Courage to Deliver: The Women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion
Women in the Third Platoon march during the early days of Officer Candidate School at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, 1942.
First WAAC Officer Class
The Black women were assigned to the Third Platoon, First Company, First WAAC Regiment. During the six-week course, they were housed in a segregated building but followed the same course of instruction as the other platoons. The OCC candidates were trained in military customs, first aid, property accountability, map reading, physical training, and close order drills. On 29 August 1942, the graduates were commissioned as third officers in the WAAC, a rank equivalent to a 2nd Lt. in the Army.
