–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?

While it would be too much of a stretch to say World War III will start there, it is beyond argument that the tensions in the South China Sea (SCS) have been a source of extreme friction that has escalated into conflict between China and her smaller neighbors.  Five years ago, few people paid attention to the SCS.  Now they are – and for good reason.

The Grand Challenge

As a naval analyst looking at major military trends, one of the most cutting-edge and intriguing technologies out there is in the area of autonomous systems.  But are we really leveraging this awesome technology in the most effective way.  Maybe not.

(WATERLOO CEDAR FALLS (IA) COURIER 23 MAY 12) … Austin Ashlock

CEDAR FALLS — On Aug. 14, 1945, millions of Americans rejoiced at the end of World War II, but perhaps none more than U.S. Navy Sailor George Mendonsa.

Better known as “the Kissing Sailor,” Mendonsa’s moment of joy was captured by Life magazine and became a treasured piece of Americana.

On Tuesday, part of that history arrived in Waterloo.

As a part of the 2012 National Spirit of ’45 Day public awareness campaign, Robert Corpus and Chris “Woody” Woodall have been traveling across the U.S., making stops at museums and memorials to recognize those who sacrificed during World War II.

And they do not travel alone.

As featured in ABC News national blog, singer Katy Perry re-enacted the photo with a midshipman she pulled onto stage in a recent concert at the United States Naval Academy. Read the full ABC News Story here.

Katy Perry had been sick, but that didn’t stop the singer from doing her patriotic duty and performing at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

In a video posted on YouTube, Perry, wearing a sailor-style halter top, skirt and a Navy cap, called midshipman Beasley up onstage for a kiss, but first asked him how old he was. When he replied that he was 20, she responded, “Is this legal? Well, I’m a little bit older than you, but that’s all right, I can be your Mrs. Robinson.” Perry was referring to the character in the movie “The Graduate,” in which an older woman seduces a college boy.

Eric Felten did readers – and the Nation – a great service in his weekend piece “Embraceable Who?” in the May 19-20, 2012 Wall Street Journal.  His robust and well-written article called attention to the recent book, The Kissing Sailor by Larry Verria and George Galdorisi (Naval Institute Press, May 2012, $23.95, ISBN 978-1-61251-078-1).

One of the two most iconic photographs ever taken (the other being Joel Rosenberg’s picture of the raising of the American flag on Iwo Jima) and far and away the most iconic photo ever taken by the father of American photojournalism, Alfred Eisenstaedt, and published in America’s photo magazine, LIFE, V-J Day, 1945, in Times Square has been the photo most Americans have grown up with.  It still adorns college dorm walls today, over 66 years after it was shot in the chaos of Times Square on that national day of jubilation.

Military.com/undertheradar “Talks Act of Valor” with Banditos Brothers producer, Scott Waugh. Click here to read the full article.

Gretta Friedman, the nurse in the iconic WWII photo, has the chance to talk about her side of the story. Click here to read the full news report from the Washington DC ABC Affiliate.

Now that Tom Clancy Presents: Act of Valor has been published for four months and the movie Act of Valor has been on the movie box office hits list for a full six weeks (debuting at #1 in its first week of release on February 28), it’s time to review the bidding: Reviewing events over the past four months in regards to the book and the movie can tell us a lot about American core values.

What are America’s core values? Politicians and pundits might disagree, but most influential strategic and military analysts agree that these values are captured in the document, A National Strategic Narrative, which highlights “our enduring national interests – prosperity and security” which is bounded by our “national values.”