Veterans Chronicles: George, talk about your decision to join the Navy, and where you served while you were in the Navy.
George: Well I was born and raised in Newport, RI. My father was a commercial fisherman and I was raised on the water, and when the Japanese hit Pearl Harbor, well I knew sooner or later I had to get into the Navy because I didn’ t want to get stuck and be drafted into the Army, so I volunteered to go into the Navy in November 1942.
Veterans Chronicles: Where did you serve during the war?
George: During the Navy battle in Guadalcanal a cruiser got hit and it sunk and disappeared in 35 seconds. And on the cruiser were the five Sullivan brothers, and of course they all got killed. The USS Juneau was the name of the cruiser that sunk. So, I went into the Navy in 1942 and there was a destroyer being built in San Francisco. The president of the United States ordered that cruiser. The destroyer was to be named USS The Sullivans after the five brothers that just got lost. So, that’ s the ship I served on, and in 1943 we went to the Pacific and we were out
there for a couple of years and we operated with the carriers Task Force 38 and Task Force 58. She was a good ship and I was proud to serve on the ship named after the five brothers.
A YOUNG GRETA ZIMMER –“ THE NURSE.” A NATIVE OF AUSTRIA, HER PARENTS WERE KILLED IN THE HOLOCAUST, WITH GRETA BARELY ESCAPING TO THE UNITED STATES.
Veterans Chronicles: Greta, how long had you been there before“ the kiss” happened?
Greta: Not that long. I was looking up at the building. I did not see him approach. He is a very strong man. I really couldn’ t get out of his strong grip.
Veterans Chronicles: How long did it all last?
Greta: I don’ t know … It was longer than usual. When you meet someone you know, it’ s what, a couple seconds? It was longer than that.
Veterans Chronicles: George, did either of you say anything to each other?
George: No, nothing. She went her way and I went mine. And I flew out that night to go back to San Francisco.
Veterans Chronicles: The woman you were with on a date, the day that the Japanese surrendered, she ultimately became your wife and is still your wife today. And she wasn’ t bothered at all that you grabbed that nurse and went and kissed her in Times Square?
Greta Friedman
16 AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY