Floor SpeechNeutral2026-06-15

HONORING DR. PAULENE ADRIENNE LEWIS HOPKINS

TaxesDefenseEducationCrime & JusticeVeterans

Context

On 2026-06-15, Representative Brian Babin (R-TX-36) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING DR. PAULENE ADRIENNE LEWIS HOPKINS" in the House.

Full Text

HONORING DR. PAULENE ADRIENNE LEWIS HOPKINS

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 100 (Monday, June 15, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 100 (Monday, June 15, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E579] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING DR. PAULENE ADRIENNE LEWIS HOPKINS ______ HON. BRIAN BABIN of texas in the house of representatives Monday, June 15, 2026 Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and service of Dr. Paulene Adrienne Lewis Hopkins, a distinguished educator, community leader, World War II veteran, and member of the historic 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion--the legendary ``Six Triple Eight.'' Her life exemplified the highest ideals of patriotism, service, perseverance, and leadership. Dr. Hopkins was born on December 13, 1919, in Chambers County, Texas. She was the daughter of Fannie Patterson Lewis and Elbert Lewis and the eldest of five children. Following her mother's death, she moved to Marshall, Texas, where she graduated from Central High School and then attended Wiley College, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. She began her career as an educator in Double Bayou, Texas, where she invested in the lives of young Texans and demonstrated the dedication to public service that would define her life's work. She met and married Mack Henry Hopkins in Marshall before going to New York to attain her master's degree in educational administration from Columbia University. On May 2, 1943, at a pivotal time in World War II, she joined the Women's Army Corps and honorably served until 1946, attaining the rank of Technician Fifth Grade. Most notably, Dr. Hopkins served as a member of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only predominantly African American Women's Army Corps unit deployed overseas during World War II. The women of the Six Triple Eight were assigned one of the most daunting logistical missions of the war: eliminating a backlog of millions of letters and packages destined for American servicemembers and their families. At a time when troop morale was critical to the Allied war effort, these women worked around the clock in difficult conditions to restore communication between soldiers and loved ones. Guided by their famous motto, ``No Mail, Low Morale,'' the members of the 6888th accomplished what many believed impossible. Through efficiency, discipline, and determination, they cleared years of accumulated mail in a matter of months, reconnecting families and boosting the morale of American troops stationed abroad. For her honorable military service, Dr. Hopkins received the American Theater Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and World War II Victory Medal. Yet her greatest military legacy remains her contribution to the success of the Six Triple Eight and her role in a unit whose service has only recently received the national recognition it has long deserved. After the war, Dr. Hopkins continued her pursuit of excellence through education. She went on to serve as a teacher, principal, educational administrator, literacy advocate, and community leader. She devoted decades to helping students achieve their potential and strengthening educational opportunities for others. Upon her retirement, Dr. Hopkins returned to Marshall, Texas, where she remained active in civic and educational affairs. She served on the Wiley College Board of Trustees, the Marshall Independent School District Community Education Advisory Council, the Marshall Planning and Zoning Commission, and numerous community organizations. As Executive Director of the Truitt Ingram Literacy Center, she championed literacy and lifelong learning throughout East Texas. Whether serving schoolchildren in Chambers County, educating future generations in California, or serving her country overseas with the historic Six Triple Eight, Dr. Hopkins consistently answered the call to serve others. Mr. Speaker, the life of Dr. Paulene Adrienne Lewis Hopkins reflects the very best of America. Her service in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion helped sustain the morale of American troops during World War II, while her lifelong commitment to education transformed countless lives. May her life as a pioneering educator, a dedicated community servant, and a proud member of one of the most significant military units in American history continue to inspire generations of Americans for years to come. ____________________

View original source →

HONORING DR. PAULENE ADRIENNE LEWIS HOPKINS Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 100 (Monday, June 15, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 100 (Monday, June 15, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E579] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING DR. PAULENE ADRIENNE LEWIS HOPKINS ______ HON. BRIAN BABIN of texas in the house of representatives Monday, June 15, 2026 Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and service of Dr. Paulene Adrienne Lewis Hopkins, a distinguished educator, community leader, World War II veteran, and member of the historic 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion--the legendary ``Six Triple Eight.'' Her life exemplified the highest ideals of patriotism, service, perseverance, and leadership. Dr. Hopkins was born on December 13, 1919, in Chambers County, Texas. She was the daughter of Fannie Patterson Lewis and Elbert Lewis and the eldest of five children. Following her mother's death, she moved to Marshall, Texas, where she graduated from Central High School and then attended Wiley College, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. She began her career as an educator in Double Bayou, Texas, where she invested in the lives of young Texans and demonstrated the dedication to public service that would define her life's work. She met and married Mack Henry Hopkins in Marshall before going to New York to attain her master's degree in educational administration from Columbia University. On May 2, 1943, at a pivotal time in World War II, she joined the Women's Army Corps and honorably served until 1946, attaining the rank of Technician Fifth Grade. Most notably, Dr. Hopkins served as a member of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only predominantly African American Women's Army Corps unit deployed overseas during World War II. The women of the Six Triple Eight were assigned one of the most daunting logistical missions of the war: eliminating a backlog of millions of letters and packages destined for American servicemembers and their families. At a time when troop morale was critical to the Allied war effort, these women worked around the clock in difficult conditions to restore communication between soldiers and loved ones. Guided by their famous motto, ``No Mail, Low Morale,'' the members of the 6888th accomplished what many believed impossible. Through efficiency, discipline, and determination, they cleared years of accumulated mail in a matter of months, reconnecting families and boosting the morale of American troops stationed abroad. For her honorable military service, Dr. Hopkins received the American Theater Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and World War II Victory Medal. Yet her greatest military legacy remains her contribution to the success of the Six Triple Eight and her role in a unit whose service has only recently received the national recognition it has long deserved. After the war, Dr. Hopkins continued her pursuit of excellence through education. She went on to serve as a teacher, principal, educational administrator, literacy advocate, and community leader. She devoted decades to helping students achieve their potential and strengthening educational opportunities for others. Upon her retirement, Dr. Hopkins returned to Marshall, Texas, where she remained active in civic and educational affairs. She served on the Wiley College Board of Trustees, the Marshall Independent School District Community Education Advisory Council, the Marshall Planning and Zoning Commission, and numerous community organizations. As Executive Director of the Truitt Ingram Literacy Center, she championed literacy and lifelong learning throughout East Texas. Whether serving schoolchildren in Chambers County, educating future generations in California, or serving her country overseas with the historic Six Triple Eight, Dr. Hopkins consistently answered the call to serve others. Mr. Speaker, the life of Dr. Paulene Adrienne Lewis Hopkins reflects the very best of America. Her service in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion helped sustain the morale of American troops during World War II, while her lifelong commitment to education transformed countless lives. May her life as a pioneering educator, a dedicated community servant, and a proud member of one of the most significant military units in American history continue to inspire generations of Americans for years to come. ____________________