Glenn McDuffie facts for kids

Glenn Edward McDuffie (born May 31, 1927 – died March 9, 2014) was an American soldier who fought in World War II. He became famous because he was the person in a well-known photograph called V-J Day in Times Square. This picture shows him kissing a woman in a white uniform. It was taken on V-J Day, which was the day World War II officially ended.

McDuffie was born in Kannapolis, North Carolina. He passed away on March 9, 2014, in Dallas, Texas. He was 86 years old and died from a heart attack.

The Famous Kiss Photo

The photograph V-J Day in Times Square was taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt. It shows a sailor kissing a woman in Times Square, New York City. This happened on August 14, 1945, which was V-J Day. This day marked the end of World War II after Japan surrendered. Many people were celebrating in the streets.

For a long time, the people in the photo were not officially known. Many men and women claimed to be the famous couple. Glenn McDuffie was one of the people who said he was the sailor in the picture.

Who Was in the Photo?

Over the years, many people tried to figure out who the sailor and the woman in the photograph were.

Identifying the Sailor

Glenn McDuffie said he was the sailor in the photo. He explained that he was on a train to New York City when he heard the war had ended. He got off the train and went to Times Square to celebrate. He said he saw a woman and kissed her. He claimed he was the sailor in the picture because of details like his uniform and how he held the woman.

However, other men also claimed to be the sailor. One of the most likely people to be the sailor was George Mendonsa.

Identifying the Woman

The woman in the photo was thought to be a nurse. For some time, Edith Shain was believed to be the woman. She was a nurse who said she was the one in the picture.

Later, it was believed that the woman in the photo was actually Greta Friedman. She was a dental assistant at the time. She said the sailor grabbed her and kissed her, and she didn't even know him.

Legacy of the Photo

The V-J Day in Times Square photograph became a symbol of the end of World War II and the joy that came with peace. It is one of the most famous photos from that time. A large sculpture called Unconditional Surrender was even made based on the photo. It has been displayed in different cities, including Times Square.

Images for kids

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  V-J Day in Times Square, a photograph by Alfred Eisenstaedt, was published in Life in 1945 with the caption, "In New York's Times Square a white-clad girl clutches her purse and skirt as an uninhibited sailor plants his lips squarely on hers"

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  Alfred Eisenstaedt signing a copy of his famous V-J Day in Times Square photograph during the afternoon of August 23, 1995. He passed away about eight hours later.

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  Edith Shain, shown at the 2008 Memorial Day parade in Washington, D.C.. It was later thought that she was not the woman in the famous photograph.

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  George Mendonsa and Greta Friedman, who are now believed to be the most likely people in the photograph. They were guests of honor at a parade in 2009.

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  The Unconditional Surrender sculpture in Times Square, Manhattan, in 2005. It is based on the famous photo.

See also

In Spanish: V-J Day in Times Square para niños