Children born to white German women and fathered by African-American GIs in occupied Germany were often put up for adoption. Henriette Cain, center, was two years old when she was adopted from Germany by Bishop Hood and his wife, Katie M. Cheney-Hood.
Forgotten history: Germany's 'brown babies' —
Children born to white German women and fathered by African-American GIs in occupied Germany were often put up for adoption. Henriette Cain, center, was two years old when she was adopted from Germany by Bishop Hood and his wife, Katie M. Cheney-Hood.
When Cain finally found her biological mother, left, she learned her mom didn't want to give her child up for adoption, but felt she had no choice. German women who had children with American soldiers were often harassed and allowed limited societal support.
Forgotten history: Germany's 'brown babies' —
When Cain finally found her biological mother, left, she learned her mom didn't want to give her child up for adoption, but felt she had no choice. German women who had children with American soldiers were often harassed and allowed limited societal support.
In October 2011, Cain, center, gathered her daughter, far left, mother, far right, and granddaughter for their first family portrait. "I was really happy to finally get this four-generation photo taken," Cain said.
Forgotten history: Germany's 'brown babies' —
In October 2011, Cain, center, gathered her daughter, far left, mother, far right, and granddaughter for their first family portrait. "I was really happy to finally get this four-generation photo taken," Cain said.
Cain now works as a search consultant to help other 'brown babies' find their biological families. One of Cain's current open search cases involves a woman who is searching for her father. Eddie Thomas is believed to have been from New York or Baltimore, and is pictured here in 1954 in Mannheim, Germany with the client's mother, Irmgard Dieter-Thomas.
Forgotten history: Germany's 'brown babies' —
Cain now works as a search consultant to help other 'brown babies' find their biological families. One of Cain's current open search cases involves a woman who is searching for her father. Eddie Thomas is believed to have been from New York or Baltimore, and is pictured here in 1954 in Mannheim, Germany with the client's mother, Irmgard Dieter-Thomas.
Another case involves a German mother of the boy in this photo, Joshua. She knows only that a white family in Oklahoma adopted him in 1981, after his father, an African-American soldier, died. The family sent this image when Joshua was about 2, but then lost touch with the German mother, who has continued to search for him.
Forgotten history: Germany's 'brown babies' —
Another case involves a German mother of the boy in this photo, Joshua. She knows only that a white family in Oklahoma adopted him in 1981, after his father, an African-American soldier, died. The family sent this image when Joshua was about 2, but then lost touch with the German mother, who has continued to search for him.