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

In 1945, the 6888th, an all-Black, all-female Army unit, made history by clearing a massive mail backlog to support troops during World War II. Their story remained largely untold for decades—until Tyler Perry brought it to life for The Six Triple Eight, now streaming on Netflix.

During WWII, about 6,500 Black women served across all five branches of the U.S. military, and 432 lost their lives. The Six Triple Eight highlights the women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, who sorted over 17 million pieces of mail ahead of schedule despite facing discrimination and poor working conditions.

Kerry Washington, who stars in and executive produces the film, plays Captain Charity Adams, the battalion’s commanding officer and the first African American woman to become an officer in the Women’s Army Corps.

“Charity Adams and the women of the 6888th were extraordinary,” the Scandal actress told BET.com. “They accomplished so much under such challenging circumstances. To step into her shoes and tell this story is a privilege and a responsibility.”

Read on to discover the true story that inspired The Six Triple Eight and how the remaining survivors are being honored today.

Is The Six Triple Eight Based On A True Story?

Yes, The Six Triple Eight is based on the true story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. Formed by the U.S. Army in late 1944, the unit consisted of 850 Black women across five companies. It was led by Army Major Charity Adams, who was the highest-ranking Black woman during World War II, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.

Mail was a crucial lifeline for the approximately 7 million service members, Red Cross workers, and government personnel, helping them stay connected to loved ones back home. However, a shortage of qualified postal officers resulted in a significant backlog of letters and packages, with some items delayed for as long as three years.

By 1945, over 3.3 billion pieces of mail were processed through military postal services to reach the frontlines, according to Kimberly Guise, senior curator at the National WWII Museum. To tackle the overwhelming backlog, the U.S. Army deployed the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. Officials estimated it would take six months to complete the work at each location, but the battalion accomplished it in just three months—half the time expected.

Under the leadership of Army Maj. Charity Adams, the 6888th underwent rigorous training in the U.S. before embarking on their missions. Their preparation included obstacle courses, gas mask drills, studying enemy aircraft, ships, and weapons, as well as learning how to board and evacuate ships.

“We had to climb ropes … and come down the side of a ship as would if it were sinking. We had to do some crawling under wire … We had to put on gas masks … So that was part of it. A lot of marching and just getting ready, getting outfitted, that kind of thing,” 6888th member Gladys Carter recalled to the National Museum of the U.S. Army.

Deployment and Missions Of The 6888th Battalion

In February 1945, the 6888th Postal Battalion deployed to England, crossing U-boat-infested waters to arrive in Glasgow, Scotland. Upon their arrival, a German V-1 rocket exploded near the docks, forcing them to take cover. They then traveled by train to Birmingham, England, where they began tackling the massive backlog of mail.

Upon reaching Birmingham, the women faced challenging conditions, working around the clock in cold, dimly lit warehouses on three eight-hour shifts. Sorting through the mail, gifts, and letters was a daunting task, as they often encountered recipients with the same names, insufficient addresses, or letters addressed only by nicknames. To ensure successful delivery, they relied on serial and service numbers to identify the correct recipients.

After completing their work in Birmingham, the 6888th was sent to Rouen, France, in June 1945. “We found the same condition in France that we had found in England; the mail had been held up for months … There was mail that was two or three years old,” service member Myrtle Rhoden recalled to the National Museum of the U.S. Army. They began their work a few weeks after victory was declared in Europe, sorting mail alongside French civilians and German POWs, and they cleared the backlog in five months.

In October 1945, the unit was sent to Paris, where they faced the added challenge of package thefts, which was a result hardships endured by the French people during the war. The women had to investigate these thefts and work with local civilians recover the stolen packages, according to womenofthe6888th.org.

During their service, Black Women’s Army Corps (WAC) members faced segregation, racism, and discrimination. Despite their training and education, they were often assigned menial tasks. According to the National Museum of the U.S. Army, some Black male service members assumed that the women were sent to Europe solely as companions for them. When the Red Cross denied the women entry to their club and instead opened a segregated club, the battalion collectively refused to enter to express their disapproval.

Where Are The 6888th Battalion Members Today? How Are They Being Honored?

On Feb. 27, 1946, the remaining Soldiers in the unit boarded the Claymont Victory en route to the United States. The unit received the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Women’s Army Corps Service Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. Unfortunately, there was no other official recognition of their accomplishments until many years later.

The surviving members of the 6888th have held reunions over the years, including one in 1979 in Cincinnati, Ohio. They gathered again in 1981, this time returning to Birmingham, where they were honored at a reception hosted by the city’s lord mayor. They also visited London, where they were celebrated by civil and military officials, and Paris, where they were given a guided tour of the city.

The work of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion has been celebrated and documented in written accounts, documentaries, museum exhibits, and public ceremonies. In 1995, Charity Adams authored a memoir about her experience commanding the historic battalion. Dr. Brenda L. Moore published a book in 1996, “To Serve My Country, To Serve My Race: The Story of the Only African American WACS Stationed Overseas During World War II,” based on the memoirs of and interviews with women who had served in the 6888th.

In 2022, only six members of the Six Triple Eight were still alive: Romay Davis, Cresencia Garcia, Fannie McClendon, Gladys E. Blount, Lena King, and Anna Mae Robertson. Davis, the oldest surviving member, passed away on June 21, 2024, at age 104, followed by Blount, who passed just a day later on June 22, 2024.

In 2018, a monument honoring the 6888th was unveiled at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and the unit received the Meritorious Unit Commendation in 2019. In February 2022, the House of Representatives passed legislation to award the 6888th the Congressional Gold Medal. The Senate had approved the measure the previous year, and President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan bill into law in March 2022.

“I wish more of the 6888th members were here, and I hope that I’m still here. That will be a great day,” said 6888th veteran Ms. Lena King, according to the Army Women’s Foundation, when the bill was signed.

“This is a wonderful recognition of the critical service the 6888th provided to this country under extraordinarily difficult conditions,” added Stanley Earley, a 6888th family member.

The Six Triple Eight is streaming on Netflix. Watch the official trailer below.