An AME Woman of Valor: Ruth Ellen Lewis Marshall and the Legacy of the 6888th Battalion

By Mrs. Rose Caldwell and Rev. Dwayne A. Gary, 4^th Episcopal District

At 98 years old, Ruth Ellen Lewis Marshall, a faithful member of Woodlawn African Methodist Episcopal Church on Chicago’s South Side, received a long-overdue honor from the Rev. Dwayne A. Gary, pastor. On July 25, 2025, Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth presented Mrs. Marshall with the Congressional Gold Medal in a private ceremony. She was awarded the medal for serving in World War II with the predominantly African American 6888 Central Postal Directory Battalion. Mrs. Marshall also received the Good Conduct Medal, the European African-Middle Eastern Service Ribbon, and the World War II Victory Medal. Of the 855 women soldiers who served with the Six Triple Eight, Mrs. Marshall is one of two surviving soldiers.

Recognition came late to Mrs. Marshall because researchers were unable to locate her. The only reference she ever made to her military service was that she was a pacesetter and served in World War II. She said she didn’t talk about the experience because they were treated so unfairly that she chose to block it out of her mind. After watching the Tyler Perry movie and seeing the documentary, a couple of her friends deduced that she was indeed part of Six Triple Eight, and they confirmed it with her discharge papers and by asking her specific questions. They decided she should be honored for her service, but Mrs. Marshall insisted on privacy, and they agreed to keep the information confidential. After several months, when Mrs. Marshall’s health began to deteriorate, the decision was reversed, and the process to secure the Congressional Gold Medal to honor Ruth Ellen Lewis Marshall for her service in World War II began.

The 6888^th Battalion, a battalion of predominantly African American women, was formed as part of the Women’s Army Corps (WAC), and Mrs. Marshall and the other soldiers were given the monumental task of boosting morale by clearing a two-year backlog of mail directed to soldiers in the European theater from their loved ones back home. They were given six months to sort and deliver 17 million pieces of mail. Despite challenging working conditions, racial and gender discrimination, and other problems, the soldiers still completed the job in three months.

Mrs. Marshall is a native Chicagoan and was baptized at the historic Pilgrim Baptist Church. She joined Woodlawn AME Church in 2009, where she served the Minerva Dyett Missionary Society and sang dutifully with the Aeolian Chorale until her illness. She is a gifted vocalist and loves singing anthems. She sang with the Negro Opera at one time, and she says the highlight of her singing career came in 1985 and 1986 when she sang the role of the mother in the opera Amahl and the Night Visitors. She is a mezzo-soprano soloist and has sung with several church choirs over the years. One of her favorite songs was “I Talked to God Last Night” by David Guion.

Mrs. Marshall was educated in the Chicago Public Schools system, where she graduated from Forestville Elementary and Dunbar High schools. When she graduated from high school, she joined the US Army, served in France during World War II, and was honorably discharged in 1945. She later completed courses at Peters Business College and Loop College. She married John Paul Marshall, who passed away in 1986. She was a licensed cosmetologist before working for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. After retiring from the post office, she served as the director of STEEP for 12 years, an after-school program run by the Martin Temple Community Foundation, which made a significant difference in the lives of children in the community. The program included tutoring, technical skills, and educational games and activities. Mrs. Marshall remains tech-savvy and takes great pride in owning a computer at 98. 

As we salute the soldier who served with the famous Six Triple Eight, we also honor the life of one of God’s special servants who serves the people of the community and loves to sing His praises.

Mrs. Rose Caldwell

Rev. Dwayne A. Gary

Photos:

• Senator Tammie Duckworth (IL) honors Mrs. Ruth Marshall with the Congressional Gold Medal-photo taken by Rose Caldwell
• Ruth Marshall with the 6888^th Battalion-provided by the family of Ruth Marshall
• Ruth Marshall-provided by Mrs. Rose Caldwell
• Ruth Marshall singing solo in the Aeolian Chorale – provided by Rev. Dwayne Gary