Edith Shain, Nurse Kissing Sailor in Famous V-J Day Photo, Dies in Los Angeles at 91

By: Devon Thomas
Topics: News

Edith Shain in 2005. (AP)

NEW YORK (CBS) History buffs: Remember the iconic V-J day kiss between a nurse and an overjoyed American sailor in Times Square at the end of World War II in 1945? The woman in that famous photograph has died in Los Angeles. She was 91.

The young nurse's name was Edith Shain and at the time she worked at Doctor's Hospital in New York City. The iconic kiss in Times Square was captured by Life magazine photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt on Aug. 14, 1945.

Her identity was not known until the late 1970s when Shain contacted Eisenstaedt to say she was the woman in the picture.

The identity of the sailor is still not determined.

In 2008, Shain told the New York Daily News that she regretted never getting the young sailor's number. "In retrospect, I should have said, 'Hey, wait a minute!'" she told the newspaper.

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by nearl451 June 23, 2010 10:17 PM EDT: Just saw this statue in Sarasota last week on vacation. Knew about the photo, but never knew a statue existed.

They dismantled the statue last week and sent to NJ for restoration/cleaning.

Quite a conicidence to find this article today.; Reply to this comment


by petewestwood June 23, 2010 8:48 PM EDT: How sad, that the death of Edith Shain in some way symbolizes one of our few remaining icons that linked us back to another consciousness to our current ?no end in sight? war. One can only wonder whether our nation could ever live the same rapture it once lived and experienced once the Japaneses were defeated. It was a moment it seems so long long ago. If only Edith could have stayed with us a little longer?A kiss back to you Mrs Shain, farewell.

http://scallywagandvagabond.com/2010/06/symbolic-icon-of-ww2-edith-shain-passes-away/; Reply to this comment


by monet_bleu June 23, 2010 5:01 PM EDT: Rude and judgemental comments are unnecessary. Edith Shain was not just a nurse, but a kindergarten and first grade teacher at Hancock Park Elementary School and a television producer. I was lucky enough to be in her kindergarten and first grade class. She was ahead of her time and her teaching style was unique. We students were allowed to be ourselves. She was the best teacher in the world and as an educator, I hope that I can leave the same impression on my students that she left on me.; Reply to this comment


by realist51 June 23, 2010 4:28 PM EDT: two people overjoyed by the end of the war. share a breif moment together and caught on film once in a lifetime photo and some people critize it. sorry to see her pass. another part of our history of ww2 needs to be remembered what better way than by moments captured in time. rest in peace edith. the lucky sailor too.; Reply to this comment

by 4merGOPr June 23, 2010 4:01 PM EDT

Kissing is not a sin you doofus. Insead of quoting the Bible how about once in your life actually reading it. You can't get your savation via televangilists.

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by I_am_me1953 June 23, 2010 4:13 PM EDT: Mrs_funbun is a troll and has gone by many different names on this site. If you have been here a long time you will remember GOP_will win, GOP-4ever, gosh I can't remember all of her names.