During World War II (1945), a unit of the Women's Army Corps delivered for the troops. The Army battalion of African American women played an important role to boost the troops' morale. After the Normandy invasion logistical problems were common. Processing mail for soldiers whose locations changed daily was an arduous task. This battalion began with 855 members and grew to the thousands. The women worked round the clock in eight hour shifts. They managed and processed approximately 65,000 pieces of mail per session. They cleared a massive back log of mail stored in airplane hangers. The women of the 6888th slept in separate barracks and ate in separate mess halls from the rest of the troops. They came home to no parades, no speeches, and no recognition. (Funny Note: There were 7,500 Robert Smiths to identify). Interview with Lena King, WWII Vet, 6888th Mail Battalion.
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