Newark's first Italian war bride found love in WWII | History
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. He first participated in the Rome – Arno campaign, which lasted until Sept. 9, 1944. From that point on, over the next seven months, there were battles along the Gothic Line, a 200-mile defensive line where German defenders had dug in. In October, Herbert's sister reported to The Advocate that she received a letter from him that he was in a hospital in Italy suffering from "a nervous condition." By mid-November, he had recovered and was back with his regiment. In April, it was reported that Herbert was now a corporal and had been awarded the combat infantryman badge. But while he was in the hospital in October, Herbert had met an Italian Red Cross volunteer who turned his fortunes in the war, 24-year-old Nicoletta "Nicki" Fortuniti. They were married about six months later, Feb. 1, 1946, in the rectory of the Catholic church in Naples.
Licking County history: Newark's forgotten graveyard reveals more mysterious skeletons
According to The Advocate article on July 31, 1946, Nicki sailed to America. She came to Newark and lived with Herbert's sister's family on Prior Avenue. A week after her arrival, Newark Advocate reporter Hazel Kirk contacted the family for an interview. Since Nicki didn't speak English, Kirk was accompanied by Mrs. Joseph Jeffries and Miss Julia Jeffries, who interpreted for the story.
Hazel described Nicki as having "Personality plus" and then wrote: "She is vivacious yet poised. She is gay and determined to make a good life for herself and her husband in America." Nicki described Herbert to the paper as, "Big, tall, and good looking and the hardest working soldier in Uncle Sam's Army because his wife says, plenty of other soldiers loafed on the job in Italy, but not Herbert Klein."
Nicki also related what happened when she was caught in the crossfire between an American tank and the Germans: "Speaking rapidly in Italian. She described it by extending her arms and emphasizing the word 'boom.' With a second 'boom', she indicated she had fallen. She said that when the fighting started, she was frightened at the first outburst and started to run, which probably saved her life, for the house that she was in was demolished with the second salvo." She was wounded with shrapnel that penetrated one side of her body below her shoulders and passed through her back. She was also wounded in her arm. Nicki was first treated by American doctors and spent 26 days in the hospital.
Licking County history: Skeletons unearthed in Newark's forgotten pioneer graveyard
As far as Nicki's first impressions of America, the reporter wrote, "She has fallen as ardently in love with America in a few days as she did with her husband."
Herbert was discharged in August and returned home to his bride. Nicki became a citizen in 1957, and the couple bought a home at 916 Jones Ave. After 51 years of marriage, Herbert died March 17, 1997. On March 1, 2011, 14 years later, Newark's first Italian war bride died at the age of 91. The couple had no children. They are buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery.
Doug Stout is the local history coordinator for the Licking County Library. You may contact him at 740-349-5571 or dstout@lickingcountylibrary.org . His book "Never Forgotten: The Stories of Licking County Veterans" is available for purchase at the library or online at bookbaby.com.
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Newark's first Italian war bride's WWII love story | History
