2 • MSU Reporter
News
Black female WWII unit recognized with congressional honor
Tuesday, March 1, 2022
MSU STUDENTS RAISING MONEY FOR KIDS
MADDIE BEHRENS • The Reporter
During the event they offered many mini game and activites for students to participate in. Some which included cup pong, dancing, and Cards For Kidz.
MAVATHON from page 1 For Kidz. “Mavathon is a super fun way to get involved on campus. You get to dance, play games, and meet new people. It’s a great way to come together and it feels good to know you’re doing something great,” said Elizabeth Sazma, the Vice President of Council Management for MSU’s Gamma Phi Beta. The goal for the night was to raise $5,000, which was easily surpassed as the night went on. “As compared to last year, there has already been more money raised this year,” said Morgan Slusher, a junior in Alpha Sigma Alpha. Donations for Mavathon are collected all year round. By the end of the night Mavathon successfully helped raise $5,348 for children in need. “With COVID we took a hit, so this year we really tried to rebuild and branch out to get more people involved on campus rather than limiting it to only sorority and fraternity life,” added Lauren Wojack, Vice President of Dance Marathon and President of Gamma Phi Beta. Planning for the event started as early as last year. From the event’s initial conception phase, down to the
U.S Army Women’s Museum via AP
In this photo provided by the U.S. Army Women’s Museum, members of the 6888th battalion stand in formation in Birmingham, England, in 1945.
By MICHAEL CASEY Associated Press
The House voted Monday to award the only all-female, Black unit to serve in Europe during World War II with the Congressional Gold Medal. The 422-0 vote follows a long-running campaign to recognize the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. The Senate passed the legislation last year. The unit, known in short as the Six Triple Eight, was tasked with sorting and routing mail for millions of American service members and civilians. Only a half-dozen of the more than 850 members are still alive. “It’s overwhelming,” Maj. Fannie Griffin McClendon, who is 101 and lives in Arizona, said when told of the vote. “It’s something I never even thought about it. I don’t know if I can stand this.” The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion was credited with solving a growing mail crisis during its stint in England and, upon their return, serving as a role model to generations of Black women who joined the military. But for decades, the exploits of the 855 members never got wider recognition. But that has changed, starting several years ago. A monument was erected in 2018 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to honor them, and the 6888th was given the Meritorious Unit Commendation in 2019. A documentary “The Six Triple Eight” was made about them. There is talk of a movie. Retired Army Col. Edna Cummings was among those advocating for the 6888th. “The Six Triple Eight was a trailblazing group of heroes who were the only all-Black, Women Army Corps Battalion to serve overseas during World
War II,” said Wisconsin Rep. Gwen Moore, who sponsored the bill after being contacted by the daughter of 6888th members Anna Mae Robertson. “Facing both racism and sexism in a warzone, these women sorted millions of pieces of mail, closing massive mail backlogs, and ensuring service members received letters from their loved ones,” she continued. “A Congressional Gold Medal is only fitting for these veterans who received little recognition for their service after returning home.” The House also voted Monday night to the rename the Central Park Post Office in Buffalo as the “Indiana Hunt-Martin Post Office Building” after veteran Indiana Hunt-Martin, a member of the 6888th. Hunt-Martin died in 2020 at the age of 98. “Throughout her life and military service, Indiana Hunt-Martin experienced racism and sexism firsthand, but no amount of discrimination prevented her from serving her country,” New York Democratic Rep. Brian Higgins, who sponsored the post office bill and also was a co-sponsor of the Congressional Gold Medal bill, said in a statement. “Her courage and bravery paved the way for future generations of African American women serving in the military.” The 6888th was sent overseas in 1945, a time when there was growing pressure from African-American organizations to include Black women in what was called the Women’s Army Corps and allow them to join their white counterparts overseas. The unit dodged German U-boats on their way to England and scrambled to escape a German rocket once they reached a Glasgow port.
They were deployed to unheated, rat-infested airplane hangars in Birmingham, England, and given a daunting mission: Process the millions of pieces of undelivered mail for troops, government workers and Red Cross workers. The mountains of mail had piled up and troops were grumbling about lost letters and delayed care packages. Thus their motto, “No Mail, Low Morale.” They cleared out a backlog of about 17 million pieces of mail in three months — half the time projected. The battalion would go on to serve in France before returning home. And like so many Black units during World War II, their exploits never got the attention afforded their white counterparts. Despite their achievements, the unit endured questions and criticism from those who didn’t support Black women in the military. Housing, mess halls and recreation facilities were segregated by race and sex, forcing them to set up all their own operations. The unit commander, Maj. Charity Adams, was also criticized by a general who threatened to give her command to a white officer. She reportedly responded, “Over my dead body, sir.” Many of the women had plenty of success after getting out of the military. Elizabeth Barker Johnson was the first female to attend Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina on the GI Bill. She took part in the school’s graduation ceremony at the age of 99 — 70 years after getting her degree. Hunt-Martin worked for the New York State Department of Labor for 41 years. McClendon joined the Air Force after the military was integrated and retired in 1971.
schedule for the night itself, event organizers rigorously planned the entirety of Mavathon. This form of dedication is really what contributes to the success of Mavathon each year. “Beginning of the year we brainstormed different fundraising ideas, we attended multiple RSO meetings to get the word out, and worked closely together to make this event a possibility,” said Wojack. Despite having such a successful night, planning Mavathon doesn’t end when the night does. Wojack, in her closing ceremony, briefly glossed over the goals and objectives for next year. “Our goal for the next Mavathon is to expand and get bigger and reach out to more people on campus to let them know the amazing fundraising and the philanthropic work we do here,” she said. To encourage participation, Wojack added, “It’s really important to be involved in Mavathon because it’s an event centered around helping local children in need. Money from this event goes directly to them, so everyone can participate because it’s for a great cause plus it’s really fun.”
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