WWII love letters hidden behind wall in New York home delivered to family 80 years later

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It is said that existent emotion stands nan trial of time.

For Carol Bohlin of Tinmouth, Vermont, it’s her parents' World War II-era emotion letters that proved indelible erstwhile they were talented to her by a complete alien who recovered them astir 80 years aft they were written. 

"I was really truthful amazed they recovered these," Bohlin, 76, told Fox News Digital. 

"I ne'er expected this."

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Bohlin, nan girl of Claude Marsten Smythe and Marie Borgal Smythe of Staten Island, New York, said she had nary thought her parents had saved and hidden distant their only intends of connection while her begetter was serving successful nan U.S. Navy during World War II.

Carol Bohlin holds World War II-era emotion letters that her parents sent to 1 different astir 80 years ago.

Carol Bohlin holds World War II-era emotion letters that her parents sent to 1 different astir 80 years ago. (MyHeritage)

"In nan letters, he was very concerned astir my mother because she was not very well," Bohlin said.

"He called her ‘dearest’ and ‘honey.’ He asked about relatives, for illustration an uncle I ne'er met who died of tuberculosis successful his 20s," she added. 

"He mentioned my grandparents, Willie and Ruth, and wanted to cognize really they were doing. So, that brought backmost a batch of things I had heard arsenic a child. I met my grandfather, but he died erstwhile I was little," Bohlin said.

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Bohlin’s begetter besides utilized connection she remembers proceeding from her childhood, specified arsenic nan connection "swell," she said. 

The family moved from their Staten Island home aft Claude Smythe died successful 1974. 

Claude Marsten Smythe (shown successful nan image above, astatine right) and Marie Borgal Smythe (left) wrote letters to each different during his U.S. Navy service.

Claude Marsten Smythe (shown successful nan image above, astatine right) and Marie Borgal Smythe (left) wrote letters to each different during his U.S. Navy service. (MyHeritage.com)

In 1995, Dottie Kearney and her hubby purchased Bohlin’s puerility home.

While they were doing immoderate renovations, they discovered nan handwritten letters down a wall, according to Kearney.

‘Most precious emotion story’

The letters seemed to person fallen done a ace in nan attic. 

After reference a few, Kearney said she instantly realized she'd recovered a treasure.

"It is nan astir precious emotion story," Kearney told Fox News Digital. 

"He called her ‘dearest Marie.’ He told her really he spent 5 cents and treated himself to meal 1 night. She kept him live during nan war. He lived for her. It’s for illustration nan emotion communicative you publication astir aliases spot successful a movie and wish you had."

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Kearney said she was moved by really beautifully written nan letters were — and connected specified "tiny, for illustration 3-by-5, stationery from nan subject and [with] subject postage." 

The backstage emotion letters "were truthful well-kept," Dottie Kearney said of nan letters she recovered successful nan New York City location she bought.

The backstage emotion letters "were truthful well-kept," Dottie Kearney said of nan letters she recovered successful nan New York City location she bought. (MyHeritage.com)

"You could show she opened them pinch attraction and cherished them," Kearney said.

"Everything was still intact. Nothing was smudged, thing was discolored. They were beautiful amazing."

Kearney said she desperately wanted to return nan letters to nan family, but did not cognize really to way down nan descendants of nan couple.

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"I couldn't find immoderate interaction information, wherever I could nonstop them aliases who they belonged to," Kearney said. 

Claude and Marie Smythe are pictured above. The brace sent emotion letters backmost and distant to each different during World War II, erstwhile Claude Smythe was serving successful nan U.S. Navy.

Claude and Marie Smythe are pictured above. The brace sent emotion letters backmost and distant to each different during World War II, erstwhile Claude Smythe was serving successful nan U.S. Navy. (MyHeritage.com)

"So I put a ribbon astir them and kept them successful my caput for years," she added.

"When we sold that house and moved, I brought nan letters pinch me. I said, ‘One time I’m going to find retired wherever these letters belong.’"

‘Wanted them to beryllium found’

Twenty-eight years later, Kearney saw New York-based heirloom huntsman Chelsey Brown, 30, connected "The Kelly Clarkson Show." 

She realized she mightiness person recovered personification who could thief her find nan rightful proprietor of nan World War II emotion letters. 

"It’s for illustration nan emotion communicative you publication astir aliases spot successful a movie and wish you had."

— Dottie Kearney

Brown, a New York-based interior decorator, has a passion for reuniting historical artifacts pinch long-lost family members.

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"The 2nd I realized these were World War II letters, I knew I needed to thief Dottie find nan rightful descendants of nan mates who wrote them," Brown told Fox News Digital. 

Claude and Marie Smythe are photographed while sitting successful a vehicle. The couple's recently discovered emotion letters became nan attraction of a awesome woody of attention.

Claude and Marie Smythe are photographed while sitting successful a vehicle. The couple's recently discovered emotion letters became nan attraction of a awesome woody of attention. (MyHeritage.com)

"I cannot return connected each task group email maine astir because that would fundamentally beryllium impossible. But I always prioritize Holocaust and warfare projects," she said.

Brown utilized her resources, including nan MyHeritage.com database, to link Kearney pinch 1 of Bohlin’s sons — and yet pinch Bohlin herself.

"In nan end, why did Carol’s parents hide those letters?" Brown said. 

"They wanted them to beryllium recovered 1 day. Those letters were meant for Dottie [Kearney] to find."

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Brown added that she enjoys handling letters, particularly erstwhile they were written during wartime, because they served arsenic a lifeline betwixt people who loved each other.

Claude and Marie Smythe are pictured supra connected their honeymoon.

Claude and Marie Smythe are pictured supra connected their honeymoon. (MyHeritage.com)

"I link pinch them because you're reference firsthand accounts from people. You're reference their thoughts, their feelings, their loves, their hates, their heartbreaks, their passion, their excitement. It’s truthful beautiful and moving."

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Bohlin said her parents’ letters confirmed what she remembers about their marriage.