Perry filmed quickly, eager to show Mrs. Lena Derriecott Bell King, one of the last surviving members of the unit, the final cut of her story. Kerry Washington marveled at Perry's "efficiency" and brisk pace: " 'Well-oiled machine' doesn't even begin to describe it," she says, smiling at the memory. Like the women of the Six Triple Eight, Perry completed his mission, and he traveled to see King at her Las Vegas home before she died on Jan. 18, 2024, at age 100. He showed her the film on his iPad. "We sat and watched, and she was saluting the iPad and right back in the moment," recalls Perry. "After, she cried and said, 'Thank you for letting the world know that Black women contributed.' "
Officials expected the unit's mission to take about six months in each location where they were assigned. Instead, it took them only three. Now, 77 years later, a measure has been signed into law that will give the unit the Congressional Gold Medal.
The women worked 24 hours a day divided into three shifts to sift, sort and redirect the backlog. Since they were a self-contained unit, they also ran their own supply room, motor pool and mess hall.
Several moments from the movie are taken directly from documented and real-life events. Kerry Washington explained that one of those real-life moments was when Adams was confronted by a superior officer who told her he would send a white officer to show her how to run her unit, to which Adams replied, "Over my dead body."
In addition to the physical challenges, they faced racism and misogyny within the Army. According to the battalion's historical committee, they were not "allowed to sleep, shower or eat in the same facilities as the other female personnel and soldiers."