He was drafted for World War II and wanted someone to write and come home to.
The common understanding at that time was that a soldier who had a girl waiting for him at home was more likely to come home safely.
My grandmother had a stormy relationship with her mother and wanted out of the house. My grandfather shipped out overseas a few days after they were married but, while it may have been a rough beginning for my Grandparents, they stayed happy together "until death do us part".
A photo received by my grandfather while he was a pilot stationed in Italy
Their home was in Detroit in the duplex that you can see in the photo’s background
L→R: My grandmother’s sister (holding Wiffy the dog), her husband who was a bus driver, my greatgrandmother, and my grandmother holding my mother.
My mom’s dad had nicknamed her ‘Toughie’ when she was a baby.
This was taken while my grandfather was on leave.
In front of her daddy fantasy car.