A good article. My first mother knew her daughter's father was a US serviceman with the US Air Force but not which one. She gave the wrong man's name on forms so from 1994, for 28 years, I researched the wrong man, the wrong family. At 70 I did a DNA test and discovered who my first father actually was. By then he was dead. Ironically the other serviceman is still alive
It sounds like you and I have a lot in common (thinking of your comments on my Beacon Lodge post as well). I tested in 2013. My biological father died in 2000. Do you have contact with half siblings?
We do! Brother and sister in Toronto (both visited separately from England) and sister and 4 brothers in the States (not met). My sisters and I are often in touch online and sometimes also one US brother. One sister came to stay with me in the UK. Rejected numerous times by first mother.
Like others, this whole community was unknown to me before reading your clear discussion and narrative, Jane. Great work and service.
And thanks, especially, for including the resources we can direct people to, but also amplify in our own work. I imagine the WWII war babes are perhaps the oldest seekers, but there must be so many more from more recent wars and conflicts who will seek their answers in the years to come.
Thanks Lori. Yes I expect there will always be people born in these sorts of circumstances both during conflicts and during peacetime where men are stationed away from home. Fortunately, DNA testing and access to records has made the searches a bit easier in most cases.
I've read books about the war babies, but Jane your post shows the difficulties that are never shown in a novel. I can see now how difficult it must have been for these war babies to trace their families, particularly before DNA. You research subject show very clearly the steps you took, and as I don't know much about DNA, I found it very interesting to follow.
Thank you for doing this work. I did not anything about these people or that there were organizations to help them find their families. thank you for sharing!
I have done very little in comparison to some people who have worked, and continue to work, tirelessly in this space. It is certainly something that needs to be known about especially for those needing to search (which is really why I wrote about it). There have been some wonderful reunion stories over the years ... Not all stories have a happy ending of course!
I visited Bora Bora some years ago and discovered that that island was the actual setting for the book and movie “South Pacific.” Many war babies were left behind. It is an incredibly fascinating and sad chronicle of the topic. The natives to this day are kind wonderful people and do not seem to hold any grudge against Americans. Quite the opposite, they seem to welcome the visiting Americans. The French who “own” the island however, maybe not so much.
A good article. My first mother knew her daughter's father was a US serviceman with the US Air Force but not which one. She gave the wrong man's name on forms so from 1994, for 28 years, I researched the wrong man, the wrong family. At 70 I did a DNA test and discovered who my first father actually was. By then he was dead. Ironically the other serviceman is still alive
It sounds like you and I have a lot in common (thinking of your comments on my Beacon Lodge post as well). I tested in 2013. My biological father died in 2000. Do you have contact with half siblings?
We do! Brother and sister in Toronto (both visited separately from England) and sister and 4 brothers in the States (not met). My sisters and I are often in touch online and sometimes also one US brother. One sister came to stay with me in the UK. Rejected numerous times by first mother.
I am glad we have made the connection. I will send you a private direct message rather than continuing to post here
Like others, this whole community was unknown to me before reading your clear discussion and narrative, Jane. Great work and service.
And thanks, especially, for including the resources we can direct people to, but also amplify in our own work. I imagine the WWII war babes are perhaps the oldest seekers, but there must be so many more from more recent wars and conflicts who will seek their answers in the years to come.
Thanks Lori. Yes I expect there will always be people born in these sorts of circumstances both during conflicts and during peacetime where men are stationed away from home. Fortunately, DNA testing and access to records has made the searches a bit easier in most cases.
I've read books about the war babies, but Jane your post shows the difficulties that are never shown in a novel. I can see now how difficult it must have been for these war babies to trace their families, particularly before DNA. You research subject show very clearly the steps you took, and as I don't know much about DNA, I found it very interesting to follow.
Thanks Jennifer. The example shown there is a very straightforward one compared to some.
I have a War Babe in my family who has contact with the family in the United States
That's great that she has contact.
Thank you for doing this work. I did not anything about these people or that there were organizations to help them find their families. thank you for sharing!
I have done very little in comparison to some people who have worked, and continue to work, tirelessly in this space. It is certainly something that needs to be known about especially for those needing to search (which is really why I wrote about it). There have been some wonderful reunion stories over the years ... Not all stories have a happy ending of course!
Yes, another reason it's best to give people the tools to do the work themselves... they can choose to discover what they want to know.
Fascinating. I had no idea that these organizations existed. I love learning things like this. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks. You are welcome!
What an interesting pursuit. You are doing wonderful work.
Thanks. Not something much now but certainly in the past.
I visited Bora Bora some years ago and discovered that that island was the actual setting for the book and movie “South Pacific.” Many war babies were left behind. It is an incredibly fascinating and sad chronicle of the topic. The natives to this day are kind wonderful people and do not seem to hold any grudge against Americans. Quite the opposite, they seem to welcome the visiting Americans. The French who “own” the island however, maybe not so much.