Abbie Noel Campbell
Abbie Noel Campbell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | December 21, 1918 Tuskegee, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | July 2, 2007 (aged 88) Tuskegee, Alabama, U.S. |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch | |
| Years of service | 1942–1946 |
| Rank | Captain (executive officer) |
| Unit | 3rd Training Regiment WAAC, Fort Des Moines 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion ("Six Triple Eight") |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | Congressional Gold Medal (2022, collectively with 6888th) |
Abbie Noel Campbell (December 21, 1918 – July 2, 2007) was an African American officer in the Women's Army Corps (WAC) during World War II. She served as the executive officer of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, also known as the "Six Triple Eight," which was the only all-Black, all-female unit sent overseas during the war. In 2022, Campbell along side other member of the unit were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in honor of its service.
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.[2]
In 1945, Campbell was appointed the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion executive officer, serving under Major Charity Adams.[3][4][2] 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.[5]
In 2022, the Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to the 6888th in recognition of its members' contributions.[6][7]
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.
Media coverage and legacy
[edit]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.[4]
- The biographical film The Six Triple Eight was released in 2024 by Netflix and was created by Tyler Perry. It stars Milauna Jackson as Campbell and co-stars Kerry Washington as Major Charity Adams.[8][9]
References
[edit]- ^ U.S. Army Women's Museum (2024-04-22). Maj. Abbie Noel Campbell OH, 1990. Retrieved 2024-12-22 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ "Honoring the Army's African American history". www.army.mil. 2018-02-08. Retrieved 2025-05-24.
- ^ a b "Women of Courage, Tenacity & Strength / USA / Women of the 6888th". 6888th. 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.
- ^ "'When these women left home there were rumours that they were sent to Europe to be concubines for black soldiers' – The Irish Times". The Irish Times. 2024-12-18. Archived from the original on 18 December 2024. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
- ^ "African-American Women Troops Boosted WWII Morale". www.vfw.org. Retrieved 2025-05-24.
- ^ "Milauna Jackson Discusses Working on 'The Six Triple Eight'". The Nerds of Color. 2024-12-27. Retrieved 2025-05-24.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (2023-01-11). "Kerry Washington To Exec Produce, Star In Tyler Perry's Netflix WWII Pic 'Six Triple Eight'; Sam Waterston, Susan Sarandon & Oprah Winfrey Among Others Set". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-05-24.
- 1981 births
- 2007 deaths
- 20th-century African-American military personnel
- 20th-century African-American women
- 21st-century African-American military personnel
- United States Army personnel of World War II
- African-American United States Army personnel
- African-American female military personnel
- 21st-century African-American women