She truly believed she was a young 18-year old widow and that her husband had died at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Sixty-six years later she learns the truth.

Excerpt from article published in INTERNET GENEALOGY MAGAZINE,October 2007 issue, pages 37 - 39:

Family history researchers know to check as many vital sources as possible when learning the actual events in their ancestors' lives. One of the best sources has always been first-hand knowledge by the bona fide ancestor, whether in a written form or verbally. If you can interview that person, ask the right questions, then even more can be learned. However, that is not always the case.
I have one relative who related to me over several years the circumstances of her first marriage and how she suddenly became a young widow after only being married a few months. It circled around a young US Army Air Corp navigator who died at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The events were so touching and heartfelt; it moved anyone who heard the story.
Not until by chance did I come across some Internet databases of marriage records did those events of 1941 start to fall apart. From that information vital records and newspaper obituaries were located which gave a whole different spin on what really happened.
The relative is still living, so after gathering the new documents I questioned her again in person on her first marriage. She was sincerely as perplexed by these discoveries as I had been. After going over details with her and the new evidence, our collectively conclusion was that she had been deceived by her parents. They thought she was too young to marry and especially go off to Hawaii. However, with the attack on Pearl Harbor and thousands of servicemen killed or unaccounted for, it afforded them the opportunity to say George had also been a casualty. Her father could then quietly, while his daughter was so distraught and grieving, obtain an annulment of this marriage.
The article provides the full details of what the relative had thought was the truth for decades and how I located the various documents to prove what really happened, all by using the Internet. So giving evidence that even personal interviews are only as reliable as the informant’s knowledge.