Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

A Soldier’s Life by Edna W. Cummings is both a personal memoir of the author’s life in the U.S. military as well as of her and others' efforts in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion’s incredible work during World War II, to receive the recognition and especially the Congressional Gold Medal award they so richly deserved. The author takes you through her life as an “army brat” who moved constantly as a result of her father’s various postings, through to her decision to follow her father’s footsteps into the Army and her subsequent illustrious and groundbreaking career, which ultimately saw her retire from the Army after 26 years as a full Colonel. We follow her incredible journey as a black woman officer, a rarity for the time, through school, ROTC, Officer Training School, personal tragedies, heartbreak, and joy, to postings overseas, and ultimately retirement and becoming a champion for the black women soldiers that made up the 6888 Battalion in World War II.

A Soldier’s Life is a deeply personal memoir, but it is also an essay on the role of women, and especially women of color, in the United States military. As a black woman officer, Edna W. Cummings has experienced firsthand the difficulties faced by female officers in the armed forces. This includes misogyny and sexual harassment, and always having to do more or better than their male and/or white counterparts to achieve recognition and respect. I particularly appreciated the author’s courage and forthrightness in facing the odds stacked against her. Whenever she seemed on the verge of giving up, she dug deep within herself to find a little more fortitude to carry on. As if all this were not enough, the personal tragedy that befell her is a true testament to her character and resolve. The section devoted to the 6888th Battalion was especially fascinating to me, as I had just recently watched a documentary-style movie based on their incredible actions in World War II. When a soldier is in a combat zone, messages of love and support are what keep them alive and sane. What this amazing battalion of black women was able to achieve in sorting out the mess of the mail delivery service in Europe during World Two was nothing short of miraculous and heroic. That it took eighty years for their incredible service to be officially recognized is an indictment of the armed forces in particular and bureaucracy in general. Congratulations to all those incredible women who fought so hard to achieve the Congressional Gold Medal that was finally awarded to the 6888 Battalion. This is a wonderfully inspirational and moving memoir that I highly recommend.