Essie Dell O’Bryant Woods
Essie Dell O’Bryant Woods
Essie Dell O’Bryant Woods was born on January 4, 1915 and was a life-long resident of Detroit. She enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps and served with the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion in 1943. The Battalion, nicknamed the “Six Triple Eight,” followed the troops from England into liberated France. Unit responsibilities included cleanup and distribution of backlogged undelivered mail. All mail was to be delivered to the intended recipients within six months. The Battalion received all the mail that could not be delivered on the first attempt and processed an average of more than 65,000 pieces of mail per eight-hour shift. With the motto “No Mail Low Morale,” the unit exceeded expectations by clearing the backlog of mail in only three months. Staff Sergeant Woods and the soldiers of the 6888th Battalion served diligently while dealing with challenging living conditions and racial discrimination. Essie, and the 6888th, stood strong under adverse conditions. She received the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal during her three years of service during World War II. Staff Sergeant Woods’ military experience enabled her to serve in various other military and veteran capacities for over 35 years. Staff Sergeant Woods served as one of the founders of the National Association of Black Military Women, and a founding member of the Wolverine Chapter #67 of the Women’s Army Corps Veterans Association.