World War II claimed millions of lives and shattered countless families. Sometimes, loved ones found themselves thousands of miles apart, on different continents. This was also the case for Peggy Seal, the heroine of this story.

Six weeks after their wedding, Billy was called up to serve as a pilot in the European theater of the war. Though it pained him to leave his young bride, his sense of duty compelled him to join the fight.

The last thing Peggy knew for certain about her husband was that he was piloting missions in England and was expected to return home by late July 1944. However, on July 17, a telegram arrived stating that Billy Harris was missing in action.

Peggy refused to believe that her husband was gone. For years, she sent inquiries to military archives and the Red Cross, but no one could provide definitive answers.

Too many documents had been lost during that time. Yet, Peggy’s hope never faded. Nearly 70 years later, another request was made, and it turned out that just before this, a Frenchwoman had been searching for records about Billy. Peggy wondered who this woman could be, and only when they made contact did the truth come to light.

Peggy traveled to Len-Ventes, where she was warmly welcomed by grateful locals. She met the last surviving witness to the crash of her husband’s plane.

So, after almost 70 years, Peggy Seal found her Billy, who had indeed become a hero.