Perry, Constance Oral History

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Constance "Connye" Perry was born on October 19, 1923 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Connye came from a family of five siblings, two sisters and three brothers. Connye attended Armstrong High School and worked at night while going to school. She had a year and a half to go before she graduated but saw an ad that said "Uncle Sam needs YOU! Join the WACs" and she did. Since Connye was only 19 years old she needed her parents to sign consent forms allowing her to enlist. Her mother did agree and signed the forms and from there, Connye's Army career began. Connye enlisted on August 21, 1944 and was sent to basic training in Des Moines, Iowa for six weeks. Upon completion of basic, Connye was assigned to Sioux Falls, South Dakota as a confidential file clerk. Connye learned that the Army was forming a group of black women to go overseas and replace a postal unit and she was interested. Even though Connye was told she was to young to be shipped overseas, she persisted. Connye soon became part of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion which was an all black battalion of the Women's Army Corps. The 6888th had 855 black women, both enlisted and officers, and was led by Major Charity Adams Earley. It was the only all-black, all-female battalion overseas during World War II. Connye was honorably discharged from the Army on August 24, 1946. Connye summed up her experience in the Army as a privilege to serve her country and for the Army instilling in her the sense of responsibility and awareness for the value of being on time. Connye lived a full life. She had 4 marriages, 4 children, 11 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren. She died on April 16, 2014 a proud Army veteran.