World war II WAR BRIDES PROJECT
From the decks of U.S. troop ships in ports around the world, women waved goodbye to their families and life as they knew it. From England to Australia and from Germany to Japan, the war brides of World War II found love during the darkest times. An estimated 1 million women from around the world married U.S. soldiers between 1942 and 1952, according to the World War II War Brides Association. The U.S. War Brides Act of December 28, 1945 and later laws created an avenue for the brides and their children to immigrate to the U.S. Each war bride’s experience was unique. Some were welcomed while others were vilified. Some marriages stood the test of time while others crumbled. All represent bravery, hope, and resilience.
War Brides: The Women of World War II Reflect on the Journeys That Changed Their Lives was my thesis project during my time at Johns Hopkins University in the MA in Writing program. It’s a collection of profiles about these women and essays about my journey finding them. I was honored to receive the program’s Outstanding Achievement Award in Nonfiction upon graduation for my work.
“I was the shy one in the family. For me to even contemplate leaving my family and my home meant I was smitten.”
“I was ready to get back on the ship and tell them I wanted to go home.”
HEAR SOME OF THEIR STORIES
Get a glimpse into my journey finding and interviewing some of the war brides by watching the video below that I made following a 2019 war brides reunion.
listen to an Excerpt
During Johns Hopkins University’s May 2020 Thesis Reading I shared a portion of my manuscript. Skip to the 12 minute 35 second mark to listen to an excerpt.
