Published June 24, 2012 – by The Galveston Daily News:

“The Kissing Sailor: The Mystery Behind the Photo That Ended World War II,” by Lawrence Verria and George Galdorisi, Naval Institute Press, 2012, 224 pages, $23.95

Publisher’s Weekly Writes:

Clancy Series Moves to SMP:

By MAUREEN CALLAHAN

Last Updated: 6:03 AM, June 17, 2012

Posted: 12:37 AM, June 17, 2012

Vincent DeWitt
AT PEACE: Rita Petry says she’s never been mad that on their first date, husband George Mendonsa kissed a woman he thought was a nurse to celebrate the end of WWII.

As first dates go, Rita Petry thought this one was pretty great: a beautiful summer afternoon in the city, a matinee at Radio City Music Hall, drinks after, followed by a passionate, soon-to-be-iconic kiss.

To read the full review please see the attached .PDF

WWII Magazine – The Kissing Sailor

Annapolis, MD—David Hartman, the original host of Good Morning America and foreword author of The Kissing Sailor: The Mystery Behind the Photo That Ended World War II by Lawrence Verria and George Galdorisi, will be interviewed on ABC’s morning talk show, The View.  The taping will take place on June 20^th and the show will air on June 22^nd.   All members of the studio audience will be the lucky recipients of a complimentary copy of the much discussed book.  Please check your local listings for air times.

Dear George,

I write to tell you what a superb job Larry Verria did today in introducing and explaining the book to a capacity audience at the Naval War College Museum. In roughly 40 minutes, he made an exceptional presentation and built his (and your) case for George Mendosa’s claim to fame elaborately, methodically – and most importantly – credibly. Then George got up and had a few words to buttress the claim and showed his arms as physical evidence. When he also spoke of his wife of 68 years, he clinched the deal for any doubting Thomases left in the audience.

By Jan Gardner

June 10, 2012

On Aug. 14, 1945, the day Japan’s surrender to the United States was announced, Times Square in New York City was overrun with crowds celebrating the end of the war. Overcome with emotion, a sailor spontaneously embraced and kissed a woman in a white uniform. Unbeknownst to the couple, Life magazine photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt captured the moment.

Sailor in iconic photo identified as Middletown man

By FLO JONIC (2012-06-11)

PROVIDENCE, RI (RIPR) – It’s been a mystery for decades. But now two Rhode Island authors say they have unlocked the identity of the sailor who kissed a woman dressed in white in Times Square on August 14, 1945 – the day the surrender of Japan was announced. They’ve identified the sailor in the iconic photo as a Middletown man.

–by David Axelson

Perhaps the most iconic image of the 20th Century was taken by “Life Magazine” photo journalist Alfred Eisenstaedt August 14, 1945 in Times Square in New York City. The occasion was V-J Day, or Victory over Japan Day, which ended World War II. Eisenstaedt’s subjects for the photo were a young sailor and a woman wearing a white uniform locked in an embrace.  Coronado author George Galdorisi (Capt. USN-Ret.), who along with co-author Larry Verria, has written a book entitled “The Kissing Sailor” which explores the identities of the couple depicted in the photo.

On his blog site, Dr. Andrew Erickson of the U.S. Naval War College’s China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI) reviewed our forthcoming Naval War College Review article, Brad Hicks, George Galdorisi, and Scott C. Truver, “The Aegis BMD Global Enterprise: A ‘High-End’ Maritime Partnership,” Naval War College Review, 65.3 (Summer 2012). So what’s the connection?