Former marine looks for sweetheart of 43 years ago

A former US marine is fulfilling his late wife's wish and looking for the woman he fell in love with almost half a century ago.

Patrick Hyland, then a young lance corporal, was stationed on board a military cargo ship that regularly called for supplies at the Grand Harbour when he ran into the attractive girl.

It was love at first sight and they spent as much time as they could together, even if he had to break military regulations.

Eventually, Mr Hyland had to return to the United States, where he lost contact with the woman after they had written to one another for a year.

Although he married someone else and had three children, he never forgot about her. "About three years ago, my wife and I were reading in bed when she tapped me on the shoulder and asked what I would do were she to pass away before I did. I told her I would probably remain single but she insisted I should look for my former girlfriend and marry her."

True enough, she passed away three months ago and his children reminded him about their mother's wish.

He makes it clear he does not want to complicate his former girlfriend's life should he trace her. "She might be married and have children. I would only like to carry on being friends."

It started with a sly pick-up line 43 years ago when Mr Hyland and a friend were walking along the harbour and noticed three young women approaching them.

"I walked over to them and politely asked whether they knew where an address I had made up was. They consulted one another but, obviously, they didn't know where it was. We quickly admitted there was no such address and offered them a drink for trying."

They spent hours chatting at a nearby coffee shop, during which Mr Hyland asked the girl whether she would like to be his guide of the island the next day because he was quite taken by her looks and personality.

"From then on it was me falling in love with her and her falling in love with me.

"At first, it was a little difficult to meet because I was in uniform but I finally decided to buy clothes to blend in with the tourists against military regulations and we would meet every day at Portes Des Bombes."

They visited churches, museums, markets, beaches, restaurants, casinos, went on boat rides and listened to music on his small portable radio.

Every man on the ship could go ashore every other day but when it was Mr Hyland's turn to stand watch onboard, he paid someone who wasn't particularly interested in the island to replace him.

"One day, she asked whether I knew of a soap that floated on water because her father was once given one and turned it into a sailing boat to play with when he bathed.

"I knew about Ivory soap but it wasn't available here. So, the next time I came ashore, I brought her a couple of bars. Apparently, her father was deliriously happy with them."

They eventually began discussing marriage but his salary of less than $100 a month was barely enough to sustain himself, let alone the two of them. "So, I told her I would return to finish my enlistment period and leave the corps. Then I would look for a job, make some money and return to ask her parents for her hand in marriage.

"She was more than willing to give it a go and promised she would wait for me to return."

They wrote back and forth for about a year when, one day, he received his letter back. When he gave it another go, the letter was returned to sender.

Assuming she had fallen in love with another man, he joined a university and studied accounting and finance. There, he met another woman, whom he married soon after.

"I guess it would be a lie to say I never thought of her over the years, wondering where she was and how she was. There's still a soft spot in my head and my heart when I think about the happy times we shared.

"But wherever this leads me, I don't want to disturb her if my contacting her would upset her in any way. I wouldn't want to ruin her marriage in any way and only want to be friends."

He recently contacted several families with the same surname but has not yet managed to find anyone related to her.

"A woman I called said she sure wished one of her old boyfriends from so long ago would look her up!"

Mr Hyland is therefore asking anyone with any information about the woman to contact The Times.

The Times is in possession of a photograph of the woman and her name, which, however, are not being published to protect her privacy.

kbugeja@timesofmalta.com