<strong>Sweethearts Separated By WWII Reunite 72 Years Later</strong>

Tearful Goodbye

They had spent the summer together as a young boy and girl but had to say goodbye to one another with tears in their eyes.

They had made beautiful memories together, full of laughs and conversations. It was something they would hold on to forever, both assuming that their love story was over.

When They First Met

Norwood Thomas was 21 when he met 18-year-old Durant Morris in 1942 at a pub in Reading, London.

Joyce and her relatives had to move from London due to the dangers WWII brought. She had never thought she would meet someone she would fall in love with during those horrific times.

Calm Days

Many young American men in their 20s and late teens were sent to Europe to join the fight against Germany, Norwood among them.

The war made for extreme days. Norwood and his brothers in arms decided to make the best of the calm days and found themselves in the town called Reading of Berkshire. He met Joyce his first night there.

Growing Up Fast

They had fallen in love at first sight. His ruggedness and resignation drew Joyce in, fully aware of how inexperienced he was with life.

Being part of the war forced Norwood to grow up fast, having been sent to a new country to fight people as young as he was who he had never met before. And there was even more, to deal with.

Protective

It was apparent to Joyce that Norwood had accepted his fate, picturing him on the front lines fighting for his country despite his fear.

What connected Norwood to Joyce was compassion and wanting to protect her. She had lost people in her life to a war very few understood, and he felt he was there to protect people like her.