When British-born Dorothy Halastik met and married U.S. soldier John Halastik in 1945, as the chaos and horror of World War II in Europe was coming to an end, they embarked on a new life together.
As a “war bride” Dorothy’s life changed in many ways, and a presentation at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 21 at First Christian Church, 708 Third St. in Platte City, will feature Dorothy and local author Debbie Coleman-Topi, who will talk about this unique story. The event will be hosted by the Platte County Historical Society, which operates the Ben Ferrel Platte County Museum.
The Platte County Historical Society will host a special program May 21 featuring the life of Dorothy Halastik, a British woman who married an American soldier and began a new life in the U.S. after World War II.
Coleman-Topi has written a book entitled “Memories of a War Bride.” She has been a journalist since graduating from the University of Missouri School of Journalism in 1983, and has written for The Kansas City Star and other local publications.
Dorothy is Coleman-Topi’s husband’s godmother.
“She and my future mother-in-law were best friends here in Sugar Creek, where they lived near each other, raised children and attended church together,” Coleman-Topi said. “I met Dorothy soon after having met my husband in 1979. We met while attending UMKC, and Dorothy and her husband, John, (cousin of my future father-in-law) were like family and attended many of the Topi family events. So I had heard bits and pieces of her story throughout the years.
“As a newspaper reporter, it occurred to me that her story is compelling and should be recorded. I asked her and she agreed to an interview for a book.”
Dorothy was born in 1927 in Ipswich, a small village about 70 miles northeast of London. She met her husband, who was stationed nearby with the U.S. Army Air Force at a military dance during World War II.
During the war Dorothy experienced many occasions when, during German air raids when she, her family, including her siblings and children she was babysitting, and neighbors had to scramble to the bomb shelter during the intense bombing.
A few months after Dorothy and John married in 1945, she moved to the U.S. After surviving the violence and devastation of the war and then leaving her home and family to move to the U.S., the transition proved to be difficult. She missed her family and friends and was very homesick.
Dorothy’s story has been described as a journey of perseverance, family love and hope. She faced many challenges growing up, including dropping out of school when she was only 14 to help earn money for the family by watching neighborhood children.
“As the oldest, she also helped take care of her six younger siblings,” Coleman-Topi said. “This prepared her for a future raising she and John’s own four children. But, it also meant a lot of responsibility for such a young girl.”
After Dorothy moved to the U.S. she never worked outside their home. She took care of the kids and the home, and often helped earn extra money by babysitting area children.
The presentation on May 21 will include information from Coleman-Topi’s book, including personal anecdotes about Dorothy’s life during the war and after moving to the U.S.
Dorothy will be present during the event, as well, to describe in her own words, some of her most vivid memories. They will both accept questions.
As a non-fiction account of historical events told from a woman’s perspective, Memories of a War Bride thoroughly describes the hardships war brides went through and the strength and determination they showed during this difficult time in history.
For Coleman-Topi, there are many memorable events that Dorothy conveyed to her that the book includes.
“I love the story about her long boat ride from England to the U.S. where she joined many other war brides journeying to start a new life,” she said. “Many, such as Dorothy, already were married and some had children. She had an interesting encounter caring for a young baby on board whose mother was very sea-sick.”
Although Coleman-Topi has interviewed several World War II veterans during her career, she has never interviewed other war brides.
“However, I wish I would have taken the time to write about these women earlier in my career as there are very few living now,” she said. “We tend to look at our own contemporary struggles as some of the worst ever faced, but, hearing about adversity faced by people during and after World War II offers a new perspective.”
Her books will be available for sale at the presentation and she will also take orders.
The free presentation is in keeping with a theme of journey stories and childhood (where all journey stories begin) during the Ben Ferrel Museum’s 2022 season.
For more information about the program, visit pchs1882.org or call Lisa Wittmeyer, 304-1627. If unable to attend but interested in ordering a book, contact Wittmeyer.