Collection finding aid (offsite)
Romay Catherine Johnson Davis ((1919-2024), of King George, Dahlgren, Virginia, served in the United States Women's Army Corps (WAC) from 1943-1948. She was part of the 6888th Central Postal Battalion, whose members were women of color, primarily African American. Romay Catherine Johnson Davis was born 29 October 1919 in Dahlgren, Virginia. Davis began high school in Camden, New Jersey, and then moved to New York City, New York, and began attending Haaren High School. When her mother became ill, Davis returned home to care for her. When Davis's mother had recuperated, Davis moved to Washington, D.C., and graduated from Dunbar High School. After about a year, Davis obtained employment with the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, an agency within the U.S. Department of the Treasury, working with the ink plates used for printing currency. In 1943, Davis decided to join the United States Women's Army Corps (WAC). She was initially sent to Fort Des Moines, Iowa, for a short training period, before being sent to an All-African American training unit at Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky. Her duties included working in the motor pool, where she acted as a driver when needed, and well as in the base post office. She was next assigned to the 6888th Central Postal Battalion which was created after several African American organizations pressed the U.S. War Department to extend the opportunity for overseas service to African American WACs, the War Department gathered eight hundred and twenty-four African American women from various services and created the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion (Six Triple Eight.) In 1944, Davis was sent to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, to train for overseas deployment, and in January 1945, Davis and the other Six Triple Eight's boarded a train for Camp Shanks, New York, where they then boarded the former ocean liner ÃŽle de France, and sailed for Glasgow, Scotland; arriving on 14 February 1945. The Six Triple Eight then traveled by train to Birmingham, England, where they participated in a military parade for Lieutenant General John C. H. Lee, an early and outspoken proponent of racial integration of the U.S. armed forces. While in Birmingham, Davis worked in a warehouse, sorting a large backlog of letters and packages. When she was not working with the postal unit, Davis was assigned to drive the staff car, ferrying various officers and captains to their destinations. Just after Victory in Europe Day in May 1945, on 9 June, Davis sailed with the 6888th from England to Le Havre, France, and traveled by train to Rouen, France, where she again sorted mail. While in France, Davis had the opportunity to become good friends with locals, who taught her about the city, about themselves, and about their way of life. In October 1945, Davis and the Six Triple Eight were transferred to Paris, France. In December 1945, Davis left France and returned to the United States, landing at Fort Dix, New Jersey. Although she had a desire to stay in the Women's Army Corps, Davis also wanted to be at home with her mother in Virginia, so she left the army in 1948, with two years and four months of service. In 1953, Davis began a three-year art and design program at Traphagen School of Fashion in New York City, where she encountered prejudice from several instructors who did not want her there because of her race. After graduating and answering a newspaper advertisement for a children's clothing designer, Davis began a thirty-year career with clothier Glen of Michigan in New York City.