Henry Compton/Stars and StripesFrankfurt, Germany, October, 1948: American soldiers, their European war brides and their children prepare to head up the steps to an American Overseas Airlines flight at the Rhein-Main airport for a trip to New York and points beyond. Between 50 and 75 war brides — some with their families, others unaccompanied — were leaving from Rhein-Main for the U.S. each week as a December 27 deadline approached. After that date, their move to the U.S. would be subject to tougher immigration laws.

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