Remembering the Resolute Ms. Romay Catherine “Johnny” Johnson Davis and The Six-Triple Eight

By Colonel Eries L.G. Mentzer, USAF Retired

“Who is that?”

I was looking at a photo in the Air University Library of a gorgeous World War II Black female soldier. Lexi Aldridge, the Air University Librarian, enthusiastically replied, “Romay Davis. She is 101 and works at the local Winn Dixie grocer.”

My response was immediate. “Let’s go meet her.”

I never had the chance to visit the Winn Dixie, because the very next day Ms. Romay Catherine “Johnny” Johnson Davis came to Maxwell Air Force Base to meet me. Why? Because Ms. Romay, a former United States Army Private who served in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion in World War II, wanted to see for herself the first Black woman to command the base in her city of Montgomery, Alabama.

I would quickly learn that Ms. Romay was resolute in her actions—no doubt the key to her exceptional 104 years of adventures and happiness. She arrived at the base with Stacia Robinson, her friend of 35 years who previously served as a captain in the United States Air Force. Stacia has long been invested in Ms. Romay’s health and happiness.

Chief Master Sergeant Lee Hoover, my 42nd Air Base Wing Command Chief, joined me in greeting Ms. Romay with flowers. Instantly, we were captivated. First, Ms. Romay was even more striking than her official World War II photo. She was also quite audacious and very funny.

Ms. Romay shared stories of working as a young nurse, following her five brothers into service in World War II, riding a ship for the first time across the ocean (and navigating German submarines and munitions as it made its way to England and then France), and, finally, helping to resolve the United States Army’s wartime overseas mail crisis.

She earned the nickname “Johnny” from her 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion sisters, a play on her maiden name of Johnson.

Ms. Romay’s stories included her return from World War II service to New York. There were no accolades, parades or celebrations. Rather, her beloved uniforms were stolen from her car.

Like the rest of the world, she moved on. While in New York, Ms. Romay began a career in modeling and fashion design that would span 30 years. She lovingly spoke of meeting her husband, Jerry, who was from Alabama and of relocating with him to Montgomery, where she would spend the rest of her life.

In Alabama, Ms. Romay shared her talents in real estate, gardening and painting. She earned her black belt in taekwondo in her 70s, ran a vending machine business, and worked at the Winn Dixie until she was 101—just to connect with her community and exist with purpose.

Her stories were intriguing, colorful and funny. We did not want the meeting to end, but as she would often say, “I’ve got stuff to do.” So, our first meeting ended on her timeline, and we welcomed Ms. Romay as an Honorary Commander of the base, a symbolic title to establish a sustained connection between her and the Maxwell Air Force Base Airmen.

Fast-forward to March 2022. President Biden signed legislation to recognize the 855 women of 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion with the Congressional Gold Medal for their World War II service. On that day, Ms. Romay invited me to her home. Upon my arrival, she said, “Baby, the president is going to give me the Congressional Gold Medal, but I am not going to the White House. You are going to present it to me. Get it together.”

Again, resolute in her actions.

We selected July 26, 2022, as the presentation date, as it marked the 74th anniversary of Executive Order 9981, signed by President Harry S. Truman to desegregate the military. The exemplary service of Ms. Romay and the 6888th paved the way to Executive Order 9981, allowing greater equal opportunity for Black Americans in military service, and greater equal opportunity for me. As the first Black woman to command Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, being able to give back to the World War II generation that persisted to allow more Black women in service remains the highest honor of my career.

On the day of the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony, the United States Army Buffalo Soldier Riders escorted Ms. Romay to the venue. Large flags, hoisted by the City of Montgomery Fire Department, welcomed her. Airmen from the base stood with me rendering salutes in honor of Ms. Romay’s arrival.

She entered City Hall though an honor cordon by the Alabama National Guard and Maxwell Air Force Base Honor Guard, an honor the President grants the most distinguished White House visitors. The ceremony included tributes from General Charles Q. Brown, the first Black man to serve as Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force; Lieutenant General Stayce Harris, who achieved the highest rank of any Black woman in the United States Air Force; Lieutenant General Mary O’Brien, who long served as the lead champion removing barriers for women in service; and Lieutenant General Gwen Bingham, one of the highest-ranking Black women in the United States Army.

The generals all thanked Ms. Romay for paving their path to service. The City of Montgomery Mayor’s Office, Congresswoman Terri Sewell’s Office, the Adjutant General of the Alabama National Guard, the Montgomery Chamber of Commerce, and other local dignitaries made special presentations in Ms. Romay’s honor.

As the ceremony’s host and keynote speaker, I had the honor of highlighting how the service of Ms. Romay and the 6888th made Executive Order 9981 and the Freedom to Serve report possible for generations of Black Americans. Freedom to Serve is the name of the 1950 report President Truman directed after desegregating the military, and it established the Department of Defense’s founding ideals of a fully inclusive military.

As a special tribute for the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony, we sourced every piece of Ms. Romay’s uniform from collectors to include the medals she earned during her service. A World War II footlocker was reimagined as a shadow box to display the collected pieces, replacing what was stolen from Ms. Romay in New York after the war. We also presented Ms. Romay’s Congressional Gold Medal Certificate from the White House.

After the ceremony, Ms. Romay took my hand, saying, “I never thought I would see my uniform again. I never thought anyone would care this much.”

I relinquished command of Maxwell Air Force Base a few days after the ceremony and relocated to a Special Operations base in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, but I maintained my connection with Ms. Romay through calls, updates from friends, and, whenever possible, visits.

One of those visits was at the The National WWII Museum. To preserve her story for future generations, Edna Cummings, the United States Army retired Colonel who led the 6888th Congressional Gold Medal Legislation, and I were humbled to highlight Ms. Romay and the Six Triple Eight in the The National WWII Museum’s special exhibition on women’s military service, Our War Too. The video is currently showing at the museum, and a hologram of Ms. Romay preserves her story for future generations.

Every visit revealed a new, incredible story that always intrigued and made we wonder if I was living my own life to the fullest. Each visit made me wonder if I was worthy of Ms. Romay’s service and sacrifices for our nation.

I last spoke with Ms. Romay by phone as I departed Special Operations in June 2024. She struggled to communicate, limited by a recent stroke. What she could say was as resolute, entertaining, and engaging as always. As I said goodbye, I knew in my heart it was our final goodbye.

Stacia called me about a week later. Ms. Romay had passed peacefully in her sleep. I sat quietly on my back porch, but only for a few minutes. Ms. Romay’s words, “I got stuff to do,” literally moved me. I made a margarita (her favorite cocktail), then prepared my service dress uniform.

At her burial on June 28, 2024, at Fort Mitchell, I rendered a final salute as her brother Stansbury Johnson, also a World War II Congressional Gold Medal recipient for his service as a Montford Point Marine, received the U.S. flag from her casket.

Driving home, I passed other flags. Confederate flags. Nearly 100 years after Ms. Romay’s valiant WWII service—and the distinguished service of all Black Americans in our armed forces—it’s heartbreaking to know those flags still fly.

It was an incredible privilege to experience and to know Ms. Romay, and her story must now persist through us. May her life and service, and the 6888^th, inspire us all to live with purpose, passion, enthusiasm, fearlessness, wit and determination.

Almost a century later, the WWII service of Romay Catherine “Johnny” Johnson Davis continues to inspire, now as a part of Tyler Perry’s new film, Six Triple Eight, which premiered on Netflix December 6, 2024.

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Col. Eries Mentzer is an Air Force Veteran with over 25 years of military service. A wife, mother and self-described “Status Quo Challenger,” she has persisted as often the first, only, or one of the few Black or female leaders in her formations. She is among an elite collective of military officers trusted to lead an American military base, securing the Freedom to Serve for more than 42,000 active duty, guard, reserve, civilian, and military families at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, while leading a three-county, 12-city region with more than $2.1 billion in economic impact. Her passion for advancing the Freedom to Serve (the title of President Truman’s 1950 report on the Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services) led her to find and implement more inclusive policies and practices to excite today’s generations to join or stay in the military. An executive leader and strategic advisor, Eries Mentzer works to identify barriers to service and ensure pride for the past doesn’t impact preparedness for the future. The Truman Library Institute proudly welcomed Eries to its Board of Directors in September 2024.

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