# Kissing the War Goodbye: who are those people? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 3, 2004, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-the-war-goodbye-who-are-those-people/253298 "2004-07-03T00:14:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Abbie\_Carmichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@Abbie\_Carmichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abbie_Carmichael)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-the-war-goodbye-who-are-those-people/253298/1 "2004-07-03T00:14:49Z")
[This](http://www.art.com/asp/sp.asp?PD=10076915&RFID=346898) is one of my favorite pictures of all time. Who are they, though? Did anyone ever go out and track them down? Seems like I heard once that the soldier had just grabbed her – as in, they weren’t a couple, didn’t know each other, etc. I wonder whatever became of them. Maybe they’re still alive. This is driving me crazy. Anyone know? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-the-war-goodbye-who-are-those-people/253298/2 "2004-07-03T00:17:10Z")
[You aren’t the only one who wants to know](http://www.life.com/Life/special/kiss01a.html) ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-the-war-goodbye-who-are-those-people/253298/3 "2004-07-03T03:33:59Z")
There have been a number of claimants. This page lists some of the most recent claimants: [http://www.acepilots.com/ww2/pictures.html](http://www.acepilots.com/ww2/pictures.html) ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-the-war-goodbye-who-are-those-people/253298/4 "2004-07-03T03:54:04Z")
\*\*The Hills Have Eyes. \*\* “Mmm… Tenderloin baby!” Hilarious. The original \*\*Stepford Wives. \*\* Very silly. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-the-war-goodbye-who-are-those-people/253298/5 "2004-07-03T04:01:16Z")
I remember that several years back, Dear Abby addressed the issue. She devoted an entire column to the letters she recived from people claiming to be the man in the photo with the wry comment that there were many, many more. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2004, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-the-war-goodbye-who-are-those-people/253298/6 "2004-07-08T12:58:08Z")
> [@Abbie Carmichael](#): > > Seems like I heard once that the soldier had just grabbed her – as in, they weren’t a couple, didn’t know each other, etc. That’s true, according to the photographer. Sorry, no cite, but I read in an anniversary issue of **Life** that he saw the sailor making his way down the street, kissing women at random, and he (the photographer) was waiting for him to grab a woman wearing light-colored clothing, to contrast with the dark uniform. As for who they were, I think the search was abandoned long ago.