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Committee holds second hearing on bill to designate March 9 as 6888th Battalion Day
Summary
The House Veterans and Military Development Committee heard proponent testimony for House Bill 204, which would designate March 9 as a day honoring the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion; witnesses described the unit’s World War II mail-processing work and two surviving members.
The House Veterans and Military Development Committee held a second hearing on House Bill 204, which would designate March 9 as 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion Day, and heard proponent testimony from veterans and community advocates.
Supporters told the committee the 6888th — an all-Black, all-female unit that processed mail for American troops during World War II — provided a crucial morale boost to deployed service members. "No mail, low morale," said David Orbetz, a veteran who testified, summarizing the battalion’s motto and the importance of mail to deployed troops. Orbetz described how receiving correspondence “helped keep us in touch with the outside world back home, and it also helped our unit become a better fighting force.”
Pamela Gregory, founder of the National Center for Urban Solutions and creator of the UpliftHER initiative, told the committee the 6888th processed more than 17,000,000 pieces of mail in a three-month period and that recognizing the unit would honor the service of Black women often overlooked in wartime histories. "The 6888 paved the way, breaking barriers, pushing past discrimination, and proving that Black women have always known ... we are capable, committed, and essential to the success of our communities and the country," Gregory said.
Witness Monika Williams told the committee she is aware of two surviving members of the battalion, including a woman named McClendon, who later transferred to the Air Force and has an exhibit at the U.S. Air Force Museum; Williams said the other survivor lives in Minnesota and that about 50 soldiers from Ohio served in the unit. Williams said the survivors and their advocates welcomed recent recognition at the federal level: "I'm sure many of you saw last week on the news that the 6888 did receive the Congressional Gold Medal," she told the committee.
Committee officials noted written testimony had been submitted and offered members the opportunity to ask questions; Representative Lawson Rowe disclosed a personal acquaintance with Pamela Gregory and thanked her for community work. The committee did not take a vote; the chair closed the second hearing after the witnesses finished and noted additional written testimony was available on members’ tablets.
This proceeding was a second hearing only; no action or vote on House Bill 204 was recorded during the meeting.
