College Voices
WWII Veteran Reunites With French Love on D-Day Anniversary After Living 75 Years Apart
A fairy tale love story always ends in a happy ending. This story between an American man and French woman meeting during WWII and then reuniting 70 years later during D-Day Anniversary, is one of the most memorable.
K.T. (Kara Troy) Robbins, a 97-years-old WWII Veteran, was in France for the commemorative ceremonies marking the 75th anniversary of D-Day, when he happened to share a photo of a girl he had met 70 years before in that very place. Robbins had no idea that with just that photo, journalist would be able to track her down.
Jeannine Pierson, 92-years-old, said, “When he left in the truck, I cried, of course, I was very sad. I wish after the war he hadn’t returned to America.”
The couple had met in 1944 when Robins was stationed in Briey, France with his regiment. They had fallen in love, only to be separated when Robins was deployed to the eastern front. Pierson was only 18 years old and Robins only 24 at the time. Though Robins and Pierson promised that their goodbye was temporary, they were both unsure if they would ever meet again.
After the war, Robbins was sent back to America, where he eventually got married and began work at a hardware store. Pierson also moved on with her life in France. She got married and had five kids of her own. But though they were apart for so long, both kept their hopes of reuniting. Pierson even began learning English in the chance that Robbins would return one day.
Robins told Pierson, “I always loved you. You never got out of my heart.”
He then took out the picture of her that he had saved all those years. This tear-jerking moment is inspiring many to appreciate the time they have with their own loved ones. While the couple said goodbye for the second time, Robins again promised that their goodbye is only temporary and that they would meet again. “Jeannine, I love you girl,” Robins said as they kiss and hold each-other before their farewell once again.
By: Sydney Murphy
