K.T. Robbins was part of the army that fought in Northeastern France during World War II. During this time, something serendipitous happened. He met a lovely French girl in 1944, and she became a part of his life forever.
Jeannine Ganaye was the lovely girl’s name. Robbins and Jeannine fell in love and were together for a short while.
However, the day came when they had to part ways. Robbins was transferred to fight on the Eastern front. After the war, he returned to America, where he started a new life, figuring that he and Jeannine would never see each other again.
She still lingered in his mind, though.
A black-and-white photograph was the only reminder of their time together. The photo dated back to when Robbins was 24 and Jeannine, 18.
Far away in France, Jeannine Ganaye had also started a new life as Mrs. Pierson. But she had a secret wish: to meet Robbins again someday.
Her sole wish became a reality. After 75 years, the lovers were reunited through a French television station’s program to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day occupation on the beaches of Normandy. Robbins was now 97 and Pearson, 92. The special moment of their meeting was too good to be true.
Robbins couldn’t believe his eyes. It was as if he was seeing her for the first time. Suddenly, it was 1944 again. It was just the two of them. They embraced and kissed like a young couple madly in love with each other. All the years spent apart were erased in one moment.
“I always loved you,” Robbins told Pierson as they sat together, talking. “You never got out of my heart.”
“He said he loves me,” Pierson told the reporters in French. “I understood that much.”
The reunion was made possible through the reporters of France 24, a television station. Robbins was interviewed about his experience during World War II. He then showed the photograph of his lady love and told everyone the story of their short-lived romance.
It didn’t take long before the reporters were able to track down Pierson’s location. She was living 40 miles away from the village of Briey, where the couple had first met. The reporters broke the wonderful news to Robbins, and his reaction was priceless.
It wasn’t just the memories of their time together that washed over him. He also recalled the moment of their sudden separation.
Robbins told the reporters he had intended to come back for Pierson. “I told her maybe I’ll come back and take you, but it did not happen like that.”
Hoping that he would come back, Pierson had started learning English after the war.
Pierson told France 24, “When he left in the truck, I cried, of course, I was very sad.” She added, “I wish, after the war, he hadn’t returned to America.”
Both of them lived their own married lives. Lillian, Robbins’ wife of 70 years, passed away in 2015 at age 92. Pierson had also tied the knot in 1949, and she and her husband had five lovely children. Her husband has also breathed his last.
When asked about reuniting while they were younger, Robbins had an honest answer: “You know, when you get married, after that you can’t do it anymore.”
“I’ve always thought about him, thinking maybe he’ll come,” Pierson revealed. “I wish he had come back.”
However, their sweet meeting had to be cut short once again. Robbins needed to attend the D-Day ceremony. This time, though, they promised it wouldn’t be the last time they saw each other.
“Jeannine, I love you girl,” Robbins uttered as they parted ways.
The ways of love are never certain. It is not bound by time or distance. It only knows what’s real.
Watch this beautiful love story unfold in the video below, and share it with your loved ones as well.
