Opal Doris Wade was born on March 17, 1920, in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. She was identified as Black in the 1950 Census. Her father was Wilford E. Brown. 

Opal enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps on March 31, 1943, and again on September 1, 1943, during World War II. She initially served as a Private and later achieved the rank of Corporal in the United States Army. Opal Doris Wade served in the all-Black, all-female 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion—known as the “Six Triple Eight.” Formed during World War II, the unit’s mission was to clear massive backlogs of undelivered mail to U.S. military personnel across Europe, an essential task for morale. Working in three eight-hour shifts around the clock, the 6888th processed roughly 65,000 pieces of mail per shift. Wade and her battalion were stationed in Birmingham, England (Feb 1945), where they tackled a 17-million-piece backlog; Rouen, France (from June 1945), where they cleared another large accumulation and participated in a Joan of Arc parade; and Paris, France (Oct 1945–early 1946), continuing postal operations until the unit returned to the U.S. for demobilization. Through this work, Wade directly contributed to restoring vital connections between troops and their loved ones. Her enlistment location was Oklahoma, and she was honorably discharged on March 19, 1946. Specific details about her unit or station assignments are not provided. 

Before her military service, Opal worked in hotels and restaurants in roles such as maids and housemen, according to Army enlistment records. After her service, she lived in Los Angeles, where she was listed in the 1950 Census as keeping house. 

Opal was married to Aaron Cornelius Wade, but by 1950, they were recorded as divorced. She had a daughter named Karen V. Wade. 

Opal Doris Wade passed away on November 7, 1972, in Los Angeles, California. Her service in both the Women’s Army Corps and the U.S. Army during World War II reflects her commitment and contribution during a time when opportunities for African American women in the military were limited. 

This biography was researched and written by students as part of the Digital Veterans Legacy Project at Loyola Marymount University, funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Cemetery Administration. 

OPAL DORIS WADE

Service

CPL

Resting Place

34.06221851, -118.45463593

Mementos

Tributes

Word Cloud

undefined

Milestones

Mementos

Historical Documents

Veteran programs and services

More VA resources

Get VA updates

In crisis? Get help now

Contact us