Charity Adams Earley
Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), World War II
Women’s Army Corps (WAC), World War II

Charity Adams Earley
Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), World War II
Women’s Army Corps (WAC), World War II

In 1942, Charity (Adams) Earley became the first Black commissioned officer in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), later the Women’s Army Corps (WAC). In 1944, the WAC selected Earley commanding officer of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion (CPDB), the only Black WAC unit to serve overseas during World War II. The 6888th CPDB was sent to the European Theater in 1945 to straighten out the confused and backlogged Army mail system. Despite encountering sexism and racism, members of the unit succeeded in clearing the backlog. As a result of her leadership, the U.S. Army promoted Earley to lieutenant colonel in 1945. Years later, she was asked, “How did it feel to know you were making history?” Earley replied, “But you don’t know you’re making history when it’s happening. I just wanted to do my job.”

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