War is something most people likely want to forget. But there was something about the time K.T. Robbins’ spent in France as a soldier during World War II that he never wanted to forget.
That something was a girl he met in Briey, northeastern France in 1944 named Jeannine Ganaye.
Ganaye was Robbins’ first love.
“She’s just a sweet girl,” he told France 2 TV. “I think she loved me.”
Robbins was 97 when he visited Normandy in 2019 for the 75th anniversary of D-Day. It was then that he made a wish to be reunited with Ganaye.
Robbins was working as a baker for his fellow soldiers when he met Ganaye. The two spent three months together before falling in love.
That love was interrupted when he was called to fight on the front lines.
He planned to come back for Ganaye but that didn’t end up happening.
Instead, he returned to the U.S. after the war and eventually married, as did Ganaye who waited five years for his return.
Robbins, a widower, was very surprised to learn that Ganaye, a widow, was alive at age 92 and living in a retirement home in France.
They ended up being reunited for the first time in 75 years on June 8.
“I always loved you. I always loved you. You never got out of my heart,” Robbins told her during their meeting, showing her a photo that he kept of her all those years.
She admitted that she also thought of him often over the years.
“When he left in the truck, I cried. I was very sad. I hoped he would come back after the war,” she said in French, according to ABC News.
Apparently, sparks were flying when they were reunited at Ganaye’s nursing home.
“Imagine seeing somebody 75 years after you met her, and when you see her the love is right there again,” Robbins said, according to Commercial Appeal. “Just wow. It was tremendous.”
Robbins and Ganaye’s story went viral and captured hearts around the world.
Among them was a Las Vegas businessman who wanted to pay for Ganyae’s trip to visit Robbins in Mississippi.
Manny Cordova, the owner of Ballistic & Explosive Detection Dogs, said their story reminded him of his father who served in Toyko during WWII.
“The story struck some personal chords,” Cordova said. “This is just my way of giving back. Some people give to the Red Cross and give blood, but this is just something that I do.”
Robbins invited Ganaye and her family to stay at his Mississippi home.
“I told her family to bring her over here,” he said. “We’ll take care of her, and we’ll get to enjoy each other for a while. We’ll take them out, we’ll take them to Elvis – got to take them to Graceland.”
More than 6.7 million people watch France 24 English’s video of Robbins and Ganaye’s story.
“When he found out he was going to see her again and he was so happy he kissed the reporter on the head. Such a sweet man,” wrote one YouTuber.
Learn more about their love story and heartwarming reunion in the video below!
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