Transcripts For CSPAN3 African American Women Army Corps Battalion 20240713

Statecraft. You heard of great praise. There is nothing you can do about having a 20 or 22yearold body, but there is no excuse for not having a 5000yearold mind. It is at your fingertips. But let us continue to look back so that we can see forward. Im pleased to introduce you pat lock, who will moderate the next panel. Locke is the first African American woman to graduate from the United States naval academy, in 1980. She will bring forth a group of women that have an unheard story, Unsung Heroes that played an Important Role in american s history. I am pleased to introduce pat locke. Major locke good morning, everyone. Good morning. Major locke i know i have a lot of friends at the naval academy, but i am not the first african woman to graduate from the naval academy. I am the first African American woman to graduate from the United States military academy. So i just wanted you all to have that as an admin correction. So, with that, i would like to say that i am honored to be in the presence of this history. I remember reading about these ladies 40 years ago in a department of defense publication, and noticing everything that they went through to open the doors for people like me. So, with that, i know we have very limited time here, so i want to make sure that i give them a chance to tell their story. So, i would like to start out with just a general question. And anyone that would like to respond, please do so. I would like to hear from everyone, but as you see fit, you can answer the question. So, i would just like to know, from that experience, and i think you may know the history, you have the history here, but they went into the 6888 battalion, it was formed to handle a backlog of emails. They initially had 800 africanamerican women in that battalion. They deployed to england and when they got there they had a 17prise waiting for them of million pieces of mail that was backlogged. So, with that, with all of the deployment, and i remember reading that the only way that African American women could serve overseas was if the theater commander specifically requested them. So, the 6888 was one of the ose battalion that was recruited to come over to europe to serve in the european theater. So, with that, what was one aspect of your deployment, your effort, your successes over there, that you would like to relate to the audience . I would like to for them to know how appalling it was for us to get it done and the length of time that they wanted us to do it. They gave us one year to get the blackmail. We did it in eight months. Major locke eight months. Very good. Very good. So, did you have anything to add to that . Yes. When we got there, the mail was just piled up, it was a rat infested. We had to find a place to make our postal facilities so that we could handle it. So used an old airplane hangar, and built our post office. And with that, we worked seven days a week, three shifts, and we were able to get the mail out in one third of the time that they had assigned it. So, our motto was, no mail, low morale. That was our motto. And we felt that the one thing that Service People want is to be able to connect with their families. And the families of course want to see how their loved ones are doing. So it was a very Important Mission for us to be able to have that connection. Major locke very good. So, before we go on, i want to make sure i get the comments from the ladies over here also, but i want to make sure you know you are talking to. So on the far end is ms. Johnson, thank you for your service. Next to me is ms. King, thank you also for your service. And over here, i have ms. Robertson. Thank you for your service. It over here i have ms. Ruddock. Thank you all for your service. I think you have your bios on the back of the screen. With that, did you have any comments about how much you had to do when you first arrived in england with the mail challenge . Anything . Did anybody else have any more comments regarding that before we go on to the next question . I think not only was there not place for our mail, we had no facilities to live in. Our facilities had been bombed, and we had to quickly make a place for us to stay. And we used an old school house,. We cleaned it up and made that do for our lodging. Major locke very good. So you kind of improvised with everything. With everything we had to improvise. Major locke from what ive read the theater commander came down and he was very impressed with the level of discipline that you had in your unit, your appearance, your military courtesy. How did all of that come about . How did you know to do that . Were you emulating someone else that you saw . Seriously, that kind of opened the door for the rest of us, because you guys set a standard for all African American women coming in to service after that. So did you have any comments regarding that . Youre in the army. You do what youre told. You wear what you wear. [laughter] you wont have any problems. When you are enlisted you do the you are told, you wear garment of the day. Theres not a problem, that away from it. We have a uniform, you wear it. The point is that you have a job to do, and you do the job. Period. I dont know what other questions you have, because i could go on forever. [laughter] major locke i just remember, i really appreciated when i saw the photos, i didnt know anything about the military when i was enlisted. When i saw you all photos and how sharply you looked with your uniforms and shoes and everything, it made me want to join. You are in uniforms were just parades or formal rides. But you are working. We had a job to do. So you wear fatigues or whatever there, period. Out. About getting the mail and your motto was . Morale. Ail, low major locke what is one of the primary, the most important lesson that you can share with our audience right now, about the leadership, hardship, about work ethic . Anything like that that you can share with our audience right now . Well, you are enlisted to do him well, you are enlisted to do a job, and whatever you were assigned, this is what you did. This is why you were there. So you cant go on just doing whatever you want to do. You came there to do this, to do your duty for the country. And, of course, you had to follow the rules and regulations. And this is what we signed up for. Major locke so, you had a very hard experience, you had to deploy to england but you also had to deploy from england to france. And you had all that happen in a very short amount of time. Can you tell me about the transition . How did you do that . You had to have a huge work ethic to get that done. And the hardships. Did you have all nighters . Youre in the army. You do we are told. The army has a record. When we worked, we had three shifts, right . And we did what we were told. So therefore, i was a pfc, so i did what i was told. Therefore, we sorted the mail, we directed it to where it was supposed to go, and we did as we were told. As i said, we worked three shifts. So when you are doing that, you do the best you can. Theres no question about it. In the army, you dont question anything. You do as you are told, or else. So therefore, that was not a big problem. This was something new to us. We were pretty young. I was 19 when i went in. That was it, and there is no problem. We did a shift and then we went to paris. So we worked at the three shifts there and we were able to get the mail redirected in a very short time. So, we were able to do it in less than a year. To come back, and thats it. Major locke ok. Can you talk to us a little bit about the leadership that you had . You obviously accomplished a lot in a small a amount of time. Did the leadership have anything to do with that . I think we all were dedicated and knew what we had to do, but. We were told in the beginning that this was our job, so this is the way that we had been trained, and we went there to do this job and we got it done. I think, when they chose the group, when we went and were trained, we knew that it was discipline that kept us intact, and made us know that this was thisssignment, and we knew is what we signed up for. Major locke ok. That workwas just ethic that we had. And i think they chose women who they could rely on to work that way. Think that way. Major locke ok. Very good. So, you had both army and air force women in the same battalion . It was, at that time, they were all one unit. Air force and army were together. Major locke ok, very good. It was later, a number of years later that they were separated. Major locke how did you all will get along . Did you guys get along ok . Do you have individual bedrooms, best friends, people you hated . Being in an army unit with that amount of pressure to get things done, did the pressure cause friction, or you just were all best friends . You do as you are told. You do it like its college. [laughter] it doesnt matter how you feel or what you think, you have a job to do and you do it. Major locke ok. So we have a theme here. Youve got a job, youve got to get it done, no matter what, right . Just like anywhere else, you choose the group that you do want to hang out with. With a large battalion, you dont know everyone, but you are there for the same purpose. Your leadership helped to guide, but your little groups, you know what your assignment is, your discipline, and you do it. I think we went there with the attitude that we were there to do a job. Very,locke and you were very successful with all the at pressure and that sisterhood in the berhow in the battalion. Did you have any time to do anything else . Dates, movie, go out on any social life whatsoever . No. Not too much, really. Major locke ok. I just thought i ask, because you all had a lot to do. We made our own fun. We played games. We had friendships, but as far as getting out in the public, it was very late in the game that we were able to get out and meet people. Major locke ok. When we were in birmingham, the people were so wonderful to us. They knew what we were there for, they gave us a lot of support. So, we enjoyed their hospitality. And, but when time came for work, we did work. Done, we our work was littlee for a socializing, but that was quite limited. Major locke ok, very good. Is there any aspect of your job that was the hardest thing that you had to deal with . Say what . Major locke was there an aspect of your job, your mission, that was the hardest thing to deal with . And what was that . We didnt think about that at all. You had a job to do, you did the job. Period. [laughter] i am sorry, but it doesnt matter. Major locke ok. You made a commitment and you go through with it, all right . And it is all new to everybody. And here we are. We are in army and we have a job to do. We had surgeons to tell us what to do. I am a private. Sergeants tohad tell us what to do. Im a private, so therefore, you do it. If you have any questions, you have to keep it silent because its not going to get you anywhere. Therefore, the best thing to do, and this is all new to americans. We did it, and the thing i can say is, hey, after we finish the job ahead of the schedule that they thought had to be done, we did it in about six months or so, so we covered it and got it out, three shifts. And then we came home. So, thats it, you know . And the army was a good. Those of us who left, me, i came out of the service. And the army gave us schooling, where we wanted to go. And a little subsistence pay along with that. So, i took advantage of it, and that was it. Period. And no more worried about the army, period. Thats it. No more worries. Major locke ok. Do you all want to just tell us a little bit about what happened after your tour overseas, and you came back home . Did you want to share with the audience anything that happened after that . I went directly home because i lost my father while i was in the military. Sick, so ias very got a discharge and went home. Major locke you have anything . I went to fort dix and was discharged. I married while i was in the service. I went from philadelphia where i enlisted. My husband was from california, and i lived in california and started a family. Went to school and became an rn, and had a family, and that was the end of it. We never heard anything more about all of that. It was behind us until a gentleman by the name of Carlton Philpott thought we deserved to be recognized. Because we never had a parade. We just came out and went home and that was it. Carlton philpott thought we deserved some recognition. And he invited after 75 years. Just a few of us that are still remaining. We are all in our 90s. Im 96. Shes, i dont [laughter] anyway, he thought we deserved a parade. And he invited us all to come to kansas city. He had a monument for us. He said, these ladies deserve some recognition. They were over there in the first African American battalion. They were very welldisciplined, they did a service. And he thought he would give us a parade, which he did. Not only that, he had a monument for us. He had the country really, we would not be here today if it werent for mr. Philpott. He made the world aware of us, and for that, i really thank him. Because we would have lived, you know, just really unknown. And carlton thought that these ladies deserve a parade. And so, we had the parade we never had before. We are here because of him. Ok, lets go. [laughter] go ahead. E huh . No . Im here. Major locke did you want to comment on anything that happened after you all left service and came back to the United States . I beg your pardon . Major locke did you want to comment on anything that happened after you left the service and came back to the United States . Oh, i said before i took advantage of the gi bill and i went to the school that i wanted to go to. 50 atle subsistence, month. And that was it. There are others that stayed in the service, but i came out and that was it. And then never heard anything about it until november, so there you go. We are making it known to the world that there was a group there. And of course by the time we finished doing our processing of themail, the snail mail, mail to the soldiers was already formulated, so there was no backup mail at that time. So we got rid of the backup mail, and the mail has gone on ever since. This is a little belated thing, it came so late that it ended up were only seven of us out of the 100 that were there to work the job. And im afraid that at our old age we are not not really capable of giving them full credit as much as we should. Because the memory helps, little bit. However, here we are. Major locke thank you. Ladies, is there one other thing i am looking to see if theres a time limit, if we can take a couple questions from the audience. I am not seeing any rejections. Oh, yes, sir. This question is for miss parker. Thank you. Good morning. Good to see everyone again. Rker, could you tell the audience in may of 2019 what happened at Winston Salem State University . I received my teachers degree. No, this was before then, but i got to march down the aisle. I was not able to march when i finished my four year college because i was teaching in virginia. My superintendent were not give me permission to leave, so i taught for 32 years and got my degree last summer. [applause] good morning ladies. Thank you very much for coming. Im from the naval academy. My question is, how did your families initially deal with you joining the army . What did she say . Major locke how did your families react to you joining the army . What happened was i was 19 when i joined, and since i could go to the school that i really wanted to go to, because my dad could not afford it, the opportunity came, someone said why dont you join the army . And that was something to do. So i asked my father if i could join. And he said ok. So i was representing him in the service, and he signed me up to go into the army. So, that was it. There were others of course signing on their own, but i went into the army for one reason, and i guess i accomplished that, because after i came out, i did what i wanted to do. Major locke right. Thank you very much. Did you all have a comment about how your family reacted . Did they support you going into the army . My mother did, but my father was not, no. He did not think it was a good idea. There were all kinds of negative comments from various people about what was happening with women in the service and so forth, and it was because of ignorance. They did not know. Mother, she went along with the program. Who sort ofther objected. He wondered how i would fare, because i was his little girl. I was the only child. Was very difficult for him to sign up. Major locke ok. Very good. Did you have an experience . How did your parents support you going into the military . They were very supportive. At first they thought, you, going into the military . My dad said, that is a mans job. Struggle, no. A major locke all right. Very good. Any other questions . Thank you, ladies. I have one, young lady. Can you all hear me . Major locke we need to mic, because we are recording. Ladies, i want to thank you, but can you take a minute, having been involved in the congressional gold medal process, can you please tell the audience what theyre trying to do for you, to contact your senators and congressmen, give them the bill numbers to support your efforts for your congressional gold medal. I just wanted the information to get out there. Hello, im edna cummings, the champion for the the number is bill number 633, thats where the monument is located at fort leavenworth, kansas. He sponsored the bill on the senate side. On the house side the bill number is hr3138 on this. It was introduced by the representative of wisconsin, where ms. Robinson is from. Hr3838. 15of today we have cosponsors on the senate side, and 68 on the house side. We need two thirds from the senate and house, which equates to 67 on the senate side, 290 on the house side. So we have a ways to go. I appreciate your support and i appreciate the question. Does that answer your question . It does come a young lady. My name is elizabeth and i am the other producer of the film. So we just want to thank you guys. Thank you for your service. Please come out and support this gold medal. But on behalf of these amazing ladies, i called them superstars , on behalf of all of them, we are going to present major locke with a poster signed by all these women sitting there, and it is a documentary that was done by james, he asked that question the first time, and it is simply called the 6888. The 6888. Make sure you get that. Dont let me have to use my army voice, ok . So, thank you maam. Major locke thank you. Thank you. Whoa. Thank you so much. [applause] major locke well, im honored to be here in your presence, and it is because of women like you and your discipline and your your get thed job done. Because of that i had the same attitude when i came in, just get the job done. So thank you very much for your service and thank you for paving the way for not just me, and not for men also. T thank you so very much. [applause] announcer American History tv is on cspan 3 every weekend, and all of our programs are archived on our website at cspan. Org history. Watch lectures in college classrooms, tours of historic sites, archival films, and see our schedule at cspan. Org history. Announcer cspan is in charleston, West Virginia learning about the siri from ranch to pepperoni roles, of next, we talked to candace foods role in appalachian culture. Candace one of the things that is really important is throughd these stories the items that you made with, your grandma that are specifically measured. Appalachian food is very complex. There are a lot of layers. There are a bunch of different components that make it what it is