The sailor in a passionate kiss with a woman in the famous WWII photo passed away this month.
According to Reuters, the man’s name is Glen Edward McDuffie and he was kissing Edith Shain in the picture that went on to become one of the most iconic photos in history.
McDuffie passed away earlier this month after having a hardship with his health in his last few years of life. He was 86 at the time of his passing.
In an interview with the Houston Chronicle, McDuffie said he didn’t know Shain when the kiss occurred.
“When I got off from the subway, a lady told me the war was over, and I went into the street yelling. I saw the nurse and she was smiling at me, so I just grabbed her.”
After the photograph was released, many men tried to come forward to claim they were the sailor in the picture, but none succeeded. McDuffie came forward in 1980 and enjoyed the massive amount of attention he received.
He passed away as a citizen of North Texas after living in Houston for 50 years. He will be laid to rest at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery next week.
The New York Times reported that Shain passed away in 2010 at the age of 91 in Los Angeles.
Photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt captured the picture that stole the hearts of people all over the world.
Image: WIkimedia Commons