She was the oldest surviving member of the “Six Triple Eight,” the only predominantly Black unit of the Women’s Army Corps to serve overseas during World War II.
Romay Johnson Davis, one of the few surviving members of the only predominantly Black unit of the Women’s Army Corps to serve overseas during World War II, a long unheralded group that lifted the spirits of American soldiers — and proved their own skill — by diligently delivering mountains of mail from home, died June 21 in Montgomery, Ala. She was 104.Ms.
For two years, the U.S. military had allowed millions of pieces of mail from the home front to pile up in dank warehouses. “Rats the size of cats,” in the description of one, had gnawed away at the spoiled contents of lovingly assembled care packages. Letters informing soldiers of births, deaths and other news of their families sat unread. In some cases, the recipients were dead, killed in action before the missives reached their hands.
In three months — half the expected time — the women conquered the backlog. They then moved on to Rouen, France, where they undertook a similar project. Throughout her service, Ms. Davis served primarily as a driver.Along with smaller groups of African American nurses who served overseas during World War II, the members of the Six Triple Eight were credited with helping prepare the way for the integration of the U.S. military under President Harry S. Truman in 1948.
Ms. Davis recalled growing up in “wild open spaces,” surrounded by “animals of every description, feathered and hair,” including dogs, cats, ducks, turkeys, geese and pheasants. Two years later, Ms. Davis volunteered as a WAC and served stateside at Camp Breckinridge, Ky., as a mechanic and a driver before her deployment overseas.
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