MAN FINDS GRANDPARENTS' WARTIME LOVE LETTERS—THEN STARTS READING

Newsweek Exclusive Feature

The World War II love story told through 200 letters has gone viral, with the vintage romance capturing Gen Z hearts.

It was the kind of romance that plays out on the silver screen—an chance island meeting during wartime, a moonlit walk, a promise, and hundreds of handwritten letters before an emotional reunion. Now, that same story is captivating a Generation Z audience online, thanks to Drew Coyle's digital retelling of his grandparents' World War II love story.

"My grandmother put pen to paper and did something so extraordinary that it changed her life, it also brought me into the world," Coyle, known as @crewdoyle online, told viewers. "Here we are talking about it on TikTok with the hopes that more people hear about their love story."

His post, from April 3, chronicles the brief but unforgettable first meeting between his grandmother Helen, a Red Cross "doughnut girl," and his grandfather Bill, a traveling sailor then stationed in the Pacific. The video is just one of many that he has shared to TikTok and Instagram, where he reads out the tear-jerking letters exchanged between the once-young lovers.

"I am so passionate about their story," Coyle told Newsweek. "It is quickly changing my view and perspective on life, and I hope more people hear about the wonders of Bill and Helen."

The pair had met on a blind date on December 7, 1944, danced, walked, and promised to see each other the next morning. That promise, made in a single hour, became the foundation for a relationship that lasted decades. Coyle had heard the family lore his whole life—but he never imagined that the quiet promise his grandparents made on a Pacific island in 1944 would evoke such emotion from social-media users nearly 80 years later.

Helen was shipped out on the next day that the pair had promised to meet up, but, determined to keep her word, she wrote Bill a letter. It was a leap of faith for her time, uncertain and bold, but her effort was met in kind. Bill responded, and what followed was a long-distance correspondence that grew into more than 200 letters over the course of the war.

"Although they had only spent an hour together on a blind date, a bond quickly grew into a love that would last a lifetime, fulfilling their dreams of 'mañana'[tomorrow]," Coyle said. "Helen's innocent act to initiate correspondence caused a ripple effect that would change not only their lives, but lead to me."

The letters, handwritten during a shared "coffee hour" across continents, became the heart of their romance. Each message, a pause in the day's chaos and hardship, allowed Helen and Bill to dream together, even when the war kept them apart. The pair eventually married after the war ended, with one of Helen's letters allowing Bill to find her exact location.

Their grandson's social-media videos have since sparked a wave of nostalgic admiration from viewers across TikTok and Instagram.

"This definitely needs to turn into a movie," one viewer wrote under Coyle's April 3 post, while another added: "This is what loving someone unconditionally is, thank you for sharing."

Now, Coyle is turning those letters into a coffee-table book, expected to ship in early 2026. He hopes to have it ready by December 7, 2025—on what would be the 81st anniversary of Bill and Helen's first meeting.

From left: a photograph of Drew Coyle's grandfather, Bill, during WWII; and Bill with his wife, Helen, just after wartime. Credit: @CREWDOYLE

"I am trying to find a publisher right now, so we started a preorder list, and everyone who preorders and signs up for the newsletter helps establish ourselves to hopefully land a publishing deal," Coyle said. "I will be using TikTok to share the book development process and hopefully ship in time for Christmas.

"They met on December 7, 1944 so the target publication date is December 7, 2025," Coyle added.

The book, titled tentatively as a tribute to their "mañana" promise, is set to include transcriptions of the letters, photos, and original artifacts from Helen's scrapbook. Coyle's goal is not just to tell a story of two people in love, but also to give the world a glimpse into Helen's spirit—a woman whose words shone even in wartime—and contribute to our historical records of World War II.

"Helen felt as if the only person who understood her was Bill," Coyle said. "But, now, the world has an opportunity to see Helen for who she is, and witness her beauty that shines through her writing."

The project has drawn early support from followers who see in Bill and Helen's romance a reminder of a slower, more-deliberate kind of love—one built on patience, vulnerability, and trust.

It also reflects a growing trend on social media, where younger users are reclaiming and celebrating the analogue past, from highlighting handwritten letters to vintage photos and family histories.

On Instagram, Coyle continues to post under @pacificromance, reading letters aloud and sharing updates on the book's development, much like he does on TikTok. Each video draws comments from viewers who find comfort, inspiration, or kinship in the tale.

"Each preorder purchase helps show there is an army who wants Helen and Bill's love story to be shared," Coyle said. "We are in this together!"

THANK YOU FOR READING

READ THE FULL STORY HERE: https://www.newsweek.com/man-finds-grandparents-wartime-love-letters-2058625