VA secretary rescinds memo seeking to ban photo of WWII sailor kissing woman on V-J Day

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough on Tuesday rescinded a department memo meant to ban the famous World War II photo of a Navy sailor kissing a woman in New York’s Times Square. 

“Let me be clear: This image is not banned from VA facilities – and we will keep it in VA facilities,” McDonough tweeted along with the black-and-white image known as “V-J Day in Times Square.” 

The tweet came hours after a copy of a memo from RimaAnn Nelson, the VA assistant secretary for health for operations, was shared widely on social media.

The memo, sent to the Veterans Integrated Services Network Directors on Feb. 29, requested the photo be removed and replaced at all VA facilities to maintain a “safe, respectful, and trauma-informed environment.” 

Nelson writes that the photo “depicts a non-consensual act” which is “inconsistent with the VA’s no-tolerance policy towards sexual harassment and assault.” 

The VA confirmed to The Hill that the memo was authentic but that it should not have been sent out.

“A memo was sent out that should not have been, and it has been rescinded,” a spokesperson said.

The photo in question was taken Aug. 14, 1945, the day Japan surrendered to the United States. As people flocked to Times Square to celebrate the news, George Mendonsa grabbed young dental assistant Greta Zimmer, whose later changed her last name to Friedman, and pulled her into a kiss snapped by photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt.

The memo acknowledges the image is “iconic” and was originally seen as “a symbol of victory and the joyous end to the long and devastating conflict,” earning a place in VA facilities to celebrate and commemorate the end of war and the return of U.S. soldiers. 

“However, perspectives on historical events and their representations evolve. Recent discussions have highlighted concerns about the nonconsensual nature of the kiss,” Nelson writes.  

She also asserts that some employees have complained about the photo “as a tacit endorsement of the inappropriate behavior it depicts.’’

The memo follows a few months after the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee launched an investigation into sexual misconduct and harassment allegations at the VA’s Office of Resolution Management, Diversity and Inclusion, which is meant to promote a harassment-free workplace.