(Lore Lizabeth Back/Stars and Stripes)

Schloss Hotel, Heidelberg, Germany, Jan. 8, 1949: No doubt several proposals are happening across U.S. bases this Valentine’s Day, leading many military couples down the aisle. We’re not sure who proposed to whom, or when, but Stars and Stripes was there when Barbara Donze Kiechel, daughter of Lt. Col. D.F. Kiechel, said yes to Lt. Col. Edward McKaba, executive officer, Rhein-Main Air Base in 1949. The bride wore white satin, carried a bouquet of white carnations, and there was this amazing cake.

Looking for Stars and Stripes’ historic coverage? Subscribe to Stars and Stripes’ historic newspaper archive! We have digitized our 1948-1999 European and Pacific editions, as well as several of our WWII editions and made them available online through https://starsandstripes.newspaperarchive.com/