Finding Wilke and Juanita Allen- Varney Kentucky-separated by continents

Lost lives episode 7
Netherlands footage from / @usabmc
Netherlands American cemetery www.abmc.gov/N...
Mary Juanita's grave www.findagrave...
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[@nancyprice5148]

I left flowers on her find a grave and let her know she is not alone nor forgotten any longer. Thank you Leo and Heather for sharing this story. Thank you also for the work you do for those people who was someones loved one. God bless you both.

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Thank you Nancy

[@ZooZoo293]

That was such a thoughtful gesture, thank you for doing that ❤

[@geofftaylor934]

Leo. I am used to your light hearted banter, but this story here almost had me to tears, Brother...I am a Veteran and really appreciate the Honor and respect you show to our fallen Service members...god Bless You and heather for all that you do...GodSpeed, Sir....

[@Randijam]

Nobody tells a story like you do Leo…this one brought tears to my eyes. Thank you & Heather for your hard work bringing to life these forgotten souls. Though it’s a heartbreaking story, the respect it was given is priceless…

[@mufasah888]

Thanks for sharing their sad and moving story. I love that the Netherlands has never forgotten our fallen. ❤🇺🇸

[@brianlykins6663]

Great story. Ya'll did a fantastic job bringing this story to us. May they live in Christ together. Gid bless ya'll for bringing these stories and not lose these stories. Stay safe in your travels.

[@T-Man252]

What an absolute moving story....as a former military member I have the deepest respect for our fallen as well as living veterans...I dont care what war or battle or conflict they fought they deserve our admiration and respect Great job on this Leo !

[@lee-annelandownunder4731]

18:28 I see a sun beam on the grave - his soul is truly with her - a beautiful story xxx

[@lucas1956-y3x]

Thank you for sharing this beautiful story ❤🥺😇🙏🙏

[@neeceeboo777]

Leo, you and Heather do some incredible things through your work. I love your channel and what it stands for. Bless you both and I hope y'all keep em coming. Lord bless you and yourn.❤

[@dannychurch58]

Very well done my friend ,Good job Heather

[@suzybailey-koubti8342]

Oh, Leo and Heather, this story broke my heart 😢💔

[@charliepc56]

That story will touch the heart of anyone who has a heart! Thanks to you, Leo and Heather for paying tribute to those two very special and deserving young people. Heathers tribute she made is beautiful and well thought out. There is no gift more special than one made with loving hands!

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@melaniegudgel1]

That is a lovely way to reconnect them. Thank you.

[@Lauren36984]

Well this story needed to be told. I didn't know about this cementary in the Netherlands. I knew these existed in France. Leo and Heather, this was a tear jerker! Bless you . Beautiful job Leo and Heather!!!❤

[@DanaParry-m2k]

Still binge watching your videos when I have the time. This one was really sad. Oh btw, I retired from the Air Force in 1993 & I salute both you & Heather for the honor & respect you show to all the men & women who have served. Thank you for another "great" story. Bless you both!!!!!

[@scottlambert2949]

Thanks for sharing this sad story and we have to thanks to all men and women for their service

[@kathy9363]

What a nice story. Id like to think they are together now & are watching you tell their story. Smiling down on you for remembering them💕

[@denisehibbs9576]

Wow ! So sad. It does sound like the Netherland cemetery is taking great care of the soldiers graves ! That is wonderful ! Thank you Leo and Heather for all the effort you put into this video ! It's a good one !

[@christinedelman887]

Such a sad story. This one brought tears to my eyes 😢 thank you for telling it Leo, beautiful stone Heather

[@patricatfurever4051]

So fascinating! Never heard of this cemetery in the Netherlands 🙏🏼💖 May they all rest in peace Thank you for bringing the memento of Wilke 💖🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@markduncan122]

Hart breaking 😢

[@debpalm8667]

Thanks, Leo and Heather. Sad.

[@denniskirby6873]

That was a very touching testimony for him and her separated by the time and distance and you brought them back together. I enjoy your videos wholeheartedly. Keep up the good work.

[@Lizablue0608]

I just found this channel recently as my family are from, and still in, KY. Up Little Doe Creek on Barnes Mountain. I’m the only sibling who wasn’t born in KY. You guys are the best! But yes, truth can be brutal or beautiful. 😔 I’m not even all the way through this, and I’m already crying..💔

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Thanks for the support

[@pamelawooten3251]

Such a sad story. You did a great job Leo. Thank you for this story.

[@sidneywaddell7765]

Such a sad story. I have to believe they are together now ❤️. Leo you and Heather are amazing at the stories and documentation’s you bring to all of us! I learned about so many things, places and people I would have never heard of. Thank you!

[@emeraldstitcheswf]

I have never heard of this memorial in the Netherlands. What a beautiful story.

[@milantoombs6696]

Leo, what a wonderful story! You did a fantastic job!!!

[@pammiedoodle8693]

Wow, what a powerful and heartbreaking story💔 I love the fact that you two are highlighting the stories of people that deserve to be known and remembered! I also love that little hilltop cemetery. Have a blessed week🙏

[@judypierce7028]

What a sad, but moving story Leo. Thank you for sharing this awesome story. Tears came to my eyes as you were telling their love story. They are together with their Father.

[@wesleyjohnson2284]

Thank you for this video it was a story that needed to be told

[@judytaylor4133]

Such a sad story, of a love that didn't have a chance. 🙏may they both Rest In Peace🙏 Thank you Sir for your service🇺🇲

[@tinacarpenter2919]

Wow what a beautiful tribute to these two young people. Thank you Leo and Heather for sharing their story with us. We should all be like the families in the Netherlands.

[@cherigilliam3292]

Blessings 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🌹

[@johnhalstead554]

Thank god for people like you and Heather for taking your time and thoughtfulness to tell there stories that you guys so much for that

[@denisedeardo3966]

You both did an amazing job bringing their story to life. Now they will never be forgotten.

[@scampbell3363]

Hey from Memphis. Thank you for bringing their story back to life

[@marymartin4156]

Beautiful story, sad but beautiful. Such a lovely momento for her.

[@Udo-z8s]

Dies ist ein brisantes Thema ! Ich glaube in jeder Famile in Europa und USA haben durch den Krieg geliebte Menschen verloren ! Dies sollte man nicht vergessen ! Krieg wird durch Politiker gemacht und das Volk muss darunter leiden ! Nie wieder Krieg 👍 Auch meine Familie war am Krieg beteiligt Vater Schwiegervater und 2 Onkels waren im Krieg und sind gesund zurück gekommen ! Danke fürs Video eine bewegende Geschichte 👍❤️ Greetings from Brandenburg 🇩🇪 Udo

[@janapetty2806]

Yall made me cry and thats tough to do.

[@christinedistelhorst8879]

This was so touching! Thank you for sharing with us!

[@patricatfurever4051]

So fascinating! Never heard of this cemetery in the Netherlands 🙏🏼💖 May they all rest in peace

[@gearhead2017]

Wow! That was intense,they are together forever,RIP juanita and wilke and RIP to all american soldiers who fought for what our country is today,free from tyranny

[@usmc-veteran73-77]

Thank you for the story.

[@sherrilee230]

You brought real meaning to that story a sad story God bless you Leo you're a good man

[@sherrilee230]

I left Juanita a flower. And visited my long island family and passed out flowers

[@sharonpatterson5468]

Oh my goodness!! So heartbreaking. Leo your presentation was wonderful respectful and with soul felt honor. Thank you for sharing.

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Thank you so much!

[@joanneweislocher8540]

Wow! What a unique story Leo! Very very interesting, bless you for what you do🌹

[@connie2558]

Thanks again Leo and Heather. SUBSCRIBE

[@jamesholbrook5820]

Great to see that they hold our service men and women in reverence there.

[@elissalee3057]

BEAUTIFUL AND SAD.❤😢

[@FleegerLinda]

So sad 😢

[@pakedermsfavs9080]

Thank you Leo and Heather ( also “ baby” ) ❤😂❤

[@pakedermsfavs9080]

Also wanted to add that holland sends Canada tulip bulbs ever year.

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Thank you! I'll tell her you said hi. lol

[@claudiadesoto2378]

Love your ride to see so much you videos are awesome and the history of those that have passed 🙏🏻❤

[@gregorygibson5455]

Hello Leo and Heather

[@JenniferMacDougall-m1z]

My papaw was a Varney and livrd on Sidney KY. My mom was born in belfry ky . Leo I barely made it halfway through the story before I started crying. I had at least 4 maybe 5 great uncles who faught in WW2 met st least 3 even though I don't remember them.

[@dontaylor3039]

Very sad

[@danareynolds1976]

God bless everyone who adopted a grave sites

[@brianbrown4315]

They will never be forgotten

[@truracer20]

@8:09 many men enlisted rather than waiting to be drafted for all of the reasons mentioned and more. BUT what I think is the number 1 reason is because enlistees had more choices of what branch, where they would serve, what type of job they would do etc. Draftees wouldn't get many choices. Draftees were given what the enlisted men didn't take, although with exceptions. If you had desirable skills they placed you where those skills suited. Enlisting wasn't a risky move, he would have been drafted soon enough. And like I mentioned enlistment had its perks.

[@45beetle]

Leo that was a great story and hopefully they are together

[@lindamccall5751]

My name is Linda Clemons McCall. Juanita was my Aunt, my Dad, Bill Clemons , sister. She passed away before I was born, but I remember going to her grave every Memorial Day. I was wondering how you heard about Juanita and Wilkie? This was shared with all the other cousins and there are several. We have all been sharing stories that we heard as children growing up .

[@thehillbillyfiles]

We ran across them researching someone else. It's an amazing story, that truly deserves to be remembered.

[@lindamccall5751]

@@thehillbillyfiles. Thank you for telling their story. We thought that maybe you knew someone in our family .

[@cathymcglasson6947]

I'm glad they had a chance at love during their short life together this is a sad situation as they couldn't get back together in or death. But they are together on the other side.

[@theburtseoni]

Leo, if Wilke's family wanted to bring him back to America, could it be done? Wilke and Juanita need to be together! That is such a sad story!

[@cathymcglasson6947]

Hi Leo and Heather haven't seen many of your videos lately I've been in the hospital but I'm home now.

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Hope you're feeling better.

[@cathymcglasson6947]

@@thehillbillyfiles Thank you I am but it's a long road to recover completely

[@bobbynelson2481]

I would like to hang out with you one day leo I live in Knoxville TN

[@earlthepearl3922]

Interesting. The 364th was primarily an African American unit, with mostly African American troops and Caucasian officers. About his burial place…when his wife passed he would have updated his next of kin info. Soldiers killed were buried in temporary graveyards until after the war. After the war, the next of kin were given a choice- (1) bring the body back to the US and re-bury in a government cemetery at no charge, or (2) re- bury in a private cemetery of the next- of- kin’s choice with the next- of- kin paying only for the plot and the headstone if they did not want the free government marker; or(3) have the body re- interred in “regional” US military cemetery for the area in which their family member was killed. The only reason he is buried in the Netherlands is because his designated next- of- kin chose that or never responded to the government. As an aside, those US cemeteries in Europe are just beautiful. If ever in Europe, visit one if you can. This one in the Netherlands is very nice. The one in Normandy, France is stunning, complete with a million dollar view of the Atlantic Ocean. Resting spots truly worthy of the sacrifices made.

[@mommacarron9341]

Can you please do a story on the hodgens, larues and McDonald's of hodgenville larue county Kentucky, those are my ancestors and founded hodgenville and larue county

[@truracer20]

The 364th Engineer General Service Regiment was an African American regiment. It wasn't a good time period. While I can't find what duties the regiment had, their losses were low, I can find only 15 death records. It's impossible to even hazard a guess on their duties because there are so many possibilities. But they were in theater since D-Day or slightly after. A second member of the regiment died on the same day and is also buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margratan with Wilkie M. Allen,( plot E, row 13, grave 2), he was Private John H. Holland from Florida (plot D, row 3, grave 18). Maybe Heather can work some research magic and find more information on Wilkies role in the war. It's possible that Wilkie wished to stay in Europe with his men. Also it could have been a financial reason he wasn't laid to rest with Juanita, the war department would pay to reinter him at Arlington National Cemetery, but not in a private cemetery. While it's sad that he isn't laid to rest with his wife, he is in a great place where his ultimate sacrifice is honored by those he helped to liberate.

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Thanks for the information. I think hes in the place he needs to be, It very well could have been a financial thing

[@brookeiannetta9334]

It appears the Netherlands do more for our fallen soldiers than our own country 😔

[@thehillbillyfiles]

Sad but true...

[@jasongrimes1704]

They are together up in heaven. Just there body are here on earth. 🙏🙏🙏

[@janiceellerholz-helton324]

That’s where my daughters family members are from. She’s only met a few of them. Her last name is Powers. We went there about 30 years ago and she met a few of them. I know there’s got to be quite a few of them there still to this day. My family was from the western side of Kentuckyand my husband’s is from West Virginia