Folk Figure. He is remembered as the sailor whose image was captured by the renowned photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt spontaneously kissing a nurse (later identified as Greta Zimmer Friedman) on Victory over Japan (V-J) Day, August 14, 1945 at Times Square, New York City, New York, in celebration of the end of World War II. The picture was part of a number of other photographs of celebrations around the US that appeared in a 12-page section of Life magazine entitled "Victory Celebrations." He joined the US Navy in 1942 when he was only 15 years old, after finding a friend to forge his mother's signature. After the war, he returned home and became a mail carrier and semi-professional baseball player. In 1960 he moved to Houston, Texas and lived there until 2009 when he relocated to the Dallas, Texas area to be near his daughter. After the photograph was released, many men came forward to claim they were the sailor in the picture, but none could sufficiently prove it. In 1980 he came forward but his claim was not proved until 2007 when a Houston forensic artist concluded it was him through a study of the bone structure of all 11 men who had claimed to be the kissing sailor. He kept busy with speaking engagements and appearances for the rest of his life, with his last appearance on February 21, 2014. He died at the age of 86 after suffering a heart attack.
Folk Figure. He is remembered as the sailor whose image was captured by the renowned photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt spontaneously kissing a nurse (later identified as Greta Zimmer Friedman) on Victory over Japan (V-J) Day, August 14, 1945 at Times Square, New York City, New York, in celebration of the end of World War II. The picture was part of a number of other photographs of celebrations around the US that appeared in a 12-page section of Life magazine entitled "Victory Celebrations." He joined the US Navy in 1942 when he was only 15 years old, after finding a friend to forge his mother's signature. After the war, he returned home and became a mail carrier and semi-professional baseball player. In 1960 he moved to Houston, Texas and lived there until 2009 when he relocated to the Dallas, Texas area to be near his daughter. After the photograph was released, many men came forward to claim they were the sailor in the picture, but none could sufficiently prove it. In 1980 he came forward but his claim was not proved until 2007 when a Houston forensic artist concluded it was him through a study of the bone structure of all 11 men who had claimed to be the kissing sailor. He kept busy with speaking engagements and appearances for the rest of his life, with his last appearance on February 21, 2014. He died at the age of 86 after suffering a heart attack.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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GM3C US NAVY
WORLD WAR II
VJ DAY KISSING SAILOR
Family Members
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