Photo: Vivian Fitzsimmons, Author's aunt of Women's Army Corp and part of 6888th Postal Battalion featured in Tyler Perry's movie, The Six Triple Eight.
by Donna Dymally
I spent 2024 discovering my family’s historical past.
I learned my aunt, Vivian Fitzsimmons, was a member of the Women’s Army Corps, particularly the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. This battalion was a primarily African American female unit during World War II.
The 6888 (Six Triple Eight) was best known for its remarkable contributions to the war effort, particularly in addressing the severe backlog of mail for U.S. service men stationed in Europe. Over 17 million pieces of mail were backlogged due to disruptions from wartime logistics. The 6888 tirelessly worked in shifts, sorting and redirecting mail.
Their efforts ensured American soldiers received their long-awaited packages and letters from home. Their efforts resulted in clearing the backlog in just six months. Their motto was “No Mail - Low Morale.”
This battalion remains a powerful symbol of resilience, service, and the contributions of African American women during World War II.
Little did I know that in June 2021, when I was asked to photograph several events for this battalion, that my aunt had served in the 6888. In fact, a military photo of my aunt appears on the movie poster of Tyler Perry’s film “The Six Triple Eight,” which stars Kerry Washington.
Author's Aunt, Vivian Fitzsimmons, appears in this archival photo of 6888th Postal Battalion, used in promotion of the movie The Six Triple Eight.
As we entered 2025, I decided to do some extensive research on my family’s genealogy. Again I unearthed information on my father ’s maternal grandfather Frank Lewis.
Lewis was a member of the 9th Calvary of Buffalo Soldiers. The Buffalo Soldiers represented the first Black professional soldiers in a peacetime army who served on the American frontier. The recruits came from varied backgrounds, including from slaves and veterans from service in the Civil War.
The obstacles the Ninth Cavalry of the Buffalo Soldiers faced were racial prejudice, ambushes, hasty attacks, opposition from the Lipan, Mescalero, and Warm Springs Apache, as well as the Comanche and Kiowa on the Texas and New Mexican frontiers. They also encountered systemic prejudice within the military, and they were the victims of slurs, beatings, harassment by law officers, and, on several occasions, sniper attacks.
The nickname “Buffalo Soldiers” was purportedly given to the regiments by the American Indian tribes who fought against them during the American Indian Wars.
This regiment saw combat during the Indian and Spanish-American Wars. During the Westward Expansion, the regiment provided escort for the early western settlers and maintained peace on the American frontier. Their motto was “We Can, We Will.”
Last but not least, I uncovered my great-great-grandfather Paul Fitzsimmons, who was an Irish slave owner. He released my paternal great-grandmother, Liberia Murphy, from slavery, and she married his mulatto son, my great-grandfather Thomas Fitzsimmons in 1871.
When an individual takes it upon themselves to dive deep into their own family’s history, they can understand how their family interacted with larger historical events. I am certainly delighted I made the leap in unearthing my historical background.
