Anna Mae Robertson, one of the last surviving members of the all-Black female military unit known as the Six Triple Eight, died recently at the age of 101. Her unit played a key role during World War II by sorting massive backlogs of mail for U.S. troops in Europe, helping boost soldier morale. Last year, Tyler Perry released a film on Netflix called Six Triple Eight starring Kerry Washington, telling their story.
Born in 1923 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Robertson worked as a teacher before joining the Women’s Army Corps in 1943. Two years later, she was deployed to Europe as part of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black, all-female unit to serve overseas during the war.
The battalion was tasked with sorting millions of delayed letters and packages stacked in warehouses in England and France. They worked day and night, processing over 17 million pieces of mail in just a few months. Their efforts helped connect soldiers with loved ones during wartime.
Despite their success, the women faced discrimination both within the military and society. Their mission was largely overlooked for decades, with their contributions going mostly unacknowledged.
Recognition finally came later. In 2019, Robertson and her fellow unit members were honored by the U.S. Army. In 2022, Congress awarded them the Congressional Gold Medal. A 2024 Netflix film about the unit, directed by Tyler Perry, brought their story to a wider audience.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Robertson died on July 5 in Maplewood, Minnesota. She is survived by her two children, three grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren.
SOURCE: blacknews.com