The Inspiring True Story Behind Netflix’s ‘The Six Triple Eight’

The Six Triple Eight. (From left to right) Sarah Jeffrey portrays Dolores Washington, Pepi Sonuga plays Elaine White, Milauna Jackson takes on the role of Captain Campbell, while Moriah Brown appears as Inez. Shanice Shantay plays Johnnie Mae, and Ebony Obsidian is cast as Lena Derriecott King in The Six Triple Eight. Credit: Laura Radford / Perry Well Films 2 / Provided by Netflix.

In 1945, the 6888th unit, made up entirely of Black women in the Army, made a significant mark by tackling a huge backlog of mail to aid soldiers in World War II. For many years, their remarkable contributions went unrecognized—until Tyler Perry shed light on their story in the film The Six Triple Eight, which is now available for streaming on Netflix.

Throughout World War II, roughly 6,500 Black women were part of the U.S. military, serving in all five branches, with 432 making the ultimate sacrifice. The film "Six Triple Eight" focuses on the brave women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, who managed to sort more than 17 million pieces of mail ahead of time, all while battling discrimination and challenging working environments.

Kerry Washington, who not only stars in but also serves as an executive producer for the film, portrays Captain Charity Adams. In this role, she is the commanding officer of the battalion and made history as the first African American woman to hold an officer position in the Women’s Army Corps.

“Charity Adams and the members of the 6888th were remarkable,” the Scandal actress shared with BET.com. “They achieved a great deal despite facing significant hardships. It’s both an honor and a duty to portray her and share this story.”

Keep reading to learn about the real events that led to the creation of The Six Triple Eight and how the last surviving members are being celebrated today.

Is The Six Triple Eight A True Story?

The Six Triple Eight features Milauna Jackson portraying Lt. Campbell and Kerry Washington as Major Charity Adams. This image is credited to Bob Mahoney of Perry Well Films 2 and is used with permission from Netflix.

Absolutely, The Six Triple Eight tells the real-life story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. Established by the U.S. Army in late 1944, this unit was made up of 850 Black women organized into five companies. It was commanded by Army Major Charity Adams, recognized as the highest-ranking Black woman in the Army during World War II, as noted by the U.S. Department of Defense.

Mail played an essential role for around 7 million military personnel, Red Cross volunteers, and government staff, allowing them to keep in touch with family and friends back home. Unfortunately, there weren't enough trained postal workers, which led to a large pile-up of letters and packages. Some items ended up being delayed for as much as three years.

By 1945, military postal services had handled more than 3.3 billion pieces of mail sent to the frontlines, as reported by Kimberly Guise, a senior curator at the National WWII Museum. To address the immense backlog, the U.S. Army sent in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. While officials predicted that each site would take around six months to clear the backlog, the battalion completed the task in an impressive three months—two months ahead of schedule.

Under the guidance of Army Maj. Charity Adams, the 6888th unit underwent extensive training in the United States before starting their missions. Their preparation involved tackling obstacle courses, practicing with gas masks, familiarizing themselves with enemy aircraft, ships, and weapons, as well as learning how to board and evacuate from vessels.

"We practiced climbing ropes and descending the side of a ship as if it were going down. We crawled under wire and had to wear gas masks. That was all part of our training. There was a lot of marching and preparing, getting all our gear ready, things like that," said Gladys Carter, a member of the 6888th, in an interview with the National Museum of the U.S. Army.

Deployment And Missions Of The 6888th Battalion

The Six Triple Eight. (L-R) Kylie Jefferson plays Bernice Baker and Moriah Brown portrays Inez in The Six ... [+] Triple Eight. Credit: Laura Radford / Perry Well Films 2 / Courtesy of Netflix.

In February 1945, the 6888th Postal Battalion arrived in England after navigating treacherous waters filled with U-boats, reaching Glasgow, Scotland. Shortly after they got there, a German V-1 rocket detonated near the docks, prompting them to seek shelter. They then took a train to Birmingham, England, where they started working on the enormous pile of mail that needed sorting and delivery.

When they arrived in Birmingham, the women encountered tough working conditions, laboring tirelessly in frigid, poorly lit warehouses across three eight-hour shifts. Sorting through the piles of mail, presents, and letters was no easy feat. They frequently dealt with recipients sharing the same names, incomplete addresses, or letters that were merely labeled with nicknames. To make sure the mail reached the right people, they depended on serial and service numbers to pinpoint the correct recipients.

After finishing their tasks in Birmingham, the 6888th unit was deployed to Rouen, France, in June 1945. “We encountered the same situation in France as we did in England; the mail had been delayed for months... Some of it was even two or three years old,” said service member Myrtle Rhoden in an interview with the National Museum of the U.S. Army. A few weeks after the end of the war in Europe, they began sorting through the mail, working alongside French civilians and German prisoners of war, and they managed to eliminate the backlog in just five months.

In October 1945, the unit was deployed to Paris, where they encountered the new problem of thefts involving packages. This issue stemmed from the difficulties that the French population experienced during the war. The women were tasked with looking into these thefts and collaborating with local residents to retrieve the missing packages, as noted by womenofthe6888th.org.

While serving, members of the Black Women’s Army Corps (WAC) encountered issues like segregation, racism, and discrimination. Even with their training and qualifications, they were frequently given low-level jobs. The National Museum of the U.S. Army notes that some Black male soldiers believed the women were sent to Europe just to be their companions. When the Red Cross rejected the women from joining their club and established a separate club for them, the entire battalion decided not to enter, showing their discontent with the situation.

The 6888th Battalion: Honoring Their Legacy Today

Six Triple Eight features Kerry Washington in the role of Major Charity Adams. Photo by Bob Mahoney / ... [+] Perry Well Films 2 / Provided by Netflix.

On February 27, 1946, the last soldiers from the unit boarded the Claymont Victory, heading back to the United States. They were awarded the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Women’s Army Corps Service Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. Sadly, it wasn't until many years later that their achievements were formally acknowledged.

The remaining members of the 6888th have come together for reunions throughout the years, with one notable gathering in 1979 in Cincinnati, Ohio. They met again in 1981 in Birmingham, where they were recognized at a reception organized by the city’s lord mayor. Their journey also took them to London, where they were acknowledged by city and military leaders, and to Paris, where they enjoyed a guided city tour.

The accomplishments of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion have been recognized and recorded through various written works, films, museum displays, and public events. In 1995, Charity Adams wrote a memoir reflecting on her leadership of this significant battalion. Following that, in 1996, Dr. Brenda L. Moore released a book titled “To Serve My Country, To Serve My Race: The Story of the Only African American WACS Stationed Overseas During World War II,” which draws on the memoirs and interviews of women who were part of the 6888th.

As of 2022, just six members of the Six Triple Eight remained: Romay Davis, Cresencia Garcia, Fannie McClendon, Gladys E. Blount, Lena King, and Anna Mae Robertson. The oldest of the group, Davis, passed away on June 21, 2024, at the age of 104, and Blount followed shortly after, dying on June 22, 2024.

In 2018, a memorial dedicated to the 6888th was revealed at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, and in 2019, the unit was honored with the Meritorious Unit Commendation. In February 2022, the House of Representatives approved a bill to grant the 6888th the Congressional Gold Medal, following the Senate's approval the year before. President Joe Biden signed this bipartisan legislation into law in March 2022.

"I wish more members of the 6888th were present, and I hope to still be around for that moment. It will be a truly wonderful day," remarked 6888th veteran Ms. Lena King, as reported by the Army Women’s Foundation, upon the signing of the bill.

"This is a tremendous acknowledgment of the vital work the 6888th performed for our nation during incredibly challenging times," said Stanley Earley, a relative of someone from the 6888th.

The Six Triple Eight is available to stream on Netflix. Check out the official trailer below.