Anna Mae Robertson was a living piece of American History at the time of her passing on May 30th, 2025, at her home in Milwaukee at 101 years old. Born and raised in Arkansas, she enlisted the Army’s Women Corps in 1943. She was assigned to the 6888 Central Postal

Directory Battalion as a Private First Class in 1945. The 6888 which became the only all - Black female unit stationed overseas during WW 2. The unit cleared a 3- year backlog of mail in Birmingham, England 3 months, well ahead of their 6-month goal and repeated their success again in both Rouen and Paris, France, greatly improving morale across the battlefield.

The unit, known as the Six Triple Eight, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 2022. At the time, Robertson was one of six known living veterans of the unit. In 2024, the film The Six Triple Eight was released, starring Kerry Washington and highlighting the accomplishments of the unit during a time that they were fighting a battle on two fronts, the World War and the segregation. As a black unit in 1945, they were required to be self-sustaining, doing their own cooking, cleaning, maintenance, vehicle repairs and supplies.

After leaving the Army, Robertson moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and went on to marry John Robertson, also a WW2 veteran and they went on to have 8 children, 7 daughters and 1 son. She continued to support Veterans, working as a nurse’s aide for the VA Medical Center in Milwaukee until her retirement. With the passing of Robertson, the only remaining living member of the Six Triple Eight is Maj. Fannie Griffin McClendon who resides in Tempe, AZ at 104 years old.

Members of the 6888 in the unit mess hall in Birmingham, England in 1945 (pictured below).

Maj. Charity E. Adams, (front) and Captain Mary Kearney (back, left), inspect the first contingent of members of the Women’s Army Corps assigned to overseas service with the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion in England. (Photo courtesy of National Archives)

Sources:

Spotlighting Black Military History and the Service of Women in WWII

https://www.dav.org/learn-more/news/2024/all- female-world-war-ii-unit-that-deployed-overseas- included-dav-member/

American Veterans Center – Anna Mae Robertson

https://americanveteranscenter.org/2019/07/anna- mae-robertson/

Milwaukee's Anna Mae Robertson, one of last surviving members of World War II's famed Six Triple Eight unit, dies at 101

https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2025/06/ 01/anna-mae-robertson-member-of-six-triple-eight- battalion-dies-at-101/83978415007/

Tempe veteran, 104, served with honor in WWII

https://www.ahwatukee.com/news/tempe-veteran- 104-served-with-honor-in-wwii/article_e58eff68- a082-11ef-b70a-0ff55c0a8f81.html

Nicole Callender-Sedon

NFBPWC Military Affiliated Women Chair

(2024-2026)