On October 29, 2022, Romay Davis turned 103-years old. She is the oldest surviving member of the “SixTripleEight.”

Davis was born on October 29, 1919, and grew up in Virginia with her five brothers, all of whom served during World War II. When the war started, Davis worked for the United States Mint. In 1943, she enlisted into the Women’s Army Corps.  She later joined the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, known as the “SixTripleEight,” and was part of the 855 all-black female battalion to serve overseas during the war, first in Birmingham, England, then Rouen and Paris in France.

Sailing overseas

At the 2022 Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) conference in Montgomery, AL, Davis spoke of sailing overseas on the SS Ile de France. The unit arrived in Glasgow, Scotland, on February 13, 1945, and set up quarters at the King Edward School in Birmingham, England. Davis served as a truck driver in the unit throughout the war.

Discharge, G.I. Bill, and 2nd degree blackbelt

Davis was honorably discharged in November 1945 and used her G.I. Bill benefits to attend the Traphagen School of Fashion in New York. She worked for the company Glen of Michigan as a designer for over 30 years. At 61, she returned to school at New York University and earned a master’s degree in technology and industrial education.

According to an article in People, Davis earned a Taekwondo black belt in her 70s and then spent two decades in her 80s and 90s stocking shelves for the Winn-Dixie grocery chain in Montgomery. She also paints and writes poetry.

“Women are as capable, if I said that correctly, as men are in their chosen positions,” she says. “So, if you give them more chance — and Black women especially, because they haven’t had the same opportunity — give them a chance and see what they can do. Ask them.”

Happy Birthday, Romay Davis!

Romay Davis Awards and Accolades

On March 14, 2022, President Biden signed the Six Triple Eight Congressional Gold Medal Act into law.

In June 2022, Davis received a Silver Service Medallion from the National WWII Museum during a ceremony in New Orleans. According to the museum website, the medallion is awarded to “Veterans and those with a direct connection to World War II who have served our country with distinction and continue to lead by example.”

On October 29, 2021, the city of Montgomery, Alabama honored her with a parade and declared her birthday “Romay Davis Day.”

In 2020, Southeastern Grocers, Inc., parent company of Winn Dixie, initiated the “Romay Davis Belonging, Inclusion and Diversity Grant” with the goal of funding minority-supporting organizations.

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10 Comments

  1. Col Moore, USAF November 6, 2022 at 22:25

    Thank you Ms Roman Davis for paving the way, for staying the course and for your outstanding service to the United States.

  2. Melissa S November 5, 2022 at 16:56

    Thank you for serving Romay. It would be an honor to be in your presence!

  3. Mickie Baria November 5, 2022 at 11:29

    Happy Birthday and Congratulations on all the things you have accomplished and achieved in your lifetime! There are a lot of good things to be said about someone like you.

  4. Brianna Weimer November 4, 2022 at 21:55

    Thank You My Sister In Arms for Your Service to Our Country, and the Great Life You have lived!!!!!

  5. Joe November 2, 2022 at 20:22

    Thank you for always being there for us it’s really great to hear every thing about you. Thank you for your service

  6. Bill Lawellin October 30, 2022 at 12:39

    What a story! I would bow if I had the pleasure of meeting Romay. I decided to bow anyway. HAPPY BIRTHDAY

  7. Donald Smith October 29, 2022 at 18:50

    Why is someone from the National Cemetery Administration writing this story? Shouldn’t that person be attending to the deceased, not the living? Or, is NCA tracking her so they can know when she dies?

    Any way a person looks at it, an NCA person writing about the living is creepy. It also seems outside their mission scope, which is at https://www.cem.va.gov/about/index.asp#:~:text=Mission%3A%20NCA%20honors%20Veterans%20and,and%20sacrifice%20to%20our%20Nation.:

    “Mission: NCA honors Veterans and their eligible family members with final resting places in national shrines and with lasting tributes that commemorate their service and sacrifice to our Nation.“

    Maybe Matthew Quinn should get his people doing their job before Congress starts investigating why they’re doing something that is not their job.

    A response in this thread from NCA management would be appreciated on how this is under their mission.

    • JOSEPH GIAMMICHELE October 31, 2022 at 22:33

      OBVIOUSLY MR SMITH IS NOT A VETERAN AND DOESN’T BELIEVE THAT A VETERAN DESERVES RECOGNITION FOR THEIR SERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY. AND SINCE WHEN IS IT WRONG FOR SOMEONE TO RECOGNIZE AND WRITE ABOUT A DESERVING VET. I SAW NOTHING IN THIS ARTICLE THAT INDICATES THAT THE WRITER DID IT AS A PART OF HIS JOB WITH NCA OR AS A PERSON WITH A DESIRE TO GIVE R.ECOGNITION TO THOSE THAT DESERVE IT

      • Marlene Taylor, Veteran November 2, 2022 at 14:07

        Thank you JOSEPH GIAMMICHELE!!! Also… you are correct in stating that “OBVIOUSLY MR SMITH IS NOT A VETERAN AND DOESN’T BELIEVE THAT A VETERAN DESERVES RECOGNITION FOR THEIR SERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY.” And possibly… is Mr. Smith also a MISOGYNIST who especially despises African American women? This marvelous woman, Romay Davis, recently turned 103-years old on October 29, 2022. She is the oldest surviving member of the “SixTripleEight” and deserves every bit of respect currently. Remembering what I endured as a 1970’s Air Force veteran I’m sure she did NOT GET ANY RESPECT from most of the men during 1943, when she enlisted into the Women’s Army Corps.

      • Donald Smith November 2, 2022 at 16:06

        The article says:

        “By James Theres
        Public Affairs Specialist for the National Cemetery Administration”

        Maybe try reading the article. There’s nothing in my comment that says this story shouldn’t be written, just that it’s not the job of someone burying people to write about a birthday. That’s creepy.

        Also, since you’re completely wrong about that, allow me to tell you I’m a combat veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

        Try communicating in complete sentences, sentence case structure, and logical thinking. It does wonders for trying to make a point.

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