WAC's Journey To Find Her Husband In The Middle Of WW2 | Memoirs of WWII #3

Follow Ilene Hall’s incredible journey across Europe as she searches for her husband in the middle of a world war.
Learn more about Memoirs of WWII: bit.ly/2w60kGM
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Archive Footage Source: www.archives.gov/
Directed by Joshua Scott
Filmed and Edited by Christian McLean
“A Foggy Day” by Artie Shaw acquired from the Internet Archive, www.archive.org
Archive Photograph Sources:
NARA ArchiveImperial War Museums
United States Army Air Forces

[@poobr2]

I am proud to say this is the story of my grandparents! You did an amazing job Josh!!

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Thank you! Our pleasure :)

[@mattw337]

Thats an awesome story.

[@rafimiazada2454]

poobr2 Wow!! That’s awesome!!

[@rallycsx]

Someone was cutting onions at the end of the video. I could hardly see the screen...

[@carllitteral5334]

Did your grandpa pass ? If so when ?

[@annalisapadilla3913]

They should make a love movie about this

[@EP55241]

Brad the impaler directed by Michael Bay

[@OrbitFallenAngel]

Yes! They should! 💗🇺🇸💗🇺🇸 This is amazing and it shows the true power of true love!

[@tsar_zo8007]

They wouldn't but perhaps they would if the sweet old lady here have magical super powers and belittle men for being men... What a society we live in!

[@peekay5518]

Watching and hopping and thankfully a happy ending 👍

[@flimsyjimnz]

@@EP55241 Budget porn movie good compromise

[@cherihall3151]

Thank you Josh and Christian for the amazing video of my mother

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Thank you! You've both been so helpful throughout this whole process. We're so happy to tell her story :)

[@johnnyllooddte3415]

can you tell us what happenned to your dad.. im sorry for asking such a difficult question

[@MemoirsofWWII]

If you're asking about Cheri's dad - Ilene's husband, he unfortunately passed away in the mid-60's from a brain tumor. Very sad - but they had a two very happy decades together.

[@Elvis68spec]

You must be very proud of your Parents! You have every right to be! 🇺🇸

[@jacoblopez2147]

Cheri Hall surre

[@Rockerfo0]

And i cant even get a text back

[@philipthomas352]

TearStainedFendi omg so true! Me too!

[@onelove5525]

Hahaha!!!!!

[@danielavina1499]

Pathetic.

[@acewilliams7917]

You know what I'm saying!!!

[@RoxieDubbleU]

Times have changed for sure.

[@para_momal]

Thank you ma'am, for your service. You are an inspiration and a true role model. It's women like this that should be plastered on magazines, billboards and TV. They should be the ones made famous so that younger generations can inspire to be more like them.

[@World.Explorer101]

Amen! But instead we have bitches like cardi b and the Kardashian's influencing this generation of females

[@helenhighwater5313]

@@World.Explorer101 The best way to deal with celebritrash is to ignore and not speak or type their names, not give them any attention at all. That leaves more time to honor those who have earned our respect.

[@Skeptik-pe6ze]

Yeah so the hoes today can get a clue

[@Sushfoo]

What a beautiful story I'm all choked up now.This should be turned into a movie or a book or both!!

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Sushifoo we love Ilene and her story...she’s amazing! Thank you for watching :)

[@shabbygolem1500]

Sushifoo I think this should be turned into a book or movie too: To quote General George S. Patton, "Berlin gave me the blues. We have destroyed what could have been a good race, and we are about to replace them with Mongolian savages. And all of Europe will be communist. It said that after the first week they took it (Berlin) all women who ran were shot and all those who did not were raped. I could have taken it (instead of the Soviets) if I had been allowed." -General George S. Patton (July 21, 1945) “Lets not give them (the Soviets) time to build up their supplies. If we do, then… we have had a victory over the Germans and disarmed them, but we’ve failed in the liberation of Europe; we have lost the war!”

[@thunderbird1921]

While it isn't exactly like it, there was actually a movie released in 1951 that has a surprisingly similar theme: Force of Arms. The film features a battle-worn American GI who develops feelings for a WAC in Italy, but she's reluctant to pursue romance as her fiance was killed. Eventually, they bond over their mutual pains and actually marry, but then he goes missing after one of the Italian Campaign's many brutal battles. Like Mrs. Hall here, she begins looking for him desperately, finally having an emotional reunion with him in Rome (turns out he was wounded in combat and if I remember correctly captured and held in a German prison camp for a while). It may not be one of the greatest films of all time, but it definitely is interesting.

[@Kwnni]

My father fought in the Pacific, and he was a paratrooper, but my mom built B-17s and later B-29s.for Boeing... They were real heroes ...

[@susanlauper1472]

yes they were you can be so proud of them both

[@squidgamer2572]

What division was your grandfather as a paratrooper

[@OrbitFallenAngel]

Tell your Mom & Dad , Thank You! I appreciate their sacrifices and what they had to endure and go through...they are true American heroes! 💗🇺🇸💗🇺🇸💗🇺🇸

[@terminallumbago6465]

They definitely are. Most of the credit usually goes to the troops fighting overseas, but they couldn’t do what they do without the people working on the home front. The people making the equipment, farming, etc.

[@joshfinley85]

Wow ... just look at your wife or husband and imagine the only way to communicate is with letters and not seeing each other for months or years in the middle of a war zone. What an awesome story .. people just don't understand what these heros went through. Thanks for sharing. I'm getting caught up on these latest 2 episodes today and I appreciate the videos Josh.

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Thank you for watching...we really appreciate it!

[@Elly3981]

Ikr? Today, military couples can easily stay in touch with Zoom, internet, and cell phones.

[@sierria64]

you video are awesome. My grandpa was in both WW1 and 2. He told us of story of how he hid under the dead soldiers and saw Gen. Romal at battle site. he said Romel was sitting there eating as they shot people. He hid for hours .. true story he was a African American soldier .. horrible story he told us

[@kanakealapaki1586]

They got married, they both went to war, she went looking for him, He waited for her at the station and after the war, they settle down and had kids. I love it.

[@ronaldogutierrez8807]

Anyone else just binge watching these?? Such great stories of such great men and women. Some brave people on here. Love these videos 🙂👍🏽 thanks to them all for their service.

[@TheHarberHangar]

Such a beautiful heartwarming story of determination, perseverance, commitment and LOVE!

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Thanks, Ben!

[@karenkurtz23]

Proud to say I know this amazing woman. Great job of presenting her story.

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Thank you Karen. She is amazing - and today is her birthday - 95!

[@XBOXGamerPro7281]

My grandma is a survivor of the Japanese invasion of Manila. "I was scared for my life" She was please to see the US come ashore.

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Thank you for sharing. I hope to get to captures stories like this.

[@DavidRF32]

To the 14 people who disliked this, frak you. It was due to people like those covered in this video that have given you the freedom to not support them .

[@MrLemonbaby]

I was struck by how kind and accommodating everyone was. Many thanks for this couple's service and the people who brought this story to the internet.

[@MemoirsofWWII]

MrLemonbaby that’s one of my favorite aspects of this story...all the people who pitched in to help her reach her husband. It’s a testament to Ilene’s perseverance and likability. Thanks for watching!

[@donc2446]

I don't doubt that everything she said was true, but positive people remember and emphasise the good things. Obviously, this is one positive lady. How we recount things says as much about us as it does our surroundings. I want to be more like her!

[@sadcutie6808]

This is a perfect example of how strong love can be!

[@CEH3]

The amazing participation of women during the war is too under-represented. Thank you for this!

[@CEH3]

I wish I could double like this one!

[@MemoirsofWWII]

:) Thanks Clark

[@DH702..]

It should be under represented considering the horrors of war the men had to fight

[@VAHOSS]

@@DH702.. you must not be a very educated person.. giving more credit to the women that served, does not take credit from the men.. can you somehow comprehend what I'm saying to you?

[@DH702..]

@@VAHOSS I am not uneducated , but her service pales in comparison to the millions of men who died in the war . It's a cute story but to prop her up over even the Soviet women who fought and died is beyond me

[@InformationIsTheEdge]

You are quite right to honor these men and women that so bravely and honorably served our country and protected our way of life. I think that the scope, the vast reach of the impact that that entire generation had and still has, is missed by people today. Not only the brave soldiers, WACs, doctors and medical people that were attached to the Navy and Army, but the citizens at home that rationed food, supplies and did metal drives, paper drives for the war effort. THEY as much as the soldiers, deserve our respect. They are rightly called, the Greatest Generation.

[@frostythenowhrmn]

Josh, You should get a Medal of Honor for all your hard work and dedication to the preservation of these stories of sacrifice, honor and love. Keep up the great work and may God Bless You and Yours!!!

[@MemoirsofWWII]

I appreciate that :) Thank you so much for watching, and feel free to share.

[@Maplelust]

that's the dumbest comment yet. yes he's doing something great I do agree. with that but the medal of honor is extremely difficult to get. although other undeserving medal of honor comments are equally as dumb.

[@onelove5525]

this would make a good movie ...

[@vladbcom]

No, you are wrong! This would make a GREAT movie :D

[@deltaflyer9078]

Haha yep

[@sda9995]

No more movies now 2020

[@spagett2487]

I gotta say that this is the GREATEST love story I've ever heard.

[@all.day.day-dreamer]

This could be an amazing movie ......... this story needs to be told on the big screen

[@555gleerocks]

I’m so proud to continue the legacy of these brave women.

[@r.mcbride2837]

The greatest generation... What a lovely story and what a lovely lady.

[@IdeaBoxful]

I am an Indian citizen and my Granpa served in the war with British in Burma. He never talked about it! He died in the 80s and I still miss him! Thank you Eileen for your service..

[@atiflatif6651]

From Pakistan, My grandfather served in Burma too!

[@MemoirsofWWII]

IdeaBoxful thank you for watching!

[@CJBMAGGOT94]

I can't even get a text back and Ilene joins the army and travels across Europe to see her husband. What an amazing woman, and story.

[@errickflesch5565]

Great story. So many were not so fortunate. So when a story comes along like this one, it brings hope and joy from such a tragic time in our history. This is one of many reasons we STAND for the flag, and KNEEL for the cross. Thank you ALL for your service.

[@atomic9358]

love is the most powerful thing..

[@sweetpeaon3]

I got teary eyed watching this.. what an ambitious and brave woman. She must have a movie made after her story 💕

[@chadanguay2168]

Happy veterans day for all those men who gave their lives and their families and children

[@esgarflores1915]

Chad Anguay Men and Women

[@Elvis68spec]

Amen!🇺🇸🌹

[@tiffanyrac2865]

Oh my heart. This is a beautiful story

[@jannettestetson-buck5103]

In loving memory to our Veterans on this Memorial Day.

[@dadsbike2958]

My great grandfather was in the Air force ww2 he passed last year

[@deltaflyer9078]

Yes there was thank you for you're grandfathers service

[@Area43-uBoot]

This needs to be a movie! This is the absolute best love story I’ve ever heard! She is a true badass!

[@Angelo_Music6]

So heartwarming my great grandfather was in World War II

[@melissabaltierra5218]

She is absolutely amazing, greatest love story ever told

[@MegaMusicaviva]

Beautiful love story. God bless our veterans and our troops from every generations.

[@cee9110]

My nan was a child during the blitz in england. She recalls those days often with me and my mother. She was sent from liverpool to a small village with her two sisters. And the family looking after her was the homeguard captain of the area. After a few years they were sent back into liverpool while the bombings were still happening. She still cries when she talks about her best friend as a child. She watched her house get a direct hit killing all inside but the mother. Who was thrown out a window. After she turned old enough she went to the RAF logistics corp. We recently went to a ww2 reenactment and they had a blitz experience there. My poor nan had a panic attack inside

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Cee thank you for sharing a part of her story! Thanks for watching

[@majorromance-mjr.garrymatt7678]

I, as well as the 39,700+ others who went south and joined up in the 1960s, Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your service!

[@hellohello9098]

This was a beautiful heart warming story. I love how everyone cared and went out of thier way to make sure she can reunite with her husband. God bless to all that serve.😎✌🏽

[@malcolmbeecher8378]

i love these stories. to hear the stories from the people who were experienced it in their own words.

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Thanks Malcolm! Feel free to share :)

[@MA-iu5hu]

A wonderful, remarkable human being. It's also incredible to see how much military members looked out for one another.

[@Zulfburht]

this is what true love looks like

[@willm678]

What a beautiful story. Reminds me of my grandpa’s story about how after WW2, he couldn’t bring his wife back that he met in Japan, and he also couldn’t live in Asia. All he wanted to do was stay in Asia to see her, so he volunteered to do 2 tours of duty in Korea. He became part of the 24th infantry division, and was sent to the front lines of combat. He put his life on the line just to spend more time with my grandma. He died a while ago at the age of 92.

[@Midnightsadnesss]

William Menendez did your grandma ever reunite with your grandpa?

[@hisservants8003]

What an amazing lady! Thank you for your service and your husband’s!

[@jusnuts1443]

From a fellow vet: Happy Veteran's Day to ALL who have served!! May God bless you all! I love you all! I'm glad I heard Ilene's story. Love is truly fearless. I was very touched, and I am still wiping the tears away. Not ashamed to say so.

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Thank you for your service

[@10_a_see]

What an awesome story; I was so relieved they both made it home.

[@davidknight8388]

I’ve spent most of today watching ALL of these wonderful videos. What I don’t understand is, who are the people disliking these stories? Unreal. There’s absolutely nothing not to absolutely love.

[@Hattaway4357]

This should be a movie. This story is absolutely incredible. Absolutely incredible!!

[@terminallumbago6465]

Update: I read that Ilene passed away on May 27, 2023 at the age of 99. She was just a few months shy of 100.

[@SteveStokes1971]

Amazing story. I could watch these all day. Thanks for doing these.

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Thank you, Steve! Feel free to share :)

[@SC-uq2jf]

This was a beautiful story of love and service for country and family.

[@RightCenterBack321]

People like Ilene Hall remind me to be a better person and to always be proud to be an American child.

[@dannylblaha9552]

Hi could not have said better. .may God bless all our vets!

[@shabbygolem1500]

E Drew To quote General George S. Patton, "Berlin gave me the blues. We have destroyed what could have been a good race, and we are about to replace them with Mongolian savages. And all of Europe will be communist. It said that after the first week they took it (Berlin) all women who ran were shot and all those who did not were raped. I could have taken it (instead of the Soviets) if I had been allowed." -General George S. Patton (July 21, 1945) “Lets not give them (the Soviets) time to build up their supplies. If we do, then… we have had a victory over the Germans and disarmed them, but we’ve failed in the liberation of Europe; we have lost the war!”

[@blakehire3817]

What a great story. I'm so proud to be an American!

[@mickeybaby3076]

I couldn’t stop smiling throughout this beautiful story.

[@negrofluorescente9158]

She’s really brave. Her story is one of true love even in one of the darkest moments of the human race. I’ll never forget their story. A story of love and hope.

[@yogawarriorgirl]

Well, I almost burst into tears early in the morning. I'm holding on to her story.

[@Flosseveryday]

She lived a great life. This is one of the best stories I have ever heard. The type of story to take away your stress and anxiety. People can do the impossible when they work for each other.

[@faber_exe]

This is soo romantic! I want this to become a movie~ travelling around Europe to find your husband during the 2nd World War. I salute her so much for her bravery and to her husband! Their both power couples! 😍😍💪💪

[@michaelwells9042]

What a amazing mother. I could listen to her all day. Great job guys...

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Thanks William! We love Ilene :)

[@bigfarru2]

She loved him so much🥺 So sad you don’t see that now days. She looked for him all over Italy without knowing where he was at... Love this story ❤️

[@maxsmodels]

That is a wonderful story and thank God is had a happy ending.

[@MemoirsofWWII]

agreed! Thank you for watching.

[@KeithCooper-Albuquerque]

Thank you Ilene and your husband for your service! This was an inspiring story!

[@markbowles2382]

another job well done mr. josh, thank you so much, my grandfather was in the signal core and retained the bronze star for serving through 5 theatres of engagement in Europe, he trained at Ft. Benning Ga., anyway, my grandparents are gone now, and I have regrets for not spending more time with them as they got older, anyway, we were very close when i was growing up and they helped me immensely by sharing their time with me and it made me a much better person for it, anyway, watching these vids are like visiting with them in a way, because they were also caught up in that same terrible war, anyway, thanks again, your work is respectfully done and i believe my grandparents would feel the same way, good luck and thanks again.

[@achmed559]

My great grandfather is a ww2 vet makes me proud to be apart of his life

[@fishbonez5670]

That was Awesome!!! A tear jerker for this guy

[@nunya257]

What a tearjerker. Great story. Such a likable woman.

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Nun Ya thanks for watching, she’s just as sweet in real life!!

[@johneratcliff]

True love! What a wonderful story.

[@ParkJimin-ec3pf]

imagine that this was a movie! ugh i would 100% watch it with my grandma!plus family!

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Thank you for watching

[@happynow01]

That was such a beautiful love story!!! It should be a movie! Thank you for sharing and showing this... wow! Just amazing!

[@josiahhamilton9161]

I live in Canton Ohio born and raised. It's great to hear this story.

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Well hello Neighbor!

[@jagdflieger4861]

An awesome episode about an awesome woman

[@Andyb2379]

Wow what an amazing story. I’m 36 & my generation has no idea what these guy had to Endure. I’m in ore of this generation & what they did. God bless

[@victorrisk6098]

Great story!!! GOD BLESS YOU!

[@SpiritKitten]

My grandmother was also part of the WAC I miss her so much!

[@nightlyoko626]

What an amazing story! I honestly love hearing about things like this. It was so emotional to hear. I’m crying

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Lauren Franco thanks for watching, Lauren

[@philaman1972]

The bravest of the brave, and the strongest of the strong. Thank you for telling this story!

[@chewbacca5986]

Beautifully and tastefully done!! Great work!

[@deborahconkle6822]

Almost speechless. This story hit me right in the heart. Chills and tears. ❤️ Thank you for sharing it. I have the diary my dad kept for my mom while he was away during he war. I also have the letters they wrote to each other. It let me see parts of my parents I would not have otherwise known. History....

[@TheOneCleanHippy]

I cried so much watching this. Cutest story of the war.

[@1Plassy]

For a moment I thought her husband never made it home but was delighted it ended with them finding one another again and had a life together - tough times a lot of heart ache but this story ends well.....

[@acewilliams7917]

They don't make em' like that anymore. Great love tale.

[@Sublime_37]

That’s a beautiful story. I felt so happy to know that they both made it home safe from WW2. 🙏🏽

[@jaylinparra7090]

Beautiful story!

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Jaylin Parra thank you for watching

[@darthvader6533]

The last few real people on this earth. Its tragic that thier time is almost up on this earth. God bless guys, thank you for your service. Massive respect for you.

[@vnelson000]

Beautiful story, thank you both for your service.

[@cleoanthony5825]

How can ppl not like this story....it's an amazing journey what she did to get to her husband...how wonderful...this should be a movie...thank you to all the veterans for your service God bless...

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Cleo Anthony thanks for watching!

[@cliffordototivo]

Wow I can't even put into words how beautiful this is

[@elviragonzalez428]

Love moves mountains, here's an example, happy for you both.☺☺☺

[@kenperez6588]

this made me cry...amazing story

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Ken Perez thank you for watching

[@aidenandazan6608]

People who disliked this vid they don’t respect people like this

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

So cool to hear the history of WWII from this perspective!

[@thunderbird1921]

A number of the female vets have amazing (and sometimes tragic) stories. I recently was reading the stories of two of them who served in the Korean War, a flight nurse and a WAC in the Troop Movement Division stationed in Japan. Both ladies said that the war became much more painful for them because they were able to regularly see the faces of those impacted. The WAC talked about how she would help men to their places on the troop ships , and then constantly see their very names on the casualty lists. The flight nurse meanwhile described feeling powerless to stop the wounded men's suffering, despite all her efforts to ease their pain (the worst by far she said was after Chosin Reservoir, countless had severe frostbite in addition to wounds and were going to lose body parts from it, she literally burst into tears during a break in work). Those ladies may not have served in combat, but they knew all too well the horror of warfare and could share it with others. Hats off to the remarkable ladies of our armed forces.

[@bethjohnson9111]

What an amazing story!! Thank you Josh for your hard work in preserving these stories!!

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Thank you, Beth!

[@anthony9869]

Thank you both for your service and to the freedom of this country

[@martinwhipkey9343]

Another great video - I'm actually from Canton, OH too so this was great to watch! There are a lot of great veteran's stories out there- keep up the great work!

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Nice! Memoirs of WWII - and most of the veterans we've featured so far - are all in the Canton area.

[@havennewbowtow8835]

My goodness, what a lady that is. It’s not difficult to be absolutely moved to tears by that story, the strength, fortitude and love involved is truly moving. They were the greatest generation without doubt.

[@captapraelium1591]

What a woman!

[@sarahsmith278]

Ikr

[@jennifergoodman9339]

Ja she cool

[@deliveryguyrx]

@Capta Praelium you got that right!

[@downjonesmuller7302]

Play nice,this is cool.

[@nomo4u886]

BAYANE Z whats good keyboard warrior

[@bradwest4821]

How can you watch this and NOT cry.... I got tears the second I started watching

[@usn83001]

That young Woman is awesome. Lucky man to have married her. The Greatest Generation.

[@edwardbailey7911]

My father served in the Navy during WWII. Mostly in the Mediterranean theatre. He will be 101 on July 31st. Still bowls and paints. His memory is not so good now, but every once in a while he has moments of clarity and he remembers things from the war and his childhood that he tells us about.