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WWII vet in Va. reuniting with war girlfriend in Australia

NORFOLK, Va. - A World War II veteran has embarked on a 10,500-mile journey to visit his wartime girlfriend after more than 70 years apart.

The Virginian-Pilot reports that 93-year-old Norwood Thomas boarded a plane from Norfolk to Australia on Sunday to reunite with the former Joyce Morris, now Joyce Durrant.

CBS affiliate WTKR in Norfolk reports the couple met while Thomas was stationed in London with the 101st Airborne Division, and she was living for the duration of the war. There was a wedding plan, but war and life ripped the couple apart.

Decades later, Durrant's son tracked Thomas down, and they reunited over Skype.

Thomas calls Morris "the one that got away."

After their story went public, hundreds of people made donations to help fund Thomas' trip to Australia. Air New Zealand arranged the flight to send Thomas to his long-lost love.

It will take two days to reach Australia. Thomas says he would rather die traveling there than sit at home wondering "what if?"

However, the veteran says he is also aware of the potential pitfalls.

"Seventy years is a long time, and at the time it was very intense, and it took awhile for that to die and we will find out if it died completely," Thomas said.

Thomas said he still has feelings for Durrant, more than half a century later. While he says he is anxious to hear if she feels the same way, this situation could set them both up for heart break, again.

"We may feel the attraction for each other, but there will be another separation and that separation may be forever," Thomas explained.

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