SE Kansas News

Today, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas and his colleagues awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women’s Army Corps 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, also known as the Six Triple Eight. Family members of the battalion attended the ceremony.

The Six Triple Eight, comprised of over 850 women, served during World War II both domestically and in Europe. They were responsible for sorting and routing mail for millions of American service members and civilians. This unit was uniquely all-black and all-female, making it the only such group to serve overseas during the war. Only two members of the unit are still living, both of whom observed the ceremony remotely.

Senator Moran remarked, "The World War II heroes we recognize today were freedom fighters, who set aside the safety and comforts of their home to deploy to Europe to fight tyranny and to support freedom which they didn’t always experience in their own country. These women came from all over our nation; they came from all walks of life."

He continued, "The women of the Six Triple Eight are soldiers who went above and beyond their duty; they broke barriers that never should have existed and defied odds that were stacked against them. Their commitment and determined efforts to eliminate a backlog of mail touched the lives of millions of American soldiers and their families at home. For American soldiers on the front lines, messages from home provided comfort and a reminder of the people back home who they were fighting for. For their families back home, letters gave them comfort and some level of certainty that their loved ones were alive and well."

Reflecting on a personal note, Moran stated, "The Six Triple Eight is especially important to me as the son of a World War II veteran who left his new bride in Emporia, Kansas, to fight in Europe. I don’t know if any of the letters between my mom and dad passed through the hands of the Six Triple Eight, but I do know the work they did made it possible for millions of young men like my dad to keep up the fight."

Sen. Moran initiated recognition efforts in 2018 with a resolution in the Senate, and he participated in events honoring the unit, such as the dedication of a monument in Kansas. His advocacy continued with introducing legislation in 2021 for the Congressional Gold Medal, which was signed into law by President Biden in 2022. The medal was completed and prepared for presentation in November 2025, with the ceremony timing facilitated by requests from Moran.