V-J Day 65th Anniversary and 65th of "The Big Kiss"

I'm starting to read a lot of articles about the 65th anniversary of the end of World War II which took place on today's date back in 1945. I decided to find out some more information on it so turned to good old Wikipedia for a quick summary.

V-J day stands for Victory Over Japan Day, but is also called V-P day, Victory in the Pacific (although I have never seen it referred to that way).

It refers to both the actual day the Japanese government surrendered, August 15th in japan and August 14th in the US and September 2, 1945, when the surrender was officially signed on board the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay

On this date 65 years ago, Japanese Emperor Hirohito announced over Radio Tokyo that Japan had accepted the terms of the Potsdam Declaration. He then sent a cable to President Truman by way of Switzerland's diplomatic mission in Washington, DC.


THE BIG KISS

This is also the day in which photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt took the famous picture of the sailor kissing the nurse in the Times Square V-J celebration. To this day, we still do not know who the sailor is for sure (although many have claimed to be the guy.

The nurse was Edith Shain, who, unfortunately died at age 91 this past June 20th.

A Great Day in US History. --DaCoot

65th Anniversary of the End of World War II

Tomorrow marks the 65th anniversary of the Japanese surrender, marking the end of World War II. I haven't seen too much about it, actually just this one article in the August 13th Wilmington (NC) Star-News "Wilmington celebrates V-J Day" by Wilbur D. Jones, Jr.

Back on August 15, 1945 (Japan time) Winter Park resident and New Hanover High School graduate Lt. jg Ralph "Buck" Barden, a TBM Avenger bomber pilot, was on his way to bomb a Tokyo electronics plant.

Half way there, he was ordered to abort the mission, jettison his bombs and return to the carrier USS Lexington. His war was over and so was everyone else's.

President Truman announced that the Japanese had surrendered at 7 pm, Tuesday, August 14, 1945. News reached Wilmington at sunset. Those businesses still open, immediately closed and thousands of celebrants gathered at Front Street. Autos were blasting their horns and many people were singing patriotic songs.

The article's writer remembers sitting at home with his parents and sister and listening to the news over the radio and later managing to get through on their party line and call friends.

He remembers that friends of his family had a baby girl born that day and that his mother had tried, tongue-in-cheek, to have her named VJ.

Jones said that VE Day had come during the day and again all businesses and schools were closed and people were out on the streets to celebrate.

A Great Day in US History! --Cooter

Dead Page: Kiss Nurse Dies

From the June 23rd Los Angeles Times.

Sad to find out that the nurse who received that big old kiss from the celebrating sailor on the day It was reported that Japan had surrendered, August 14, 1945, has died.

Edith Shain was 92 and made the front page 65 years ago while a student nurse who went to Times Square to join the celebration there. Photographer Alfred Eisenstadt was there and saw a young sailor kissing every female he came across, both young and old.

Edith was wearing her white uniform and Eisenstadt thought it would make a nice contrast with the sailor's dark one. He waited and sure enough the sailor swept Edith into his arms and gave a her a big one on the lips.

She kept her identity secret until the 1970s. The name of the sailor has never been conclusively determined.

After the war, Shain taught kindergarten for 30 years and worked as a night shift nurse.

One of the Great Photos of All Time.

The VJ Day Kiss Seen Round the World

The November 10th World Net Daily had an article on the woman in the famous Life photograph by Alfred Eisenstaedt at Broadway and 45th Street on Victory in Japan Day on August 14, 1945. This is where the sailor grabbed a nurse and planted a big kiss on her lips. This day is also called VP Day, Victory in the Pacific.

The nurse, Edith Shein, 90, of Los Angeles, will serve as the grand marshal at New York City's Veterans Day parade today. After the picture was taken, the former kindergarten teacher and still unidentified sailor went their separate ways.

She said, "This guy grabbed me and we kissed, and then I turned one way and he turned the other. There was no way to know who he was, but I didn't mind because he was someone who fought for me."

Several women over the years have claimed to be the nurse, but most believe Edith is the one.

Wouldn't It Have Been Neat If They Had Ended Up Marrying Each Other? --Cooter