FILE - In this Aug. 11, 2005 photo, Edith Shain, who claims to be the nurse in the photograph being kissed by a sailor in during the celebration of the Allied victory ending World War II, poses by a sculpture of the event by Seward Johnson, in New York's Times Square has died. Her son, Robert, says Shain was 91 when she died Sunday, June 20, 2010 at her Los Angeles home. In August 1945, Life magazine photographer Alfred Eisenstadt snapped the famous photo of a sailor smooching a nurse on V-J Day to celebrate Japan's surrender and the end of World War II. But he never got their names, and several women have claimed to be the nurse. (AP Photo/Richard Drew))

Woman who claimed to be V-J kiss photo nurse dies

ROBERT JABLON
ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES — Edith Shain, who claimed she was the nurse kissed by a sailor in Times Square in an iconic World War II photo, has died.

Her son, Robert, says Shain was 91 when she died Sunday at her Los Angeles home.

Shain visited Santa Rosa's Lodge at Paulin Creek in April to talk about the famous photo and her experiences during World War II.

In August 1945, Life magazine photographer Alfred Eisenstadt snapped the famous photo of a sailor smooching a nurse on V-J Day to celebrate Japan's surrender and the end of World War II. But he never got their names, and several women have claimed to be the nurse.

Shain moved to California after the war and continued nursing but also taught kindergarten in Los Angeles for 30 years.

Robert Shain says his mother appeared in Memorial Day parades around the country and also made a point of teaching youngsters about the war.

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