The Sixth Street Museum District Observes Women’s History Month by Celebrating the Women of the 6th Street USO

The Sixth Street Museum District will observe Women History Month with a program, Celebrating the Women of the East 6th St. USO on Tuesday, March 11 at 5:30 p.m. at the African American Military History Museum.
 
“Uncovering the roles and contributions of Black Americans during WWII is a current trend among historians,” said Jerra Runnels, historian and assistant to the directors at the Center for the Study of the National Guard at The University of Southern Mississippi. “Still, many do not include the contributions of Black women in the historical narrative.”
 
Celebrating the Women of the East 6^th Street USO will show the critical war work women performed at the East 6^th Street USO in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, which served Black soldiers at Camp Shelby, the second largest Army camp in the country.
 
One of the most active groups at the USO was the Women’s Army for National Defense, or the WAND. This group of twenty women, comprised mainly of club women and Eureka educators, worked tirelessly to ensure Black soldiers at Camp Shelby had the resources they needed during wartime while helping fight for Double Victory. The Hattiesburg WAND chapter was one of the most active in the country.
 
“We have enjoyed working with Jerra and are excited for her to share additional insight on the service of Black women during WWII,” said Vanessa Molden, Operations and Engagement Manager
The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
 
About Jerra Runnels:
Jerra Boatner Runnels is an independent historian. She currently serves as assistant to the directors at the Center for the Study of the National Guard at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) where she helps archive stories of the Mississippi National Guard. Runnels is the 2025 recipient of the Outstanding Thesis Award from the Mississippi Historical Society for her thesis “Black Women in Hattiesburg during World War II: War Work and Community Activism on the Home Front”. The award is for the best thesis on Mississippi history in the last two years. She is a member of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at USM, where she serves on the curriculum committee and teaches classes on women’s history each term. In addition, she leads a Women’s history book club.
Runnels holds a M.A. degree in history with an emphasis in war and society and a M.A. degree in criminal justice from the University of Southern Mississippi.  Jerra is married to James Runnels, a retired Lieutenant Colonel who served 37 years in the Mississippi National Guard, and they share four children and one grandson.