GI bride back for visit

Faith 'Fay' Stanton, 80, grew up in Maesglas but met and married an American soldier during the Second World War and emigrated to Washington.

On Friday Mrs Stanton and her family, who are visiting the city for the first time, met Newport's mayor, Ray Truman.

Mrs Stanton was born in Glen View, Cwmbran, and moved to Maesglas when she was nine years old.

At a dance, 60 years ago, she was introduced to Chuck Stanton, then 22, a GI from Peoria, who was stationed with the US Army 1594th Division of Engineers near Pontypool.

Mrs Stanton, a member of the Women's Land Army, fell in love with the handsome soldier. Throughout their courtship Chuck was posted to various places but the couple kept in touch by letter.

The pair were married on January 6, 1944, in Surrey.

After they wed Chuck was shipped out to Omaha Beach, in Normandy, France, on June 6 1944 - D-Day.

After the invasion Mrs Stanton heard nothing from her new husband for six months and believed him dead. Then a letter arrived with news that he was alive.

He was granted leave to be at home with Faith for when their first child arrived.

But his leave ran out just eight days before John was born on February 18, 1945. It was 13 months before Chuck saw John for the first time.

The couple went on to have five more children. A daughter Annie, who died when she was five weeks old, a son, David, who died of cancer in 1992 aged 36, Vicki Rybolt, Jessica Heid and Tina Guth. They also had 12 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

On Friday, Mrs Stanton was welcomed back to Newport by Mr Truman.

She said: "I have seen a lot of the sights since I have been back but it's changed so much I can't believe it."

Sadly, Mr Stanton died four years ago. But Mrs Stanton said: "I know that he's looking down on us today, he would've loved to have come."

Mrs Stanton swapped American coins with Mr Truman and he gave her the Newport crest and a silver clock, and a Newport tie and other gifts to John, now 59.