“Six Triple Eight” Osceola legendary teacher served in the 6888th

Donna Lewis and her siblings knew their mother had served overseas during World War II... but they never knew the entire story.

They never knew their mother made history as a member of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion.

In fact, they only made this incredible discovery when Tyler Perry released his movie, “Six Triple Eight” in Dec. 2024 on Netflix.

A friend watched the movie and recognized their mom’s name among a list of the 855 women who served in the 6888 Battalion. "My siblings and I al-ways knew that mom was a WAC (Women’s Army Corps), but we never knew the details, nor did we understand it’s historical significance,” Lewis told The Times.

Now, this retired music teacher from Lexington, Kentucky is on a mission to help other family members of the 855 women connect with the important role their loved ones played in the Second World War.

After conducting extensive research, she contacted this editor to share her discovery. Why?

Her mother is none other than Osceola’s own Virgie Lee Caywood Freeman who passed away in 1990 after spending a life-time devoted to the education of children and the fight for equality of all people of all races.

Virgie was born and reared in the Grider community. She was among the first graduating class of Osceola Rosenwald. She went on to earn an education degree with an emphasis in home economics from AM&N College in Pine Bluff.

Virgie then embarked on a teaching career at Keiser. She went on to teach for the Carson and Luxora Schools before settling with the Osceola School District. In 1981, she retired from West Elementary as a fifth grade math teacher.

Virgie was raised the daughter of a farmer. In a 1987 interview with this editor, she explained, “I have two sisters and one brother. My two sisters also went to college. One was a librarian at Rosenwald and middle school while the other taught home economics at Wilson.”

When asked how her parents felt about having all three of their daughters graduate from college, Virgie said they were very proud. “My parents were very pleased we went to college. It was quite a thing to do back in those days.”

It was also quite a thing for an African-American woman to join the Army during the early 1940s, but that’s exactly what she did.

Virgie traveled to Fort Desmoines, Iowa to complete basic training in the Women’s Army Corps.

Among the graduating women were eight other Arkansas women including Sturdivant E. Latha of Joiner, Mary A. Lacy of Blytheville, and Maude L. Cooper of Osceola.

Following graduation, they were assigned to various non-combat jobs with the WAC.

On July 1, 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law legislation that created the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) within the U.S. Army. During the Second World War, despite executive orders issued by President Roosevelt the Army at-large remained completely segregated. However, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary McLeod Bethune, the founder of the National Council of Negro Women, advocated for the admittance of African American women within the WAC.

After several units of white women were sent to serve in the European Theater of Operations during World War II, African-American organizations advocated for the War Department to extend the opportunity to serve overseas to African-American WAC units. Hence, the Six Triple Eight was created.

At this point, Virgie joined 15 other Arkansas women as a part of the 6888th. Among them was PVT Anna Mae Wilson-Robertson of Osceola. She is believed to still be living in Milwaukee, WI.

The Six Triple Eight, led by Charity Adams, served in England and France. Setting sail in February 1945, the 6888th arrived in Birmingham, England after surviving an arduous trip across the Atlantic under the constant threat of attack by German submarines.

When they arrived at their station in England, the Six Triple Eight faced a massive challenge to sort and deliver 17 million of pieces of mail, totaling a six-month backlog.

Serving in freezing temperatures, Virgie worked alongside 854 other black women in a rat-invested, abandoned school in Europe sorting and delivering the mail to improve the morale of soldiers and bring hope and peace to family members left at home.

In 2022, members of the Battalion were finally issued a Congressional Gold Metal. The House Bill was introduced by Congress-woman Gwen Moore of Wisconsin.

At the time Congresswoman Moore wrote, “The Six Triple Eight was a trail-blazing group of sheroes who were the only all-Black, Women Army Corps Battalion to serve overseas during World War II. Facing both racism and sexism in a warzone, these women sorted millions of pieces of mail, closing massive mail backlogs, and ensuring service members received letters from their loved ones. A Congressional Gold Medal is only fitting for these veterans who received little recognition for their service after returning home.”

Following her service, Virgie returned home to Osceola, began her teaching career, and married the love of her life.

Virgie married Clarence Freeman in 1951. He also served in the U.S. Army having served from July 1943-May 1946.

The couple had four children, Arnold, Angela, Donna and Edwin. All followed in the successful footsteps of their parents.

Devoted to Osceola and Mississippi County, both Virgie and Clarence were very involved with the St. Mark AME Church, the Osceola Roundtable, O.T. Williams Scholarship Fund and the county Black Cultural Association.

“Our hearts are so filled with pride and honor for her. We only wish she had told us about her experiences,” Lewis concluded.

This editor agrees, because not once during our 1987 interview did Virgie mention serving in the Army. This speaks volumes...