During World War II, about 300,000 American service members fell in love and married women overseas. Even Licking County men were not immune to Cupid’s arrows. On Aug. 13, 1946, the Newark Advocate announced the arrival of Mrs. Herbert Klein, Newark’s first Italian war bride.
Her husband, Herbert Herman Klein, was born Sept. 7, 1918, in Newark and was working at the Heisey Glass Co. when he was drafted June 2, 1941. He was assigned to Company K of the 338th Infantry Regiment with the 85th Division. The regiment left the United States on March 17, 1944, and arrived in Italy a month later.
