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Committee hears bill to designate day honoring 6888 Central Postal Directory Battalion
Summary
Representatives presented sponsor testimony on House Bill 204 to designate a day honoring the 6888 Central Postal Directory Battalion, an all-Black, all-female World War II unit that processed millions of pieces of mail for U.S. service members. Lawmakers emphasized the battalion's contribution and ties to Ohio.
The House Veterans and Military Development Committee heard sponsor testimony on House Bill 204, which would designate a day in Ohio to honor the 6888 Central Postal Directory Battalion, an all-Black, all-female U.S. Army Women—s Corps unit that cleared wartime mail backlogs during World War II.
Representative Melanie Miller, a sponsor, said HB 204 would "honor the 855 women who comprised the 6888 Central Postal Directory Battalion" and described their mission to sort and clear millions of pieces of mail destined for American service members. She said the unit finished work that had been projected to take six months in three months and handled millions of pieces of correspondence that sustained troop morale.
Representative Erica White, a co-sponsor, told the committee the battalion worked seven days a week in three shifts, with each shift processing as many as 65,000 pieces of mail; the unit handled mail for "over 4,000,000 military and civilian personnel," she said. Testimony cited Major Charity Adams as the battalion—s commander and highlighted barriers the women faced, including segregation and difficult work conditions.
Members of the committee offered supportive remarks and added Ohio connections. Rep. Gamari said Major Charity Adams later held the rank of lieutenant colonel and died in Dayton; she noted Adams's induction into the Ohio Women—s Hall of Fame and the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. Rep. Lawson Rowe emphasized Adams—s Dayton and Wilberforce University ties and urged further hearings and movement on the bill.
Sponsors requested favorable consideration and said the designation is intended to remember an overlooked chapter of World War II and to honor the unit—s contribution to morale and to the war effort. No committee vote or formal action was taken at this hearing.
