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History Happy Hour

Episode 163: Six-Triple-Eight Postal Battalion

Guest: Edna Cummings

Sunday, September 17, 2023

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This week on History Happy Hour: The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. They were the only the only predominantly all-black US Women's Army unit sent overseas during World War II. Their mission: raise soldiers morale by improving the disastrously backed up mail.

To tell their story Chris and Rick welcome Col. Edna Cummings, U.S. Army (Ret) who has produced a documentary about the unit, and leads the Stephen Ambrose 6888 tour.

Edna Cummings had a distinguished 25-year military career culminating with senior-level positions at Georgetown University, the Pentagon, and NORAD/USNORTHCOM. Since 2018, Col. Cummings has worked to bring recognition to the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. She championed the effort with Congress to enact the passage of the Six Triple Eight Congressional Gold Medal Act and served as producer for a documentary titled The Six Triple Eight. In March 2020, she was inducted into the Army Women’s Foundation Hall of Fame and the Military Officers Association of America selected her as one of its national Changemakers.

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