Maison Freetown’s Erica Melancon Fox was stunned to learn about the battalion of African American women who helped ensure backlogged mail arrived to the front line during World War II – and that a still-living Lafayette native was among its ranks.
In 1944, the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion was established to clear a multi-year backlog of mail and packages that had built up in Birmingham, England, Paris and Rouen, France while en route to soldiers on the front lines. The women subscribed to the motto, “No Mail, Low Morale,” because of the detrimental impact the backlog was having on soldiers’ spirits.
