History ’ s
Most Famous
VJ Day in Times Square
Nurse and Sailor Share Their Story
Kiss
In 2012 , following the publication of The Kissing Sailor , “ The Sailor ,” George Mendonsa and “ The Nurse ,” Greta Friedman spoke to students at the AVC ’ s Annual Veterans Conference & National Youth Leadership Summit .
Around the same time , they appeared on the AVC ’ s weekly radio series , Veterans Chronicles , airing weekly on nearly 50 stations nationwide and available online via iTunes .
Their personal stories were just as compelling as the story behind “ the kiss .” While George had seen combat throughout the Pacific , Greta Friedman - then-Zimmer - was an Austrian Jew who had lost her parents to the Holocaust , barely escaping to safety in the U . S .
When news broke on August 14 , 1945 that Japan would surrender , George - on his first date with his future wife , Rita - and Greta - working as a hygienist assistant in a dental office - made their way toward the celebrations taking place in Times Square . Their chance momentary encounter was captured on film by Alfred Eisenstaedt , the LIFE magazine photographer who himself had nearly been killed at Flanders during World War I while serving as a German soldier .
The following is adapted from George and Greta ’ s 2012 interview on Veterans Chronicles .
Veterans Chronicles : Those of us who weren ’ t there can only imagine what it was like in Times Square on August 14 , 1945 . Tell us about the mood in the city that day .
Greta : Well , it was a very happy mood , very hopeful , because people had been deprived of seeing their own kids that were drafted into the war . When the news came through , I was within walking distance of Times Square . I worked on Lexington Avenue and on my lunch hour , I thought , well , I ’ ve got to go there . In fact , I think that any big news was always broadcast on the Times Square building , which went around in lights . It was a fantastic event that we all had been hoping and praying for . We had hoped for the end of the war and that everyone would come home safely and life could go forward . A lot of us had boyfriends , but then they would have to go back to the service that they were attached to , and so it was just hoping that everyone could go back to living a normal life , and not be anxious and worried about our friends that were in the service .
Veterans Chronicles : As you approached the square , what did you notice ?
Greta : Well , lots of people were going in the same direction I was going to find out what was going on . I was working in a dentist ’ s office and the patients would come in and they would say , “ I think the war ’ s ending .” That was the best news that could have been going around . And I had to go to Times Square . I had no choice .
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