Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Evelyn Clarisse Johnson Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: WAC (Women's Army Corps)
- Service Unit/Ship: 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion
- Location of Service: European Theater; England; France
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/82811
A nurse by training, Evelyn Johnson volunteered for the Women's Army Corps in 1942. Despite her background in the medical field, she wound up serving in an altogether different role, as part of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the first and only all-female, all-African-American unit to be deployed overseas during World War II. Stationed in England and France, the 6888th was responsible for sorting and processing an enormous backlog of mail, numbering millions of individual letters. Though she served in a support role, she still witnessed the "heartbreaking devastation" wrought by the war, and her service experiences remain unforgettable.
Interview / Recording
Share
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PlayService with the 6888th; mail backlog of multiple years; succeeding in their task. 00:10:33.0 - 00:11:09.0
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PlayLessons learned during her military service. 00:15:30.0 - 00:16:40.0
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PlayLingering memories of war, influence of service on her thoughts on war and military service, how people treat her when they find out she's a veteran. 00:17:53.0 - 00:19:25.0
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PlayExperience as an African American in the service; no discrimination abroad; incidents in which she experienced racism while in uniform. 00:23:04.0 - 00:28:50.0
About this Item
Title
- Evelyn Clarisse Johnson Collection
Names
- Young, C.W. Bill
- U.S. House of Representatives/C.W. Bill Young
- Weatherby, Cynthia Johnson
- Johnson, Evelyn Clarisse
Home State
- Florida
Headings
- - Johnson, Evelyn Clarisse
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army. Women's Army Corps.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Female
Race
- Black or African American
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: WAC (Women's Army Corps)
- Service Unit/Ship: 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion
- Location of Service: European Theater; England; France
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1942-1946
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion was the only all African-American female unit to serve overseas in World War II.
Materials
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2012-02-23)
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2012-02-23; 2012-02-23)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/82811
Online Format
- image
- video
Additional Metadata Formats
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
Service Unit/Ship
Highest Rank
Service Entrance
Discharge Status
Gender
Race
Home State
Interviewee
Interviewer
Organization/Affiliation
Featured in
- Determined to Serve: African American Women in World War II | Diverse Experiences in Service | Serving: Our Voices | Veterans History Project Collection | Digital Collections
- Breaking Ground and Boundaries: Veteran Changemakers | Diverse Experiences in Service | Serving: Our Voices | Veterans History Project Collection | Digital Collections
- Determined to Serve: African American Women in World War II | World War II (1941 to 1945) | Serving: Our Voices | Veterans History Project Collection | Digital Collections