My dad was a GI in Europe during WWII. He met a young woman, Ruth, I think in France. The war ended and he came home. He wanted to go back to Europe and bring her and their child to the United States but kept hitting brick walls. His father passed away and my grandmother needed his help with the family business. He met my mother 3 weeks after his father died and they were married in August 1946. He didn't forget about Ruth. He carried a picture of her holding their child in his wallet. He may have written to her, I don't know. I don't know what happened to Ruth or their son. My father died suddenly in 1968. The first thing my mother did when she came home from the hospital was open my dad's wallet and tear up the picture of Ruth. It breaks my heart now. I would have taken the picture and tried to find Ruth, even just to tell her Dad had died. I would love to know more about my half brother and his mother.
Find out where he was stationed and get in contact with the hall of records there and they might be able to tell you what happened to Ruth and where here son is especially if he was stationed near a small town. I was born in Germany and sat with my father until he took his last breath. His 3rd wife -married 7 years (my mom divorced him after 16 years & 3 kids), then his 2nd wife (40 years-no kids) died from cancer) left him on the floor after a heart attack to die…evil bitch! She did not get his ARMY PENSION THOUGH!
My dad dated a German woman in WWII. He was an American GI in the war. He told me that he was getting the women abortions and then stopped because he decided that it was murder I wonder if he was paying to have his own children by the German lady aborted. He may have been having half siblings of mine killed before I was born. I was born in 1958.
I rarely tear up while watching videos, but this one got me. To find a brother and then lose him in the next instant is heartbreaking. I hope his cousins had photos of his father to replace the one he lost.
I'm going to cry this is so amazeing that this man got some peace of mind in alot of us and reunited with his dad's family praise God for all his wonderous works
These stories are beautiful but sad at the same time. I am mixed and i am so thankful my parents were able to marry. I am just do sad these children never were able to grow up with a mama and daddy like they should have ❤❤😢
All of the stories I’ve heard have been heartwrenching. A lot of their lives have been marred with no being accepted by their community, on top of the void of wanting to know about their absent fathers, One woman’s teacher used to personally verbally tease and abuse her more the school kids. SMH.
I think this is what Meghan Should have on her podcast now!! These types of riveting old world stories from the War times. I think she would come across more in tune with reality. Someone tell her i suggested this. Thanks.
My dad is now 76 and has never known his father, not even a picture of him. his father came over during the war and had a relationship with our nan, he went back to America and never came back. My dad had it really hard growing up in a small town and him being the only brown kid. He says it’s never bothered him about not having or knowing who his dad was, but we know it’s always hurt him. God I wish this dna stuff was around about 20 years ago, it’s too late now. . Our dad is past it now and just won’t entertain the idea
I am going through this now...meeting family in the UK...they reached out to me because my DNA matched theirs...we still need help on pinpointing who their dad father was....I have an idea but we are still not sure.
To read more about Bill's emotional journey to find his father, and to learn what happened after the show, read our follow up interview with Bill at The Mixed Museum: mixedmuseum.org.uk/news/bills-texas-dream/ While Bill’s story does not feature in our digital exhibition on the 'Brown Babies of WW2' - as the African American press at the time dubbed them - he shares a similar life history with many other children born to white British women who had relationships with Black GIs who were stationed across Britain during the Second World War. Bill’s father Wilbert, an African American GI, met Bill’s mother Betty when he was stationed in the UK during World War Two, and Bill was born in 1944. After the war, Wilbert returned to the US - and neither Bill nor his mother had any contact with him or his wider family again. During this time, interracial marriages were illegal in the majority of US states. The only information Bill ever had about Wilbert - who was stationed at Leicestershire airbase - was the name written on his birth certificate. Yet incredibly, the team from the BBC series 'DNA Family Secrets', managed to find out what happened to his father, along with other revelatory information.
My grandfather stationed in Germany back then, and my mom was told by him before he passed there’s possibilities he fathered children… Racism sucked so bad smh
@@melissapowellwright3097 have you researched this? I have. You're using old and dangerous myths from that period. Some relationships were about fun, but most were more than that.
I highly doubt it the women usually went back to their husbands or remarried, it was a thrill and enticement to be involved with black men as is still the case. Birth control wasn’t commonplace and abortions were illegal.
What I don't understand is some married women used to go these american bases for the dances and it's not rocket science as to how things would conclude end of the night with a few drinks down the ladies - that wasn't the case with Biill's mum but it happened a lot during WW2.
@@lylarose2696 If you get the rough guide to Texas it even warns you, if your from the UK that Blacks and Mexicans stay on the East side, and Whites on the West. I was there, and on my 1st day I was on the West side, and was told when I went into a coffee house, "No Chics, No Bucks, No Cokey nuts". It took me a while to understand what they meant. I'm mixed race btw. I assume your white, in which case I understand your reluctance to accept the reality. It's not very nice, but it's the truth. Watch the TH-cam video 'Why are Black people fleeing Austin'?
Sadly I notice alot of African American men for some reason tend to abandon their children. My father(African American) included and my cousins father (African American)included. I also know a few African American coworkers who have many kids by different women. Is this something common with African American men...why do they not want to look after their children? (Just to say I didn't say "all" but I said "many". So I know not all African American men abandon their children).
Some returning British servicemen found out their wives had had affairs producing children while they were overseas. Either of two things happened: The husband accepted his wife's child as his own (very magnanimous) or he didn't, and divorce proceedings happened. Sometimes the wife kept the child or put them up for adoption if she couldn't cope or pressured to do so by her family.
What was wrong with these women…just casually letting any random man have sex with them before marriage and then “ surprised “ when they have a baby?!…
They probably knew these men for a couple months on the American military base. The Military bases would often hold dances and men would get to know these women and sweet talk their way into intimacy
@@user-li1gp2jw8k you're using old and dangerous myths. Have you researched this topic at all? Start with Lucy Bland (2019) Defying racial prejudice: Second World War relationships between British women and black GIs and the raising of their offspring, Women's History Review, 28:6, 853-868, DOI: 10.1080/09612025.2017.1346867
My dad was a GI in Europe during WWII. He met a young woman, Ruth, I think in France. The war ended and he came home. He wanted to go back to Europe and bring her and their child to the United States but kept hitting brick walls. His father passed away and my grandmother needed his help with the family business. He met my mother 3 weeks after his father died and they were married in August 1946. He didn't forget about Ruth. He carried a picture of her holding their child in his wallet. He may have written to her, I don't know. I don't know what happened to Ruth or their son. My father died suddenly in 1968. The first thing my mother did when she came home from the hospital was open my dad's wallet and tear up the picture of Ruth. It breaks my heart now. I would have taken the picture and tried to find Ruth, even just to tell her Dad had died. I would love to know more about my half brother and his mother.
War produces complex issues people don’t really think about. I hope you find your brother some day.
You still can, do a DNA test immediately
Find out where he was stationed and get in contact with the hall of records there and they might be able to tell you what happened to Ruth and where here son is especially if he was stationed near a small town. I was born in Germany and sat with my father until he took his last breath. His 3rd wife -married 7 years (my mom divorced him after 16 years & 3 kids), then his 2nd wife (40 years-no kids) died from cancer) left him on the floor after a heart attack to die…evil bitch!
She did not get his ARMY PENSION THOUGH!
Do your DNA and don’t make it private. The baby may be looking for you.
My dad dated a German woman in WWII. He was an American GI in the war.
He told me that he was getting the women abortions and then stopped because he decided that it was murder
I wonder if he was paying to have his own children by the German lady aborted.
He may have been having half siblings of mine killed before I was born.
I was born in 1958.
I love this!!! I hate that things were like that in the past.
I rarely tear up while watching videos, but this one got me. To find a brother and then lose him in the next instant is heartbreaking. I hope his cousins had photos of his father to replace the one he lost.
I wanted to reach through the laptop and hug Bill - what a wonder DNA is to be able to reconnect people like Bill with family!
I'm going to cry this is so amazeing that this man got some peace of mind in alot of us and reunited with his dad's family praise God for all his wonderous works
😍😍😍 love it when a hopeless situation ultimately produces hope. Hope Bill enjoys his new found family over many more years.
Well said...when a hopeless situation.....produces hope!
Bill got the warmth and love he never thought would happen
These stories are beautiful but sad at the same time. I am mixed and i am so thankful my parents were able to marry. I am just do sad these children never were able to grow up with a mama and daddy like they should have ❤❤😢
America's brutal history. Affecting lives across multiple continents.
Hold don't blame US.
Why are you bitter?
Britain is even worse
@@riccorich Who are we suppose to blame ? 🤔
@@shy3805 Why would you not be bitter about such social ignorance ? Truth + Wisdom = Peace ✌ 🙏 🙌 .
That had me weeping, just beautiful to see people connecting I've been there it's a life changer.
This is absolutely heart breaking I rarely tear up watching videos but here i am
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😭😭😭😭😭♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️. My belief is that no blood line is 💯. I hope that they meet one day.
All of the stories I’ve heard have been heartwrenching. A lot of their lives have been marred with no being accepted by their community, on top of the void of wanting to know about their absent fathers, One woman’s teacher used to personally verbally tease and abuse her more the school kids. SMH.
Awwwww Bill, I wanna give him a hug too
I think this is what Meghan Should have on her podcast now!! These types of riveting old world stories from the War times. I think she would come across more in tune with reality. Someone tell her i suggested this. Thanks.
Wish she would! Too self-absorbed to care about these stories.
These children are so beautiful and I'm glad the world is learning to respect all humans.
There’s a resemblance, they look like family! How wonderful 🥲
Really interesting keep up the good work
Love this guy.
Bravo!!
This is some sad stuff. This man went all his life not knowing.
What an experience!
Beautiful
Your mum looks like my great grandmothers mum she was mixed as well her name was Ceceilia moy her mothers maiden name was Murphy
gorgeous just gorgeous ❤️🇬🇧
My dad is now 76 and has never known his father, not even a picture of him. his father came over during the war and had a relationship with our nan, he went back to America and never came back. My dad had it really hard growing up in a small town and him being the only brown kid. He says it’s never bothered him about not having or knowing who his dad was, but we know it’s always hurt him. God I wish this dna stuff was around about 20 years ago, it’s too late now. . Our dad is past it now and just won’t entertain the idea
💗
She’s very pretty he missed out! And to be a life of his wonderful baby son, but God bless them also.
I am going through this now...meeting family in the UK...they reached out to me because my DNA matched theirs...we still need help on pinpointing who their dad father was....I have an idea but we are still not sure.
Awesome!
Double standard western countries lecture us about democracy, equality and secularism.
The US Commanders forbid these matches and instituted punishments.
Child Care
To read more about Bill's emotional journey to find his father, and to learn what happened after the show, read our follow up interview with Bill at The Mixed Museum: mixedmuseum.org.uk/news/bills-texas-dream/
While Bill’s story does not feature in our digital exhibition on the 'Brown Babies of WW2' - as the African American press at the time dubbed them - he shares a similar life history with many other children born to white British women who had relationships with Black GIs who were stationed across Britain during the Second World War.
Bill’s father Wilbert, an African American GI, met Bill’s mother Betty when he was stationed in the UK during World War Two, and Bill was born in 1944. After the war, Wilbert returned to the US - and neither Bill nor his mother had any contact with him or his wider family again. During this time, interracial marriages were illegal in the majority of US states.
The only information Bill ever had about Wilbert - who was stationed at Leicestershire airbase - was the name written on his birth certificate. Yet incredibly, the team from the BBC series 'DNA Family Secrets', managed to find out what happened to his father, along with other revelatory information.
😭😭
He looks like the lady in the braids omggg
Wow! DNA!
I wonder what test they took and if it’s possible to buy such a detailed test
I think there are a few firms who do these more specialised tests, I'm told they're quite expensive, but how amazing to get all that information.
Yes, depends where you though free range? There are kits for about £100, you can then link to Ancestry or similar & find a family tree.
My grandfather stationed in Germany back then, and my mom was told by him before he passed there’s possibilities he fathered children… Racism sucked so bad smh
People confuse sex with love, in an attempt to keep that fantasy going.
Yup, unfortunately these babies were as a result of a "good time" so sad.
@@melissapowellwright3097 have you researched this? I have. You're using old and dangerous myths from that period. Some relationships were about fun, but most were more than that.
I highly doubt it the women usually went back to their husbands or remarried, it was a thrill and enticement to be involved with black men as is still the case. Birth control wasn’t commonplace and abortions were illegal.
What I don't understand is some married women used to go these american bases for the dances and it's not rocket science as to how things would conclude end of the night with a few drinks down the ladies - that wasn't the case with Biill's mum but it happened a lot during WW2.
Brown Baby from Germany 1950
Wow
Nothing new here. We have the same thing in the US.
Lots of half AMERICAN soldiers babies and SAILORS babies in ports around the world.
My adoptive cousin is one, half American, half Vietnamese, from the war.
You can see how their cheeks look similar
What an unfortunate title
Texas is still segregated in practise.
No they aren’t
I'd say the whole USA.
@@lylarose2696 If you get the rough guide to Texas it even warns you, if your from the UK that Blacks and Mexicans stay on the East side, and Whites on the West. I was there, and on my 1st day I was on the West side, and was told when I went into a coffee house, "No Chics, No Bucks, No Cokey nuts". It took me a while to understand what they meant. I'm mixed race btw. I assume your white, in which case I understand your reluctance to accept the reality. It's not very nice, but it's the truth. Watch the TH-cam video 'Why are Black people fleeing Austin'?
@@sally9805 I'd agree with you.
His father didn't even give a shit about that poor son.... or his mum. It was a hit and run. They need to stop sugarcoating it.
There are cases in which the father didn't even know.
That’s also true but some genuinely werent told. But then again common sense.. you literally had sex with a woman lol why wouldn’t she be pregnant. 😭
I’m guessing you knew them personally.
LoL!!! So true
Sadly I notice alot of African American men for some reason tend to abandon their children. My father(African American) included and my cousins father (African American)included. I also know a few African American coworkers who have many kids by different women. Is this something common with African American men...why do they not want to look after their children? (Just to say I didn't say "all" but I said "many". So I know not all African American men abandon their children).
What happened to the white babies?
Did they just blend in??
Probably...
Yep, bet some old British folks here are even half American lol.
Some returning British servicemen found out their wives had had affairs producing children while they were overseas. Either of two things happened: The husband accepted his wife's child as his own (very magnanimous) or he didn't, and divorce proceedings happened. Sometimes the wife kept the child or put them up for adoption if she couldn't cope or pressured to do so by her family.
She’s very pretty he missed out!
Oh America!!!! Really??!
4:38 beautiful ladies
What was wrong with these women…just casually letting any random man have sex with them before marriage and then “ surprised “ when they have a baby?!…
Why blame the men when these women were quite open to having sex with AA men in what was a very racially charged society at the time.
Interesting username given your comment. Did you create an account just to comment on this video?
They probably knew these men for a couple months on the American military base. The Military bases would often hold dances and men would get to know these women and sweet talk their way into intimacy
@@becky_1919 Lol 'sweet talk' Please don't make excuses its deplorable. These women wanted the intimacy.
@@user-li1gp2jw8k you're using old and dangerous myths. Have you researched this topic at all? Start with Lucy Bland (2019) Defying racial prejudice: Second World War relationships between British women and black GIs and the raising of their offspring, Women's History Review, 28:6, 853-868, DOI: 10.1080/09612025.2017.1346867