When photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt snapped the photo known as " The Kiss " in Times Square on V - J Day , Aug. 14 , 1945 , he had no melodic theme who he was photographing . The twain ’s identity remained a mystery for year , and over time , many claimed to be the people in the photograph . At least 11 homo claimed to be the sailor boy , and three women had claim on being " the nursemaid . " It was n’t until the 80s that Greta Friedman was confirmed to be " the nanny . "
Friedman was in reality a dentist ’s helper at the meter . She was on pause when news that the Japanese had surrendered broke . People flooded the streets to celebrate . George Mendonsa , the sailor in the pic , grab her and kissed her . They did n’t know each other . In fact , Mendonsa , a quartermaster in the Navy , was in Times Square with another woman who he later get hitched with .
" I did not see him approaching , and before I acknowledge it I was in this vice grip,“Friedman tell CBSin 2012 .
Getty | Alfred Eisenstaedt
A few hebdomad later on , the photograph guide deep in the pages ofLifemagazinewith the caption , " In New York ’s Times Square a white - clothe girl clutches her bag and skirt as an uninhibited sailor plants his lips squarely on hers . "
The image rise to prominence over the years and evencourtedcontroversyas Friedman revealed the non - consensual circumstances of the kiss . Eisenstaedt reflected in 1985 , in the bookEisenstaedt on Eisenstaedt : a Self - Portrait , " If [ Friedman ] had been dressed in a dark frock I would never have taken the picture . If the Panama hat had worn a white uniform , the same . " He took four nimble shots in that abbreviated moment .
In a 2005 audience with the Library of Congress Veterans History Project , Friedman reflected on the coincidence that set down her unexpectedly in one of the most famous photos of the 20th century , " It was a wonderful coincidence , a world in a sailor ’s uniform and a charwoman in a white-hot apparel … and a great photographer at the correct time . "
Getty | Alfred Eisenstaedt
Friedman arrive in the United States in 1939 after her parents sent her and two of her sisters out of Nazi - occupied Austria as conditions worsened for Jews . Both of her parent would eventually die during the Holocaust .
Greta Friedman , the cleaning woman from one of World War II ’s most iconic photos , passed away on Sep. 8 , 2016 , at eld 92 according toher son Joshua Friedman . She ’ll be buried in Arlington National Cemetery next to her former married man Dr. Misha Friedman .
