as opposed to one in twenty-six male Sailors (3.8%) and fifteen percent (15%) of male Marines. Sixteen (16) of the 150,000 WACs serving in WWII as opposed to one in four (25%) male Soldiers.
The War Is Over
When combined, the total estimated number of women who served in these military auxiliary units during World War II is roughly 278,000. Each of them agreed to serve for “the duration of the war plus six months.” Male contracts followed a “duration of the war,” policy.
During the Korean War (1950-53) eight thousand (8,000) women were serving in the military. By 1965, twenty eight thousand and five hundred (28,500) women were serving in uniform. During the Vietnam era, eleven thousand (11,000) women were serving.
The Coast Guard was the first to fully integrate women into service in 1973. Five years later, in 1978, Congress amended the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948 rendering women’s auxiliary service a thing of the past.
The 1978 changes removed some of the restrictions on the ranks that women could hold, allowing them to achieve higher ranks and positions within the military hierarchy. Duty assignments available to women were expanded, increasing access to operational jobs. The Congressional intent was clear; the Department of Defense must create pathways for women who want to serve and advance in military service.
Finally, the statutory changes acknowledged the necessity of allowing women to serve in roles that could put them directly in combat or in support of combat missions. In 1993, at the urging of President Bill Clinton, Congress directed the Department of Defense to expand those pathways to combat-ready roles for women. And in 2013, combat roles were fully open to women.
As we close out 2024, approximately 215,000 women serve in the U.S. military, including those in active duty, reserves, and Guard. In other words, women comprise just over ten percent (10%) of our Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.
While there has been pushes to increase the visibility and recognition of women in uniform, there has never been an organized attempt to seek reparations for the women who served from 1945 to 1978.
Dive Deeper
Buchanan, Elizabeth. "Women in the Military: An Unfinished Revolution." In her book, Buchanan examining the evolving roles of women in the military and examines the limitations and challenges they faced in comparison to their male counterparts.
Gordon, Linda. "The Marine Corps and the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948." In "Women, War, and Work: The Impact of World War II on Women's Employment" (edited by Susan M. Hartmann). This collection focuses on how contributions were perceived and the disparities in treatment and pay between female and male service members.
Perinbanayagam, S. "Gender and Military Culture: Women in the U.S. Armed Forces." In "Military and Society in the New Era: The United States, Europe, and the Global Context." This work discusses the gendered experiences of women in military service during World War II, highlighting disparities in roles, pay, and recognition in the military structure.
Read More
"Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II" by Liza Mundy: This book tells the story of the thousands of female codebreakers who worked at the Army and Navy's code-breaking centers, emphasizing their brilliance and the challenges they overcame in a male-dominated field.
"The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line: Untold Stories of the Women Who Changed the Course of World War II" by Mari K. Eder: This work features a collection of stories about various women who broke barriers during WWII, highlighting their contributions in different capacities, careers, and social movements.
"Women at War: The Story of Fifty Military Nurses Who Served in World War II" by Lynda F. Smith: This book offers a detailed account of the experiences of female nurses who served in World War II, emphasizing their vital medical roles in support of American troops who were wounded soldiers in combat zones.
"Beyond Courage: The Untold Story of Jewish Resistance During the Holocaust" by Doreen Rappaport: This is the stories of people who made up the Jewish resistance during the Holocaust and the women who played pivotal roles in that effort.