In Our Words: José and Josy's Marriage José boarded The Marine Angel to begin his journey home to the United States in early January 1946, after waiting for months for transportation. That ocean voyage took him through Seattle, followed by a train ride to Fort Dix, New Jersey. Josy’s beloved mother, Malvina, had been ill since October, spending time in and out of the hospital. Josy visited her often, sometimes sneaking into her mother’s hospital ward to the consternation of the nurses on duty. Josy was able to share the news that she had been granted a full scholarship for her fifth year at the University of Pennsylvania before being told to leave. On the morning of January 8, Malvina passed away. José was officially discharged from the army on March 21, 1946. Upon returning to Philadelphia he visited Josephine. Josy once told Malva that José asked her if she had kissed any other men while he was away. Josy shared that she had kissed her cousin Elliot and José clarified that this wasn't the type of kiss that he meant. When it became clear that she had remained faithful to him, José asked Josy to marry him. (José had previously asked Jacques for Josy's hand in marriage. Jacques responded, “Don’t ask me, ask Josephine.”) On June 23, 1946, they were married at a small ceremony. They had a honeymoon in New York City, returning briefly to Philadelphia for Josy to march in her graduation from the University of Pennsylvania.