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Williams-Ford Texas A&M University Military History Series
One Woman's Army: A Black Officer Remembers the WAC
When America entered World War II, the surge of patriotism was not confined to men. Congress authorized the organization of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (later renamed Women's Army Corps) in 1942, and hundreds of women were able to join in the war effort. Charity Edna Adams became the first black woman commissioned as an officer.
Black members of the WAC had to fight the prejudices not only of males who did not want women in their "man's army," but also of those who could not accept blacks in positions of authority or responsibility, even in the segregated military.
With unblinking candor, Charity Adams Earley tells of her struggles and successes as the WAC's first black officer and as commanding officer of the only organization of black women to serve overseas during World War II. The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion broke all records for redirecting military mail as she commanded the group through its moves from England to France and stood up to the racist slurs of the general under whose command the battalion operated. The Six Triple Eight stood up for its commanding officer, supporting her boycott of segregated living quarters and recreational facilities.
This book is a tribute to those courageous women who paved the way for patriots, regardless of color or gender, to serve their country.
Black members of the WAC had to fight the prejudices not only of males who did not want women in their "man's army," but also of those who could not accept blacks in positions of authority or responsibility, even in the segregated military.
With unblinking candor, Charity Adams Earley tells of her struggles and successes as the WAC's first black officer and as commanding officer of the only organization of black women to serve overseas during World War II. The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion broke all records for redirecting military mail as she commanded the group through its moves from England to France and stood up to the racist slurs of the general under whose command the battalion operated. The Six Triple Eight stood up for its commanding officer, supporting her boycott of segregated living quarters and recreational facilities.
This book is a tribute to those courageous women who paved the way for patriots, regardless of color or gender, to serve their country.
232 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1989
104 people are currently reading
1089 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
February 4, 2025
Although One Woman's Army was a bit dry, I enjoyed learning the story straight from the horse's mouth. This book begins when Charity was a child and quickly moves to her college days where she got 3 different degrees and got a job teaching school. She then enlisted in the WAAC and trained at Fort Des Moines in Iowa. She quickly moved up the ranks and began training other recruits, becoming the first black officer. She remained there for over two years before finally being sent to Birmingham, England to command the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion in December 1944. The book outlines and shares what she was up against in the army. The racism by the white soldiers and officers was blatant. They were given little support to set up King Edward school as their home base and they were disrespected with roadblocks put in their way so they wouldn't be able to complete the job they were given. This was very eye opening and although not totally in agreement with the book, Women of the Post or the movie, The Six Triple Eight, there were things that were scenes and events that were corroborated. If you are interested in the true story, you might want to read this one. It is not easy to find, I actually read it online at the Internet Archive.
January 21, 2025
5 stars for content. I picked this up after watching the Netflix movie The Six Triple Eight, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The movie was definitely a product of Hollywood (with a bit of fiction) but the movie was very well done. It prompted me to seek out this memoir.
July 26, 2020
I really enjoyed this one! I picked it up because I had read an article about the author in the New York Times and I wanted to know more about her. Charity Adams Earley was the commanding officer of a Black unit of female WAC members who sorted out the mail during World War II. It was so interesting to read about her experience in the military at that time, especially since that narrative is so dominated by the male soldiers and the female nurses, and this was very different from those experiences. The writing style really felt like I was sitting in her living room as she was telling me her story, so that was especially enjoyable. She speaks really candidly about being a Black woman in the 1930s and 1940s as well as being a Black woman in the military. I would highly recommend this book!
December 3, 2024
Before reading this book I had never heard of the WAC or the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. I am so grateful that Lt. Col Adams-Earley chose to document her story. Without this book, her work and the work of the Black women under her command would have been lost forever. The sacrifices, challenges, adventure in a new world abroad could not have been imagined without this book. To know that Black women were instrumental in the distribution of military mail during a time a war achieving record numbers is something to be celebrated even today!
April 4, 2019
Interesting read!
Though slow moving and detailed this provides insight into WWII from a female perspective. From enlistment to discharge the author recounts the way it was for black women in the military. I bought the book into learn about how the women took over the huge backlog of undelivered mail in the European Theater of Operations near the close of the war. But I enjoyed reading about other aspects of Ms Adams' service. I developed admiration for her and the unit she commanded.
Though slow moving and detailed this provides insight into WWII from a female perspective. From enlistment to discharge the author recounts the way it was for black women in the military. I bought the book into learn about how the women took over the huge backlog of undelivered mail in the European Theater of Operations near the close of the war. But I enjoyed reading about other aspects of Ms Adams' service. I developed admiration for her and the unit she commanded.
June 23, 2020
Great Read
I enjoyed this book. It was written in a simple story telling style that made it a fast read. Although, it would seem, the racial overtones were simplified and grossly understated in many ways. It was an inspiring read none the less, given the overall historical context. I would recommend definitely.
I enjoyed this book. It was written in a simple story telling style that made it a fast read. Although, it would seem, the racial overtones were simplified and grossly understated in many ways. It was an inspiring read none the less, given the overall historical context. I would recommend definitely.
February 7, 2022
The author of this memoir is more a storyteller than a writer, but her story was compelling nonetheless. Charity Adams Earley was the first woman sworn in for officer training in the WAAC, later the Women’s Army Corps, in 1942. Okay, it was mostly because her last name was Adams, and her group was there a week before the bulk of the officer candidates arrived. But it was still significant and appropriate. It was also the first time that Black women were being accepted into the army, and Adams was Black. She had been invited personally to apply by Mary McLeod Bethune, who had received a recommendation for Adams from the dean of Wilberforce college, where she had graduated with degrees in mathematics, physics, and history.
Though promised that the Army would not segregate them, the Black candidates were immediately separated into a single unit. Adams and her classmates were especially cognizant that there were objections to women in the military, and even more specifically to black women in the military. They chose to raise no objections lest they be seen as troublemakers, knowing the pressure they faced from the Black community to succeed. They instead were more determined than ever to excel.
After becoming an officer, Adams remained at the training site, working with later recruits for both officers and enlisted women. The women under her command became the sharpest at drill, and presented most perfectly under inspections. While there, Adams rose through the ranks to become a major.
Prejudice towards women and black soldiers of the 1940s ensured that few women other than nurses were sent overseas during the war, and no black women. Eventually, the support needs were great enough that a battalion was formed of black women soldiers. Adams was chosen to command the 6888th Battalion. She, her other officers, and 900 enlisted women were sent to Britain to deal with a backlog of undelivered mail to the troops. This was seen as a situation detrimental to morale for the army. It was estimated that it would take over six months to clear the backlog. Adams and her battalion did it in four. As the Germans were pushed back, her unit relocated in Normandy, and later in Paris.
At the end of World War II, Adams chose not to make a career of the military. But before she separated from the service, she was promoted to lieutenant colonel, and was the most senior officer in the WAC except for its Director.
I learned about her in a novel, historical fiction set in the experience of this Battalion (Sisters in Arms, by Kaia Alderson).She appears as a character within the novel, one I found more interesting than the novel’s wholly fictional protagonists. I went to look for a little more information about her and discovered she had written her own memoir. It came out over 40 years ago, but I found it and read it on the Internet Archive. Thank you for those who digitize! Adams wrote clearly about her experiences, and related the struggles imposed on her unit by racial and gender prejudice. It was fascinating to read, and I’m pleased to have stumbled across her book during Black History Month.
Though promised that the Army would not segregate them, the Black candidates were immediately separated into a single unit. Adams and her classmates were especially cognizant that there were objections to women in the military, and even more specifically to black women in the military. They chose to raise no objections lest they be seen as troublemakers, knowing the pressure they faced from the Black community to succeed. They instead were more determined than ever to excel.
After becoming an officer, Adams remained at the training site, working with later recruits for both officers and enlisted women. The women under her command became the sharpest at drill, and presented most perfectly under inspections. While there, Adams rose through the ranks to become a major.
Prejudice towards women and black soldiers of the 1940s ensured that few women other than nurses were sent overseas during the war, and no black women. Eventually, the support needs were great enough that a battalion was formed of black women soldiers. Adams was chosen to command the 6888th Battalion. She, her other officers, and 900 enlisted women were sent to Britain to deal with a backlog of undelivered mail to the troops. This was seen as a situation detrimental to morale for the army. It was estimated that it would take over six months to clear the backlog. Adams and her battalion did it in four. As the Germans were pushed back, her unit relocated in Normandy, and later in Paris.
At the end of World War II, Adams chose not to make a career of the military. But before she separated from the service, she was promoted to lieutenant colonel, and was the most senior officer in the WAC except for its Director.
I learned about her in a novel, historical fiction set in the experience of this Battalion (Sisters in Arms, by Kaia Alderson).She appears as a character within the novel, one I found more interesting than the novel’s wholly fictional protagonists. I went to look for a little more information about her and discovered she had written her own memoir. It came out over 40 years ago, but I found it and read it on the Internet Archive. Thank you for those who digitize! Adams wrote clearly about her experiences, and related the struggles imposed on her unit by racial and gender prejudice. It was fascinating to read, and I’m pleased to have stumbled across her book during Black History Month.
January 9, 2022
What a wonderful memoir from an amazing woman!
This book seems a bit self-published from a couple decades ago. The writing isn't super compelling, but the stories carry it along nicely. The formatting was a bit... trying.
Lt. Col. Adams arranged her chapters per timeline. So... like... Jan - May, 1944. Then told her stories that happened in that time frame. No problem there, but there were no formatting breaks within each chapter. So she'd tell a story or set of similar stories, then the next line would be the next set of stories. I guess I'm used to page breaks between things like that, so it was a bit jarring.
That aside, it was a very nostalgic book for me. Took me back to my short, tedious 5 years in the Army ('91-'96). It was a bit depressing realizing that 50 years after Lt. Col. Adams was in, the amount of blatant sexism and sexual harassment hadn't changed one bit.
My time in the Army, the amount of disgusting, no-fucks-given, out-loud, racism she experienced had at least become silent and subtle, although, I'm guessing, no less devastating. But, after four years of that racist, sexist, orange shit-gibbon in the Oval office, it seems that out-in-the-open racism has reared it's ugly head again. (And, I am speaking as a white woman, and what is seen online and in the media now.)
I love the author's ability to take no shit from those horrible people she encountered. It was slightly heartening to see at least *some* people around her step up and stand by her at times. I loved the stands she took whenever she could to advance the rights of her units, even if it wasn't popular.
My favorite part was her handling of the situation with the general who wanted to replace her overseas. That was truly bad-ass!
She is truly someone I would loved to have met in real life.
This book seems a bit self-published from a couple decades ago. The writing isn't super compelling, but the stories carry it along nicely. The formatting was a bit... trying.
Lt. Col. Adams arranged her chapters per timeline. So... like... Jan - May, 1944. Then told her stories that happened in that time frame. No problem there, but there were no formatting breaks within each chapter. So she'd tell a story or set of similar stories, then the next line would be the next set of stories. I guess I'm used to page breaks between things like that, so it was a bit jarring.
That aside, it was a very nostalgic book for me. Took me back to my short, tedious 5 years in the Army ('91-'96). It was a bit depressing realizing that 50 years after Lt. Col. Adams was in, the amount of blatant sexism and sexual harassment hadn't changed one bit.
My time in the Army, the amount of disgusting, no-fucks-given, out-loud, racism she experienced had at least become silent and subtle, although, I'm guessing, no less devastating. But, after four years of that racist, sexist, orange shit-gibbon in the Oval office, it seems that out-in-the-open racism has reared it's ugly head again. (And, I am speaking as a white woman, and what is seen online and in the media now.)
I love the author's ability to take no shit from those horrible people she encountered. It was slightly heartening to see at least *some* people around her step up and stand by her at times. I loved the stands she took whenever she could to advance the rights of her units, even if it wasn't popular.
My favorite part was her handling of the situation with the general who wanted to replace her overseas. That was truly bad-ass!
She is truly someone I would loved to have met in real life.
March 9, 2025
Charity Adams Earley’s memoir offers a firsthand look at World War II through the eyes of a pioneering Black woman in the U.S. military.
Tracing her journey from childhood to leadership in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), Adams broke barriers as the first Black woman officer. She led the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, working in England and France to clear a massive backlog of mail, keeping soldiers connected to home. Though their contributions were vital, recognition came only decades later.
Adams’ early years in the military were spent at Fort Des Moines in Des Moines, Iowa. Since I have a Des Moines connection and my father was initiated into the Army at Fort Des Moines, my interest in Adams' work becomes personal. Given the timeframe of her service in England and France, the war was nearing its end, and American troops had experienced significant delays in mail from home for far too long. It makes one wonder why it took so long to send the 6888th Battalion overseas—perhaps someone should have recognized the urgency earlier. My own father arrived in Rouen, France in mid December 13, 1944, and by December 23rd, he was in combat in Belgium. Speculation is that his infantry would have reached Brussels, Belgium, by marching approximately 200 miles. I imagine a letter from home would have been a welcome experience.
The book moves at a sometimes slow pace, but without Adams’ account, the struggles and triumphs of the 6888th Battalion might have been forgotten. For those interested in overlooked World War II stories, women’s military history, or the resilience of Black women in the 1940s, "One Woman’s Army" is a valuable read. Adams’ parents’ influence shines through in her determination and approach to life, shaping the leader she became.
Tracing her journey from childhood to leadership in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), Adams broke barriers as the first Black woman officer. She led the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, working in England and France to clear a massive backlog of mail, keeping soldiers connected to home. Though their contributions were vital, recognition came only decades later.
Adams’ early years in the military were spent at Fort Des Moines in Des Moines, Iowa. Since I have a Des Moines connection and my father was initiated into the Army at Fort Des Moines, my interest in Adams' work becomes personal. Given the timeframe of her service in England and France, the war was nearing its end, and American troops had experienced significant delays in mail from home for far too long. It makes one wonder why it took so long to send the 6888th Battalion overseas—perhaps someone should have recognized the urgency earlier. My own father arrived in Rouen, France in mid December 13, 1944, and by December 23rd, he was in combat in Belgium. Speculation is that his infantry would have reached Brussels, Belgium, by marching approximately 200 miles. I imagine a letter from home would have been a welcome experience.
The book moves at a sometimes slow pace, but without Adams’ account, the struggles and triumphs of the 6888th Battalion might have been forgotten. For those interested in overlooked World War II stories, women’s military history, or the resilience of Black women in the 1940s, "One Woman’s Army" is a valuable read. Adams’ parents’ influence shines through in her determination and approach to life, shaping the leader she became.
September 18, 2020
I really liked this memoir. Earley's writing is friendly and engaging, and she helps a reader like myself - with little knowledge of how the military works - understand the world she entered into when she volunteered for the WAC.
Her personal story is uplifting and courageous, and her pride in what she and other women like her accomplished is both clear and well-deserved.
Racism and sexism do play a role throughout her experiences, but are presented as part of the narrative rather than being the focus of the narrative. And, in some ways, having the racism and sexism be normal - part of the landscape and regular obstacles - made it more impactful; this wasn't the exception, but the everyday reality that Earley lived.
As an outsider, it's easy to forget that the military doesn't consist solely of soldiers and generals. Earley's account brings to the fore many of the critical support roles who deserve equal respect and recognition for their service. Earley pulls back the curtain and allows the reader to see part of this support structure.
Her personal story is uplifting and courageous, and her pride in what she and other women like her accomplished is both clear and well-deserved.
Racism and sexism do play a role throughout her experiences, but are presented as part of the narrative rather than being the focus of the narrative. And, in some ways, having the racism and sexism be normal - part of the landscape and regular obstacles - made it more impactful; this wasn't the exception, but the everyday reality that Earley lived.
As an outsider, it's easy to forget that the military doesn't consist solely of soldiers and generals. Earley's account brings to the fore many of the critical support roles who deserve equal respect and recognition for their service. Earley pulls back the curtain and allows the reader to see part of this support structure.
May 19, 2022
Charity Adams Early is remembered as being a Lieutenant Colonel by the end of WWII which was the highest ranking African-American woman in the military at that time. She also led the only female African American WAC unit overseas during the war. I thought this book would be a first hand narrative of these historical events. These historical events were discussed however this book is more memoir of personal thoughts and individual experiences instead of historical narrative. Unfortunately memoirs are rarely my thing. After she spent 4 pages detailing every aspect of being outfitted for her uniform I knew this book might not be my style.
May 13, 2025
Adams' work in the WAC is interesting both for how she dealt with the racism and misogyny she found in her role as an officer in the army; and what her experience was like when she went overseas near the end of WWII. This is one of the first books that I've read that really talks about how scary it was for women in the Allied armed forces to walk into rooms full of Allied force men, and how they worked around those concerns. That being said, Adams clearly kept her professional polish throughout her role and served her country.
November 29, 2023
A little slow to start with too much reliance of the readers ability to remember or reference abbreviations from the (limited) provide glossary.
I really enjoyed when the memior picked up ~January 1945 with (then) Major Adam's orders to command the 6888th Central Postal Battalion into the European Theatre of Operations of WW2. I also apperciated Lieutenant Colonel Adam's ability to laugh at herself and detail areas of personal growth.
I really enjoyed when the memior picked up ~January 1945 with (then) Major Adam's orders to command the 6888th Central Postal Battalion into the European Theatre of Operations of WW2. I also apperciated Lieutenant Colonel Adam's ability to laugh at herself and detail areas of personal growth.
June 8, 2025
More like 4.5 stars, this is a story that not only needed to be told, but was worthy of the 5-star movie I recently saw about Major Charity Edna Adams and the accomplishments of the 6888th Central Postal Directory, the only Black female battalion assigned to overseas duty in World War II. Honestly, Ms. Earley tells the story too modestly; I think Mr. Perry illustrates the drama of these women's lives more cogently in his movie, SIX TRIPLE EIGHT--and I am NOT a film buff. Go find it on Netflix!
September 1, 2025
This book is a memoir from the eyes LTC Adams about her experiences pre, during and post Army service. I highly recommend it especially if you’ve seen the movie “The Six Triple Eight” and want to hear the ground truth. While not a leadership book, many of the leadership lessons LTC Adams learned or glances over from her time in the service are lessons that we echo today both in and out of the service.
Want to read
June 26, 2023I've not been able to find this book within the library system as yet, but coincidentally came across a half-hour BBC radio programme about Charity Adams and her groundbreaking WW2 service, available as a podcast here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001mljz
December 28, 2024
I just watched "The Six Triple Eight" and immediately wanted to read more. This is by Charity Adams Earley, the woman played by Kerry Washington in the movie, and gives the true story behind her life and her battalion. I was surprised at how much was different, but I suppose that always happens in dramatizations.
October 17, 2020
Love the account of the story of war from a different perspective. She’s smart and strong and she knows it. Very admirable. She didn’t let people bring her down because of her sex and race.
I didn’t realize how long they need to undergo training. Half of the book is around the training time.
I didn’t realize how long they need to undergo training. Half of the book is around the training time.
November 14, 2022
I'm not a huge reader of memoirs and autobiographies. I wanted to learn more about the six triple-eight.
This is a clear-eyed, forthright accounting of a black woman's experiences serving and leading in the WAC in the European theater of WWII.
Informative and interesting.
This is a clear-eyed, forthright accounting of a black woman's experiences serving and leading in the WAC in the European theater of WWII.
Informative and interesting.
November 27, 2022
I was using this book as a source for my research paper, but honestly was an excellent read. She really puts you in the moment, and really demonstrates the complicated reality of being a Black Woman in the U.S army. Her story is remarkable, and so glad it's immortalized in this autobiography.
May 16, 2023
Fascinating history which is the reason for the 5 stars. Writing is a bit stiff at times, but this does not detract from the impact of the story. In April 2023, Ft Lee in VA was renamed Fort Gregg-Adams in honor of Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams
May 22, 2024
Really gets into the nitty gritty and minutia of the job and is just utterly jam-packed full of details. I’d love to find/read more of these sorts of stories. It’s a shame they weren’t allowed to do more.
July 3, 2024
I appreciate the history of this amazing women. The writing style is hard to read. It seemed tedious and redundant. I was determined to finish and I did. Worth the time to learn of this group though.
December 28, 2024
One woman’s Army
After watching the six triple eight on Netflix I had so many questions about Lt Col Charity Adams Earley. This book answered a lot of questions and gave me the details about her military service. Good read. Good woman. Excellent leadership!
After watching the six triple eight on Netflix I had so many questions about Lt Col Charity Adams Earley. This book answered a lot of questions and gave me the details about her military service. Good read. Good woman. Excellent leadership!
March 12, 2025
This was slow moving, but extremely interesting. I'm glad it came recommended.
It's written in a way that felt like I was listening to her tell me about her life from memory, which actually made me enjoy it more.
It's written in a way that felt like I was listening to her tell me about her life from memory, which actually made me enjoy it more.
June 4, 2025
I was fascinated by the subject matter, but I wish there had been a little more information about how the actual sorting and delivery of the mail was accomplished. Since she was the commanding officer, that was not so much her focus, though.
August 9, 2020
amazing black woman joined the Army or World War II, rises to officer level. Lots of photos, lots of stories.
December 21, 2020
LT.COL adams achieved much in her army careear ,but this book is not only about her but,also about the women of the 6888 battalion ,she writes well,I enjoyed reading her story.
May 10, 2021
I loved this memoir! The book showcases her fight and perseverance which helped her rise above it all. I would watch the heck of a movie based on this book!
August 3, 2021
Great story! I loved reading about her life in the WAC.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews