G.I. BRIDE'S VISIT.
A young Armagh lady, who at sixteen years of age,
was the youngest G.I. bride in Northern Ireland,
has returned to her home on a visit. She is Mrs.
Noel Kiel of Woodford, Armagh, who sailed in one
of the first parties of brides to her husband's
home in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Mrs. Kiel told the "Armagh Guardian" of the voyage
on which every luxury was provided for the 400
young brides, many of whom were taking a small son
or daughter to see father for the first time, and
praised the kindness shown to the young wives on
their arrival at New York. They were besieged by
welcoming husbands and joyful reunions were seen
everywhere. At a reception held for them in New
York, Mrs. Kiel made the aquaintance of many
Irish girls who had married G.I.s and were happily
settled. But the seventeen-year-old Mrs. Kiel, in
her up-to-date modern house in Indianapolis suffered
from homesickness so much that several months ago
she flew to New York intending to come home, but
after a few days at a hotel she decided to give
America another chance. After eight months, Mr. and
Mrs. Kiel decided that a visit home would cure the
attacks of homesickness which were affecting her
health. So accompanied by sturdy year-old Bernard
Elmore, Mrs. Kiel made the journey back to Ireland
by air in under 10 hours.
Business prevented Mr. Kiel accompanying her but he
plans to come to Armagh for his wife and son as soon
as possible as he is anxious that Bernard should
have an American upbringing.
Mrs. Kiel agreed that many brides who at first found
disappointment in their marriages in America were now
building up a new life out there, and said few
regretted leaving the old country for the wider
opportunities of the States.
