And, since Kay apparently met Michael in college, and he went right into the Armed Forces after Pearl Harbor, she had no up-front reason to doubt Michael when he said, "That's my family, Kay--it's not me."
Turnbull, you bring up an interesting question. Did Mike meet Kay in college? Since I believe he is supposed to have gone to Dartmouth, which is located in New Hampshire, which makes it very feasible. Was she also a student or one of the local girls?
I am trying to visualize a time line as to when Mike went to college and when he enlisted in the Marines. Did he enlist before going to college, or the other way around. How old would Mike have been in December in 1941?
Got to love the Internet. Found all my questions answered. I will now share with everyone:
Gender Male
Born 1920[1][2]
Hell's Kitchen, New York, U.S.
Died 1997[3]
Bagheria, Sicily, Italy
Affiliation Corleone family
Title(s) Don, The Godfather
Michael.
Born in 1920, to Vito and Carmela Corleone, Michael was deeply loved by his father, even prompting Vito to murder blackmailer Don Fanucci so he could support Michael and the rest of his family. He became a bright and handsome young man, and of all of Vito Corleone's children, Michael was said to be most like him in terms of intelligence, personality, and cunning.
Michael and Kay
Michael at his sister Connie's wedding.
Michael initially wanted nothing to do with the Corleone's "family business", and enrolled at Dartmouth College in order to escape any potential involvement in crime. In truth, his father never wanted Michael to be involved in the family's criminal enterprise, and actually hoped he'd go into politics. After the United States' entry into World War II in 1941, he enlisted in the Marines (training under Sergeant Bradshaw) and fought in the Pacific, even though his father had expended great effort to wrangle a deferment for him. For his bravery in battle, Michael was awarded the Navy Cross, he was also featured in Life magazine in 1944. Michael was discharged as a Captain to recover from wounds- along with friend Hank Vogelsong - in 1945 (unbeknownst to him, the doctor treating him had been bribed by his father to exaggerate his injury in order to send him home). Returning to Dartmouth, he met a young teaching student, Kay Adams; the two fell in love. He assured Kay on numerous occasions that he wanted a more normal life, and wanted nothing at all to do with the Mafia.
