What was Greta Zimmer Friedman’s occupation in the famous V-J Day in Times Square photograph?

Greta Zimmer Friedman was a dental assistant in the famous V-J Day in Times Square photograph.

Friedman was the woman in Alfred Eisenstaedt’s image of a sailor kissing a stranger during the August 14, 1945, celebration in New York City. For many years, captions and public memory often described her as a nurse because she was wearing a light-colored uniform.

Later interviews and historical research established that Friedman was a dental assistant. She explained that the sailor grabbed her suddenly during the celebration and that the moment was an expression of joy rather than a planned romantic encounter.

The photograph was taken before President Harry Truman’s official announcement was broadcast in the United States. It was published by Life magazine and became an enduring symbol of the end of the war with Japan. The sailor’s identity has remained contested, while Friedman’s identity is much more firmly documented.