Houston's WWII sailor in famous kissing photo dies at 86

[The Straight Story]

Glenn Edward McDuffie, the young sailor who can be seen in one of the most iconic photos from the end of World War II, has died in Dallas, according to family members.

The WWII vet was 86.

McDuffie was 18 when he was captured in the famous kiss photo with nurse Edith Shain. She died in 2010 at the age of 91.

McDuffie spent 50 years in Houston before moving in 2009 to North Texas to live with his daughter, Glenda Bell, his only living offspring, after his health began to decline.

McDuffie collaborated with Houston Police Department forensic artist Lois Gibson in 2007 to prove that he was the sailor sharing that lusty kiss with Shain in Times Square on Aug. 14, 1945. The kiss was captured by the famous Life magazine photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt on V-J Day.

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Houston-s-WWII-sailor-in-famous-kissing-photo-5318052.php?cmpid=hpfc

[1000words]

1. What a relief to the DUers who see "The Kiss" as a molestation.

RIP, sailor.

[Cleita]

2. Really? Our mental sickos saw this as molestation?

I wasn't in Times Square, New York on that iconic day but in LA, and everyone was out in the street shouting, hugging and kissing each other, old people, young people, all genders as soon as they heard it on the radio. I was five years old and was picked up and passed around receiving hugs and kisses as were other neighborhood children. I certainly didn't feel like I was being assaulted by child molesters nor did my family see it that way. That picture captured the spirit of that day nothing else.

[1000words]

4. Sadly, yes.

The usual suspects.

[The Straight Story]

6. One of several old threads on the issue:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018207201

[Cleita]

7. Never mind. The usual roster. n/t

[yuiyoshida]

13. What a interesting thread...

many familiar names, not seen much any more.

[mwrguy]

5. It was unwanted sexual contact

It was assault

[sibelian]

10. ...

[stevenleser]

11. You know that the woman who was kissed disagrees with you, right?

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.afc2001001.42863/transcript?ID=sr0001

[Cleita]

12. If she didn't want him to kiss her she would have been

pushing him away. She wasn't.

[fascisthunter]

3. Wow, I didn't Realize he was Still Around

pretty amazing picture!

[pinboy3niner]

8. The famous photo:

[Comrade Grumpy]

9. Quick, call the cops!

[Omaha Steve]

14. K&R!