The Story of Lt. Col. Charity Adams and the Six Triple Eight

We are in Richmond, Virginia near Fort Gregg-Adams, formerly known as Fort Lee. On 27 April 2023 the name of Fort Lee was changed to Fort Gregg-Adams after two African American officers Lt. Gen. Arthur J. Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams.The name change was part of an effort to rename military assets associated with the Confederacy. Fort Gregg-Adams is the first base named for African Americans. Charity Adams is a very inspirational person. I recommend watching the 2024 movie, “The Six Triple Eight” on Netflix about Lt. Col Charity Adam’s acomplishments.

Charity Adams was born on December 5, 1918, in Kittrell, North Carolina, and grew up in Columbia, South Carolina. She graduated from Booker T. Washington High School as valedictorian and from Wilberforce University in Ohio in 1938, majoring in math and physics. After graduation, she returned to Columbia, where she taught mathematics at the local high school while studying part-time for a M.A. degree in psychology at the Ohio State University, receiving her master’s degree in 1946.

Adams enlisted in the U.S. Army’s Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) in July 1942. She was the first African-American woman to be an officer in the WAAC and was the commanding officer of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, which was made up of African-American women serving overseas during World War II.. The 6888 was stationed first in Edgbaston, a suburb of Birmingham, England. Three months later they were moved to Rouen, France and then to Paris. They were responsible for the delivery of millions of pieces of mail to soldiers during World War II. Wikipedia

Mail written to the troops would be sent overseas to Europe and processed by a postal battalion, but by 1945 multiple warehouses in Birmingham, England contained mail for soldiers that had not been distributed. The backlog would take six months to process. At the time, there were about 7 million American soldiers and government workers in Europe. Service members were frustrated about not receiving their letters.

In the waning months of World War II, the 855 women of color who comprised the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion — 824 enlisted Soldiers and 31 officers — completed a time-sensitive mission in the European Theater of Operations. Army leadership believed their success would be key to boosting morale amongst the 7 million war-weary American service members, U.S. Government personnel, and Red Cross workers stationed throughout Europe in 1945. The mission? To label, sort, and clear millions of pieces of mail — including letters, photographs, and gifts — that had been stockpiled and left languishing in warehouses for months, even years. One general predicted it would take six months to process the massive backlog of undelivered mail, yet the battalion, nicknamed “Six Triple Eight,” managed to do it in just three. (National Museum of the U.S. Army)

February 22, 2025 0

The Lost Cause

On Wednesday we visited the Virginia Museum of History and Culture (VMHC) in Richmond. I I had very mixed feelings when I saw the VMHC had a Lost Cause room. However, I do think it is important not to forget history lest we repeat it. I believe it was truthfully done, the murals, statue and other artifacts on display with plaques telling the truth and dispelling myths.

I learned that in 2020, the Virginia General Assembly voted to remove Robert E. Lee from the U.S. Capitol and replace him with a state of Civil Rights Activist Barbara Johns (later Powell). At age 16, this Virginian led a student protest of inferior conditions in her Black high school that ultimately culminated in Brown v. Board of Education (1954).the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision declaring segregation unconstitutional.

February 22, 2025 1

Stonewall Jackson’s Lost Arm

We saw this sign along I95 on the way to Richmond, VA., “Stonewall Jackson Death Site”. Seems like peculiar wording and got us wondering how Stonewall Jackson did die. Did he die in battle during the Civil War? Apparently, he was accidentally fired upon by his own troops, the 18th North Carolina Infantry Regiment, while reconnoitering with members of his staff. He lost his left arm to amputation. Weakened by his wounds, he died of pneumonia eight days later. Jackson’s death proved a severe setback for the Confederacy

Another interesting story (I can’t attest to the truth of it) is that Union Troops dug up his arm during the Battle of the Wilderness in 1864. Another story suggests that U.S. Marines visiting the area in 1921 also dug up and reburied the arm. While these stories are difficult to substantiate, they confirm that Jackson’s arm has become a point of curiosity over time. In 1998, archaeologists working for the National Park Service investigated the area but did not find a specific burial site.

Not sure why there is such interest in Stonewall Jackson’s arm. Maybe we will have to visit this national park site to find out more.

February 20, 2025 0

Silver Spring, Md: Number One Place for Familes

Yesterday we arrived in Silver Spring, Md, a suburb of Washington, DC. to visit friends. They love Silver Spring for its diversity and proximity to Washington DC. They live very near Rock Creek Park, an 1,754 acre national park that stretches from Silver Spring into Washington DC. Matt, who works for the State Dept., has an 11 mile bike ride in to work.

In 2024, Fortune magazine rated Silver Spring, Md as number one on its list of the 50 best places to live for families in the United States,“Silver Spring’s top ranking as a family-friendly home speaks volumes about the quality of life we offer,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. Elrich highlighted aspects of Silver Spring- the Recreation and Aquatic Center, Silver Spring Jazz Festival, the Silver Spring Blues Festival, numerous international festivals, robust public transportation and diversity. Silver Spring residents echoed many of Elrich’s comments–it’s close enough to Washington, D.C., to enjoy the city, while having its own amenities, tight-knit community and excellent schools. (Bethesdamagazine.com)

And it is true that Silver Spring ( and the whole of Montgomery County) could not be more diverse. According to the 2020 census (and our observation) Silver Spring is, in fact, a very diverse community. Thirty three percent are White (non-Hispanic), 28% are Black, 28% identified as Hispanic and 7% were Asian. Prior to the arrival of Europeans, present-day Silver Spring was inhabited by various Indigenous people for approximately 10,000 years, including the Piscataway, an Algonquian-speaking people. Now the Native American population in Silver Spring is less than 1%.

Thirty-six percent of the 81,000 residents were born outside of the United States, which is higher than the national average of 13.9%. Most of the foreign born hail from El Salvador, Ethiopia, India, and China.

One of the reasons that Silver Spring is so ethnically diverse is the presence of the International Rescue Committee, that works in 40 countries worldwide and 28 cities in the U.S. to help people affected by humanitarian crisis to survive, recover and rebuild their lives. (IRS website).

With discussions on racial and ethnic equality taking center stage in recent years, WalletHub analyzed America’s current cultural makeup. This study compared over 500 of the largest U.S. cities across three key indicators of ethnic diversity, focusing on factors such as residents’ ethnicity and race, language usage, and birthplace. Gaithersburg, Germantown, and Silver Spring, all in Montgomery County, MD are in the top five of WalletHub’s “Most Diverse Cities 2024”.

“People who live in ethnically diverse cities have the opportunity to experience new cultures, languages, foods and viewpoints, allowing them to learn more about the world,” WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe said. “People who grow up in diverse cities also are less likely to develop prejudiced views of people who are different from them. In addition, cities benefit from the unique skill sets that people of different cultures and national origins bring to the table.”

My impression is that Silver Spring is truely a good place to live. We are looking forward to going back for a visit.

February 19, 2025 0

What the heck is an Iron Bloomery?

Iron making evolved over a few thousand years. Using the ancient “bloomery” method, iron ore was converted directly into wrought iron by heating the ore while at the same time melting the ore’s impurities and squeezing them out with hand hammers. The bloomery furnace differs from a modern blast furnace because it does not actually melt iron. The bloomery operates at lower temperatures but still achieves the same result of separating metallic iron from undesirable elements.

We passed this iron bloomer ruin by the side of the road near PawPaw, West Virginia.

It was built in 1838, and produced up to 8500 tons of iron annually that was carried on rafts and flatboats down the Cacapon River, a tributary of the Potomac River.

February 19, 2025 0

Time to head out on our 2025 Southern Adventure

Well, it is that time of year where we all get little cabin fever, wishing for warmth and sunshine. We will take four or five weeks to venture South to Florida and back. We plan to visit friends and places we have never been. This year, we will focus on finding out the truth about immigration in Southern cities and rural communities by visiting first hand. Are there success stories where immigrants have helped uplift a community? What are the obstacles to resettling immigrants successfully? And what are the impact of Trump 2.0 policies really? I’ll let you know what we find out. Stay tuned.

February 17, 2025 0

Jigonhsasee, Mother of Peace

Today I learned about Jigonhsasee, the Haudenosaunee Mother of Peace. According to Wikipedia, she was known for her hospitality to warriors as they traveled to and from battlegrounds and their homes. At her hearth, warriors of the various factions could come in peace. While they ate her food, she acted as counsel and learned their hearts.

It is in this context that the Great Peacemaker came to her and described his vision for a peace to be built upon a confederacy of the warring nations. She said this sounded good but asked what form it would take. He replied, “It will take the form of the longhouse in which there are many hearths, one for each family, yet all live as one household under one chief mother. They shall have one mind and live under one law. Thinking will replace killing, and there shall be one commonwealth.”^[3^.

Longhouse at Ganondagan State Historic Site

The woman recognized the power in peace. The Great Peacemaker gave her the task of assigning the men to different positions at the peace gathering, and to women the power to choose the chiefs of the longhouse. He called her Mother of Nations, as she was the first ally of his peace movement.

This seems very relevant in today’s world. Who is our current day Mother of Nations?

November 21, 2024 1

The Champagne of Drinking Water

We stopped to take a walk on the Ashokan Reservoir Promenade, a walking and bicycle trail around the edge of this mammoth 8,300 acre reservoir that supplies 40 percent of New York City drinking water. This project finished in 1915 was an engineering marvel at the time. It consists of 5.5 miles of dams and dykes within the Esopus Creek drainage in the Catskill Mountains. The water travels under the Hudson river via the 92 mile Catskill Aqueduct to New York City by gravity alone. The water is so clean that it does not require filtration and only minimal treatment is needed.

To build the Ashokan Reservoir, thousands of acres of farmland were submerged.^[3] The impoundment covered 12 communities located in a valley where farming, logging, and quarrying prevailed. Approximately 2,000 residents^[2] along with roads, homes, shops, farms, churches, and mills were either moved or abandoned, but most of them were torn down. The area that became the West Basin of the reservoir contained 504 dwellings, nine blacksmith shops, 35 stores, 10 churches, 10 schools, seven sawmills and a gristmill.^[3] Several of these communities were re-established in nearby locations. Nearly twelve and a half miles (20.1 km) of a local railroad line (the Ulster and Delaware Railroad) was moved and cemeteries were relocated. (Wikipedia)

There are 1 million acres of land in the Catskill/Delaware Watershed, including villages, farms, homes and businesses. The watershed is both public and private. The state’s Catskill Park consists of 300,000 acres designated as a “forever wild” state forest preserve. To keep the water clean, an historic agreement was signed in 1997 between New York City, upstate towns, counties and villages and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This agreement includes programs, paid for by New York City to replace septic systems, build new community wastewater treatment facilities, provide sand and salt storage buildings, fund educational projects and support appropriate economic development in the area. Other programs established under a 1994 partnership between New York City and the watershed agricultural community help farmers and forest owners protect water quality while preserving their way of life. These programs are administered by the non-profit Watershed Agricultural Council. Learning about these partnerships made me wonder why something similar is not in place to protect the Finger Lakes where we live?

September 29, 2024 0

Andes, New York

We took a short couple day trip to the Hudson River Valley this week via the scenic Rt. 28 route through the Catskills. We were pleasantly surprised by peak foliage due to the higher elevation.

We came across Andes, New York (population 1, 114), perhaps the smallest town in the Catskills. We were happy to see the plethora of Harris/ Walz yard signs lining Main St. in an otherwise politically red Delaware County.

Main street Andes is lined with quaint boutiques and restaurants. The town has been successfully marketed as a tourist destination for New York City. We are told the town fills up on weekends, so we recommend coming on a weekday during peak tourist season. It is a great place to hike, fish, ski or just enjoy the outdoors.

We had dinner at the Andes Hotel, where there is a jovial crowd of locals filling up the porch and bar in the evening. The food was decent.

We stayed at The Doll House, a fully renovated victorian house on Main St. In the hamlet.

We recommend this treasure if you are planning a get away in the Catskills.

September 28, 2024 0

Longwood Gardens

On the last day of our trip we visited Longwood Gardens near Philadelphia. A visit to this place has been on John’s bucket list for a long time and it did not disappoint. We plan another visit when more is in bloom outside. I will leave you with a collage of beauty until next trip. Thank you for adventuring with us!

March 23, 2024 0