Decatur, Georgia
CNN
—
Brenda Partridge-Brown knew for years that her mother served overseas during World War II. But she didn’t know the whole story.
Willie Belle Irvin-Partridge had regaled her six children in suburban Atlanta with stories of her time in the Women’s Army Corps, stationed in Europe.
She shared memories of the friendships she formed during the war, and her love of the lush English countryside and its charming churches. A black and white photo of her – then Willie Belle Irvin – wearing a dark khaki uniform and a military beret sat on the mantel of every home their family lived in.
But Irvin-Partridge left out a key detail: She had been a member of the historic 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion – the only all-female, predominantly Black unit to serve in Europe during World War II. The battalion didn’t see combat, but they played a crucial…
