On the recordJanuary 23, 2025
During Black History Month and throughout the year, it is important that we honor the legacies of those that came before us. Today, I rise to reflect on a remarkable story that hits close to home. I recently learned that a late resident of northeast Ohio, Alma Gladys Minter, served as a tech sergeant in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. Ms. Minter was part of a legacy that demonstrated the strength, resilience, and determination of African-American women. The Six Triple Eight was the first and only all-Black Women's Army Corps unit to serve overseas during World War II. In February 1945, nearly 850 women were assigned to a vital task: ensuring letters continued to flow between soldiers on the front lines and their families back home. Their assignment was daunting, clearing a backlog of over 17 million pieces of mail in Europe. In less than 90 days, they completed this Herculean task in half the time expected by the Army. The women of the Six Triple Eight endured freezing warehouses, relentless schedules, and the twin enemies of racism and sexism. Their motto was: ``No mail, low morale,'' which speaks to the importance of their work. However, in a stark injustice, their hard work was not formally recognized after the war. They didn't join in the victory day parade, and their story was not told in mainstream accounts. However, Ms.…





