Six Triple Eight descendants express outrage at 47th president’s decision on military base names

By: Ali Halloum
AFRO Intern

Descendants of the women who served in the  6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, (Six Triple Eight) are expressing outrage at a recent announcement by the 47th president, who said in a June 10 speech at Fort Bragg that several bases, including Fort Gregg-Adams in Virginia, will be reversing their 2023 name changes. Though the names will go back to the original monikers that honored Confederate generals, they come back with a sordid twist.

Fort Lee, for example, was originally named after Robert E. Lee, commander of the Confederate forces during the Civil War. In April 2023, the name was scrapped and renamed after two Black veterans: Lieutenant General Arthur J. Gregg and Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams. Gregg was a key leader in the desegregation of the Army, while Adams was the commanding officer of the Six Triple Eight. Now, the base will go back to being named “Fort Lee,” but this time it’s in honor of a Black man, Private Fitz Lee, who received the Medal of Honor for his service during the Spanish-American War. 

The AFRO spoke with descendants of Six Triple Eight veterans who have expressed shock, disappointment and disgust at President Donald Trump’s recent course of action regarding the naming of military bases.

Army Reserve ambassador for Maryland, Colonel Edna Cummings (U.S. Army, Ret.), championed the effort for the Six Triple Eight to be awarded a Congressional Gold Medal, which they received in April. She said that she was “disappointed” about the decision to rename bases. Still, she remained positive. 

“Changing ‘Fort Gregg-Adams’ back to ‘Fort Lee’ changes neither the history, outcome, nor the impact of  Lt. Gen. Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams, Commander of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion’s contributions to our nation during World War II and afterwards,” Cummings said.

Retired Lieutenant Colonel Rodger Matthews, whose mother was Private First Class Vashti Murphy-Matthews, also weighed in on the  renaming of the military bases.

“We were totally thrilled that Lt. Col. Charity Adams’ name was mentioned as one of them, along with General Gregg to change ‘Fort Lee,’” Matthews said. “It’s really disappointing that this quickly turns around and tries to do away with her legacy and others … it’s just disgusting.”

Denise McBride, whose mother, Phyllis Inez Galloway, served in the Six Triple Eight, attended the renaming ceremony for Ft Gregg-Adams. She called the decision “disrespectful” and “a slap in the face.”

“Why don’t we just preserve the name that honors American heroes?” McBride said. “I’m upset that my mother and other women, who did something remarkable and changed the course, that just trying to wipe it away.”

Lt. Col. Adams was the first Black woman to command troops deployed overseas, and the Six Triple Eight coordinated the delivery of more than 17 million pieces of mail to American troops fighting on the front lines in Europe, providing a significant morale boost during their deployments.

“They served their nation when their nation didn’t serve them and solved the military’s mail and morale crisis in the European Theater of Operations during World War II,” said Cummings.

McBride said she hopes that others are also upset and in the corner of the Six Triple Eight. She, as well as other descendants, are currently writing letters to her representatives and senators about this issue and urging descendants and supporters of the Six Triple Eight.

Matthews encouraged those unfamiliar with the story of the Six Triple Eight to read their history, and view the recently released Tyler Perry film titled “Six Triple Eight,” noting that a friend who saw it and doesn’t rewatch movies did so with this one.

Cummings said that states and communities across the country are spearheading efforts to memorialize the Six Triple Eight through events and commemorative days. 

She said that their efforts aren’t a fight, but rather “converting the mute button into a microphone” to preserve the history and legacy of the Six Triple Eight.

“We must embrace our history since it reminds us of our strength and resilience,” Cummings said. “The Six Triple Eight descendants throughout the U.S. are learning more about their ancestors and sharing this history.  The Six Triple community is nationwide and global with far-reaching impacts.”

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