Melancholy Baby: The Unplanned Consequences of the G.I.s' Arrival in Europe for World War II
More than a million American G.I.s were crammed into the UK prior to the invasion of France during World War II. Wherever they landed, the G.I.s took the British population by surprise. Very few people had ever met a real American before. In those days, the U.S. was more remote than Siberia is to the present generation. All anyone knew about Americans had been learned from the silver screen. How could they be resisted? We can only guess at the total number of children that the G.I.s left behind. Figures quoted have varied from 10,000 to 100,000 but there are no official sources on which to base these numbers. Not surprisingly, these children today represent as much of a social cross section as the women who dated the G.I.s. But regardless of background, they all share the common goal of wanting to find the American father who holds the other half of their personal history.

This book relates the social history of the military situation of World War II in Europe. It records how many British were dazzled by and fell in love with American G.I.s who arrived in the U.K. to train for the Invasion of France. Although some married their sweethearts, many more did not. Meanwhile, on the Continent, young women who became pregnant ended up in dire social straits. What is important now is that the children of these liaisons should have the opportunity to learn about the missing half of their heritage. Pamela Winfield, president of TRACE, a nonprofit group that helps these children find missing parents, tells us their stories.

1112049083
Melancholy Baby: The Unplanned Consequences of the G.I.s' Arrival in Europe for World War II
More than a million American G.I.s were crammed into the UK prior to the invasion of France during World War II. Wherever they landed, the G.I.s took the British population by surprise. Very few people had ever met a real American before. In those days, the U.S. was more remote than Siberia is to the present generation. All anyone knew about Americans had been learned from the silver screen. How could they be resisted? We can only guess at the total number of children that the G.I.s left behind. Figures quoted have varied from 10,000 to 100,000 but there are no official sources on which to base these numbers. Not surprisingly, these children today represent as much of a social cross section as the women who dated the G.I.s. But regardless of background, they all share the common goal of wanting to find the American father who holds the other half of their personal history.

This book relates the social history of the military situation of World War II in Europe. It records how many British were dazzled by and fell in love with American G.I.s who arrived in the U.K. to train for the Invasion of France. Although some married their sweethearts, many more did not. Meanwhile, on the Continent, young women who became pregnant ended up in dire social straits. What is important now is that the children of these liaisons should have the opportunity to learn about the missing half of their heritage. Pamela Winfield, president of TRACE, a nonprofit group that helps these children find missing parents, tells us their stories.

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Melancholy Baby: The Unplanned Consequences of the G.I.s' Arrival in Europe for World War II

Melancholy Baby: The Unplanned Consequences of the G.I.s' Arrival in Europe for World War II

by Pamela Winfield
Melancholy Baby: The Unplanned Consequences of the G.I.s' Arrival in Europe for World War II

Melancholy Baby: The Unplanned Consequences of the G.I.s' Arrival in Europe for World War II

by Pamela Winfield

Hardcover

$75.00 
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Overview

More than a million American G.I.s were crammed into the UK prior to the invasion of France during World War II. Wherever they landed, the G.I.s took the British population by surprise. Very few people had ever met a real American before. In those days, the U.S. was more remote than Siberia is to the present generation. All anyone knew about Americans had been learned from the silver screen. How could they be resisted? We can only guess at the total number of children that the G.I.s left behind. Figures quoted have varied from 10,000 to 100,000 but there are no official sources on which to base these numbers. Not surprisingly, these children today represent as much of a social cross section as the women who dated the G.I.s. But regardless of background, they all share the common goal of wanting to find the American father who holds the other half of their personal history.

This book relates the social history of the military situation of World War II in Europe. It records how many British were dazzled by and fell in love with American G.I.s who arrived in the U.K. to train for the Invasion of France. Although some married their sweethearts, many more did not. Meanwhile, on the Continent, young women who became pregnant ended up in dire social straits. What is important now is that the children of these liaisons should have the opportunity to learn about the missing half of their heritage. Pamela Winfield, president of TRACE, a nonprofit group that helps these children find missing parents, tells us their stories.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780897896399
Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date: 05/30/2000
Pages: 184
Product dimensions: 6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.44(d)
Lexile: 1080L (what's this?)

About the Author

PAMELA WINFIELD is President of TRACE (Transatlantic Children's Enterprise), a nonprofit group that helps the children of G.I.s find their fathers. She has several books published in the U.K. which are on social issues and she also lectures groups throughout the U.K. and Europe on several subjects, the most popular, G.I. Brides and G.I. Babies.

Table of Contents

Introduction
The U.S. Navy Afloat in London
Service Wife
Fast Forward - The Early 1980s and the Founding of TRACE (1986)
A Stranger to Myself
Things Can Only Get Better
Rejection Comes in Various Forms
A Thousand Butterflies in My Belly
Helping Hands
Good Samaritan
Welcome Home
Letters from America
Still Looking
Summing Up

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