In 1945, history was made when the first all-black female battalion in the world was sent from the U.S. to serve in parts of Europe during the Second World War.
Known as the 6888 Central Postal Directory Battalion, the all black female battalion of the Women’s Army Corps were sent to parts of France and England to contribute to solving problems that the Second World War brought with it.
In September 2018, Face2Face Africa brought to light this piece of history that had for many years been swept under the carpet. To date, the story of the gallant all-black American female battalion that served in Europe during World War II remains one of the most-read history pieces in Africa.
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Recently, in November 2018, the all-black battalion came into the limelight again after it was reported that a monument had been created in their honour.
According to radio.com, the over 800 women who served in the battalion were honoured with the monument in Kansas at the Fort Leavenworth,
a United States Army installation. The ceremony was held with the presence of 5 of the women who served in the army.
The monument was designed by Eddie Dixon, an African American sculptor popular for his sculpture of the only Black Fighter Pilot during World War I, Eugene Bullard, for the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.
Carla Eckels
Photo ;George Marcec
Featuring the names of all the women who served in the battalion, plus a bust of Lt. Col Adams including photos highlighting the unit’s mission, the long overdue monument joins several historical monuments in
Fort Leavenworth sitting near a series of other historical tributes.
