Draft:Abbie Noel Campbell
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Abbie Noel Campbell (December 21, 1918 – July 2, 2007) African American officer in the Women's Army Corps (WAC) during World War II, notable for her role as the executive officer of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, commonly known as the "Six Triple Eight", which was the only all-female, all-Black unit deployed overseas during the war.
Early life and education
[edit]Abbie was born on December 21, 1918, in Tuskegee, Alabama, she was the youngest of five children to Thomas Monroe Campbell and Anna Ayers, both graduates of the Tuskegee Institute. Her father was a pioneering agricultural educator, and her mother was a homemaker. Encouraged by her parents to pursue education, Campbell graduated from Tuskegee Institute in 1940 and taught at a junior high school in Cartersville, Georgia, before joining the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) in 1942.[1]
Military service
[edit]Campbell enlisted in the WAAC on July 16, 1942, and was among the first African American women to be commissioned as officers. She graduated with the first WAC officer candidate class in August 1942 and went on to command a WAC detachment at Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky.
In 1945, Campbell was appointed the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion executive officer, serving under Major Charity Adams.[2][3] The unit was tasked with clearing a massive backlog of mail intended for U.S. military personnel in Europe. Operating in challenging conditions, the battalion worked around the clock in unheated warehouses, processing an average of 65,000 pieces of mail per shift. Their efforts significantly boosted soldier morale by ensuring timely mail delivery.[4]
Post-War Life
After the war, Campbell returned to Alabama and married Arthur Abraham Mitchell on October 21, 1951, in Tuskegee. The couple had two sons, Andrew and Philip. She remained active in her community until her passing on July 2, 2007, in Tuskegee, Macon County, Alabama. Campbell donated her body to medical science, reflecting her lifelong commitment to education and service.
Legacy
[edit]Abbie Noel Campbell's contributions, along with those of her fellow members of the 6888th, have gained recognition in recent years for their pivotal role in World War II and their trailblazing efforts toward racial and gender integration in the U.S. military.
References
[edit]- ^ U.S. Army Women's Museum (2024-04-22). Maj. Abbie Noel Campbell OH, 1990. Retrieved 2024-12-22 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Women of Courage, Tenacity & Strength / USA / Women of the 6888th". 6888th. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
- ^ Munroe, Roger (2021-11-16). "(17) 1945 (Feb 15) Major Charity E. Adams and Army Capt. Abbie Noel Campbell of the 6888th unit inspect the first soldiers from the unit to arrive in England (c. Lawrence E. Walker Foundation Collection)". The Sankofa African America 3D Museum. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
- ^ Boyd, Herb (2021-06-10). "Captain Abbie Noel Campbell, among the first Black Women officers in the WAC". New York Amsterdam News. Retrieved 2024-12-22.