A Milwaukee native was honored in a special D-Day ceremony to commemorate the first and only female African American unit deployed overseas during World War II.
Anna Mae Robertson, 95, of Milwaukee is one of only seven living members. She was honored at a special ceremony at the War Memorial Center.
The female heroes largely have been ignored, but they are in the spotlight thanks to a documentary called "Six Triple Eight."
Six Triple Eight was the nickname for the only black female battalion that served in Europe during World War II. They were deployed to England to sort through a backlog of mail.
"This film is part of a broader narrative to serve the legacy of the Six Triple Eight," said producer and Retired Col. Edna Cummings.
A Gold Medal bill has been introduced by Rep. Gwen Moore of Wisconsin.
The documentary explains that despite facing racism and sexism, the women managed to sort through 7 million pieces of mail, giving soldiers a much needed connection with loved ones on the home front.
