After years of obscurity, the untold story of the 6888th Postal Directory Battalion will captivate audiences worldwide with the release of the feature film The Six Triple Eight. The current issue of World War II History—on sale now—has special coverage of the film, which was released to select theaters on December 6 and began streaming on Netflix December 20.
The Six Triple Eight chronicles the unique trials and triumphs of the U.S. Army’s first all-female, all-Black unit of the Women’s Army Corps to serve overseas during World War II. This extraordinary battalion was deployed to an active theater of operations outside the continental United States, making their story a standout in the annals of military service. Their assignment was the redirection of nearly 18 million pieces of backlogged mail to the more than seven million U.S. personnel in the European Theater of Operations—including Army, Navy, Marine Corps, civilians, and Red Cross workers.
The film’s journey to the screen began with actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry, who was deeply moved by the story of the 6888th. Perry discovered the tale through the writings of Kevin Hymel, a U.S. Army historian, author, and research director for Sovereign Media’s World War II History magazine. Hymel’s compelling and meticulously researched account published in the magazine brought the 6888th into the spotlight, inspiring Perry to bring their story to life.
Hymel first learned about the 6888th from his co-worker Jean Davis during their involvement in the Army’s Freedom Team Salute project in 2008. This lead eventually formed the foundation for Perry’s film. The project gained momentum when Military Heritage Editorial Director Carl Gnam connected with Hollywood film producer Carlota Espinosa. Espinosa’s enthusiasm for the 6888th’s story grew, and she enlisted the support of fellow producers Peter Gruber and Keri Selig. When Espinosa introduced the project to Perry, he eagerly joined as producer, writer, and director.
The film boasts an impressive cast, including Kerry Washington, star of ABC’s television series Scandal, who will also serve as executive producer. Adding to the star-studded lineup are Hollywood luminaries such as Oprah Winfrey, Susan Sarandon and Sam Waterston.
The Six Triple Eight is more than just a film; it is a tribute to the courage, dedication, and resilience of the women who served in the 6888th Postal Directory Battalion. Their story, once hidden, is now poised to inspire and educate audiences around the globe.
Viewed movie and was quite disappointed. There were many inconsistencies. Rather than being factual the race/black agenda was greatly overplayed. Little time was spent explaining the methods devised for locating the soldiers and no explanation as to why USA bound mail was delayed.
I’m sorry you were disappointed by the film. The focus of the story was the experience of the women who served in the unit, and not so much how they accomplished the task they were assigned. I agree, that aspect would have been interesting, but certainly not as compelling as the fortitude and determination of the women themselves. As you may know, the film was inspired by, and largely based on an interview we published with Lena Derriecott, who is featured in the story. A second interview with another veteran of the unit that we published provided additional background. Here are links to these stories:
https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/wac-corporal-lena-derriecott-and-the-6888th-central-postal-battalion/
https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/a-black-wac-in-the-u-s-army/