Lt. Charity Adams Earley; U.S. Army
U.S. Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) supports congressional efforts to honor Lt. Col. Charity Adams Earley, an Ohioan who became the first black female officer in the U.S. Army’s Women’s Auxiliary Corps (WAC).
The congressman on Aug. 2 signed on as the lead original cosponsor of the bipartisan House Resolution 1399, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH) and cosponsored by 25 other lawmakers to support issuing a commemorative postage stamp in honor of Adams Earley.
Calling Adams Earley “a patriot and a pioneer who represented the very best of Ohio,” Rep. Turner said he’s “proud to partner with Congresswoman Beatty and celebrate Lt. Charity Adams Earley’s service as the highest-ranking black woman officer during World War II.”
Adams Earley — who led the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-black WAC battalion deployed overseas during WWII — moved to Dayton, Ohio, after World War II ended and went on to finish her academic studies at The Ohio State University, completing a master’s degree in vocational psychology. She also raised a family with her husband, Stanley A. Earley, Jr., in Dayton.
In 1982, Adams Earley created the Black Leadership Development Program, which seeks to educate and train African Americans to be community leaders.
She has been recognized by the National Postal Museum, the National Women’s History Museum, the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame, the Smithsonian Institute, the South Carolina Black Hall of Fame, and many other organizations for her pioneering military service and work on promoting opportunities for black Americans. She died on Jan. 13, 2002 at the age of 83 in Dayton.
During the 117th Congress, the Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to the members of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, including posthumously to their commander, Adams Earley, according to the text of the resolution.
Last month, the Dayton Veterans Affairs Medical Center renamed its women’s clinic the Lt. Col. Charity Adams Earley Women’s Clinic.
“Lt. Col. Adams Earley laid the groundwork for today’s integrated military as the top-ranking black woman officer and paved the way for black women in service,” said Rep. Beatty. “Adams Earley — whose bravery, dignity, and devotion to service is apparent in her service to the Army and to young Ohioans — is most deserving of this honor and commemoration.”
Rep. Turner and Rep. Beatty also sent a July 31 letter to the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) requesting that USPS issue a commemorative stamp honoring Adams Earley. The committee has the authority to recommend USPS issue specific commemorative stamps.