1Gratitude page 4
49Supporting One Another to Survive 81
2Disclaimer page 6
50Chapter 9: Obstacles and Opposition 83
3Introduction: Unsung Heroes of WWII 12
51"Just Who Do You Think You Are?": White Officer Confrontations 83
4The Role of the 6888th in Civil Rights and Military History 12
52General Holtz vs. Major Adams: The Battle 84
5The Reasons This Story Is Still Mostly Unknown 15
53The Iconic Reaction of Major Adams 85
6Hollywood and History – The Challenge of Accurate Representation 17
54The Two Participants Who Didn't Return Home 87
7Chapter 1: "We Can Do It Too" – The Birth of the Six Triple Eight 20
55Black Civil Rights Leaders' Pressure 89
8The Radical Idea: Black Women in Uniform 20
56Chapter 10: The Birmingham Miracle 91
9Eleanor Roosevelt's Private Consultation 24
57Day 90: The Warehouses Are Empty 91
10Mary McLeod Bethune’s Ultimatum to the War Department 25
58The Effect of "No Mail, Low Morale" on Combatants 92
11The Day 855 Women Made History 27
59Rouen Orders: Achievement Brings New Difficulties 95
12Chapter 2: The Women of the 6888th – Who Were They? 30
60Chapter 11: Following the Front 98
13Different Experiences, Similar Goals: Instructors, Nurses, Students, and Clerks 30
61Following the Advancing Allied Forces from England to France 98
14Individual Soldier Narratives: Emphasizing Individual Paths 32
62Returning to Work: Mail Sorting 100
15The Reluctant Commander: Charity Adams 33
63V-E Day: Honoring Triumph While Carrying on the Mission 102
16Families Left Behind: The Sacrifices Made at Home 35
64Going Back to America in Segregation 104
17Chapter 3: Basic Training Blues 37
65Chapter 12: The Quiet Return 106
18First Days in Uniform: "The Army Way or No Way" 37
66The Quiet Welcome in America: No Parades, No Medals 106
19When Drill Sergeants Were Insecure: Demonstrating Physical Ability 39
67Benefits for Veterans: Refused or Limited 108
20Getting Used to Saluting While Dealing with Jim Crow 40
68"How Did You Participate in the Conflict?" The Unbelievably Amazing Tales 109
21Lifetime Bonds Are Created in Barracks 41
69Getting used to Jim Crow America again 110
22The Last Exam: Deployment Readiness 42
70The Quiet Starts: The Reason Their Story Vanished 111
23Chapter 4: The Rough Voyage 44
71Chapter 13: After the War 114
24Getting on a Separate Ship in the Île-de-France 44
72GI Bill College: Pioneers in Education 114
25U-Boat Alley: Threatened Atlantic Crossing 45
73Breaking Barriers in Business and Other Professions 116
26Sisterhood and Seasickness 47
74Raising Families in a Changing America 118
27Land Ho: Initial Views of Britain Torn Apart by War 48
75Charity Adams Earley's Ongoing Struggle for Acknowledgment 119
28Chapter 5: Welcome to Birmingham 51
76Chapter 14: Breaking the Silence 122
29From Classroom to Mail Room at King Edward School 51
77The Historians Who Were Determined to Remember Them 122
30"No Heat, No Hot Water, and Plenty of Rats" 53
78Locating the Survivors: 1990s Oral History Initiatives 124
31British Reactions: Both Sides Experience Culture Shock 54
79Memorial for Women in Military Service: Initial Public Recognition 125
32The controversy surrounding Red Cross Club 56
80The Age of the Internet: Digital Archives Draw Fresh Interest 126
33Making a Home Outside of Home 57
81The Congressional Gold Medal Movement 127
34Chapter 6: The Problem 59
82Chapter 15: At Last: America Remembers 130
35Two Years of Undelivered Hopes and Dreams 60
83The Fort Leavenworth Monument Unveiling 130
36Seventeen million pieces of mail and three million soldiers 61
84The Final Survivors: Centenarians Are At Last Recognized 133
37Past Mistakes: Why White Units Were Unable to Fix Them 62
85Embrace of Michelle Obama: White House Acknowledgment 133
38"Six months? "We'll Do It in Three": The Bold Declaration 63
86Chapter 16: The Six Triple Eight Hits Hollywood 135
39Chapter 7: Masters of Innovation 67
87The Goal of Tyler Perry to Share Their Story 135
40The Revolution of Index Cards: Establishing a New Framework 67
88Major Adams is Kerry Washington's successor. 136
41"Detective Work": Monitoring Soldiers Who Are Always on the Move 71
89Premiere Night: When Hollywood Met History 138
42Efficiency of the Assembly Line Meets Military Accuracy 72
90Chapter 17: Setting the Record Straight 140
43Chapter 8: Life Between Shifts 75
91Historical Falsehoods in Common Representations 140
44The Punishing Schedule: Three Shifts, Around the Clock 75
92Beyond the Movie: The Whole Narrative 142
45Off-Duty Experiences in England During the War 77
93Recently Found Records and Pictures 143
46Romance and Relationships: Dating in Uniform 78
94Stories Not Told: Voices Unheard 144
47Saturday Night Dances and Sunday Morning Services 79
95The Continuing Research Effort 145
48"We're Family Now": Establishing a Social Network 80
96Conclusion: MAIL DELIVERED 147
