Uncle Sam was looking for a few good African American women to join the military in Europe. Black women weren't any more welcome in most branches than black men were until first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, at the urging of African American civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune, began agitating for a role for black women in the war overseas. Full Story »
Posted by Kaizar Campwala
The subject matter of this piece is fascinating -- I had never heard of the 6888th. I'm amazed by these women's stories, and I kept reading through. But I've got to knock this piece for being written with the sentimentality of an obit. Almost nothing in the piece seems to have been independently verified. It's just not informative in the way a news story should be.
A touching story that I was unaware of, this piece serves as a reminder of how the some of first steps to overcoming segregation didn't come from enlightenment on the part of ruling whites, but out of necessity.
Heartwarming and relevant, this story could have benefitted from a broader base of information to support the story. The quotes are great, but it seems there should have been someone among the military officials present willing to comment on the unit's service.
A great informative article that I had never heard of. Being in the service myself, believe me mail is something that a soldier has to have to get through the toughest of times. This nation owes them a great debt.
The story gives credit to the personal efforts of black women in the army during World War II. Better late than never. It is warm, but sounds much like a recruiting pitch.
The history is interesting. The war machine needs people, and that enables a kind of racial progress. Similar tales can be found in the Union army in the civil war, and in the Spanish American war in Cuba. The story in the Viet Nam war is more complex and also not so well known.
The article was a factual account that informed readers. It is extremely moving. A timely piece and a reminder of the respect we owe to our men and women in service. What a story.
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