Memorial Day is one of the federal holidays in the United States for honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
Just north of the River Seine in France is Rouen, the capital city of Normandy. The ancient metropolis known for its many cathedrals is often referred to as the “city with a hundred bells chiming in the air.” But on July 8,1945, the atmosphere was quieted by the loss of three American soldiers. Sergeant Delores Brown, and two Privates First-Class — Mary H. Bankston and Mary J. Barlow. They were members of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, also known as the “Six Triple Eight.”
During WWII, postal mail was the primary method for thousand of American troops in Europe to communicate with loved ones at home. Constant movement throughout the continent made the delivery of written words and care packages to a battle-weary military force a daunting task. Without a doubt, many families, friends, and supporters in the U.S. were also fraught with despair because they had not heard from those serving in Europe for months, or years in some cases. Many at home did not know if their loved ones were alive, wounded, or dead.
After reducing the mail backlog in Birmingham England, the 6888th’s next stop was Rouen, France. The mail backlog was not as intense and the women had time to experience the city, travel, and socialize while they were not working. During this assignment, three of the women attended an authorized social gathering, probably several miles away from their military station. The senior ranking woman was Sergeant Delores Browne from Connecticut. The two other women, Mary J. Barlow also from Connecticut, and Private First-Class Mary H. Bankston from New York, were also members of the Six Triple Eight’s entertainment troupe. Regardless of how the women became connected, we do know that on July 8, 1945, these three soldiers in their early twenties died in a jeep accident while returning from that event. Bankston and Barlowe died immediately at the accident scene, and Browne died from her injuries on July 13, 1945.