To Serve My Country, to Serve My Race: The Story of the Only African-American Wacs Stationed Overseas During World War II

The deployment of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only group of black WACs (members of the Women's Army Corps) to serve overseas in WWII, marked a significant turning point in the status of racial minorities and women in the armed forces. Drawing on the testimony of former members of the unit, Moore recounts its formation, training and service in the European theater of operations in 1945-46, highlighting the discrimination the women faced because of their race and gender. Many, as the author shows, campaigned actively to change the race-biased policies of the WACs through boycott and direct protest. She examines what civilian life was like for many of them before they entered the military and the various personal, political and economic reasons that impelled them to join up, then discusses how their military experience influenced their postwar life: ``Although they did not gain materially, these women almost invariably said that they benefitted spiritually for having served.'' Her study is an important contribution to African American and gender studies. Moore, who served six years in the Army, is assistant professor of sociology at SUNY-Buffalo. Illustrations. (Jan.)