96-Year-Old Girlfriend of 100-Year-Old US Veteran to Marry at World War II Site

Reading Time: 2 minutes

100-Year-Old US Veteran To Marry Girlfriend, 96, At World War II Site

In a heartwarming love story that defies age and time, American couple Harold Terens, 100, and Jeanne Swerlin, 96, are set to tie the knot next month in France, where Terens served during World War II.

The couple’s courtship, as they describe it, is “better than Romeo and Juliet.” Terens, a US Air Force veteran, will be honored on June 6 at a commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, a historic Allied operation that changed the course of the war.

Two days later, Harold and Jeanne will exchange vows in Carentan-les-Marais, near the beaches where thousands of soldiers waded ashore on D-Day in 1944. The town’s mayor will preside over the ceremony.

“It’s a love story like you’ve never heard before,” Terens assures AFP during an interview at Swerlin’s home in Boca Raton, Florida. The couple, who hold hands and exchange loving glances, are like teenagers in love.

Terens, a living history book with a vivid memory, recalls his experiences during the war with clarity. He served in England and later embarked on a secret mission to Soviet Ukraine, where he played a crucial role in resupplying US B-17 aircraft.

After the war, Terens returned to the US, married his wife Thelma, and raised three children. Following Thelma’s passing in 2018, Terens found love again in Jeanne Swerlin, who had also been widowed.

The couple’s journey to love and happiness is a testament to the enduring power of love, resilience, and the belief that it’s never too late to find happiness. As they prepare to say “I do” surrounded by family and friends, Harold Terens, the decorated military veteran, considers himself the luckiest man in the world.

Their upcoming wedding in France is a celebration of love, life, and the remarkable journey that brought them together.