HISTORY: A longtime friend of RTS has sent us another goody to share — this time one of international historical significance.

Clayton Vecellio sent us a picture of himself with Carl Muscarello, a man famous for a photograph. Clayton tells us Carl was the sailor kissing the nurse in New York’s Time Square in Life Magazine’s world-famous cover photo from Aug. 14, 1945, expressing the joy and relief that Americans felt at the end of World War II.

____ LIFE PHOTO HERE_____

The photo was taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt, who was never able to confirm the names of the man and woman locked in the historical embrace.

Clayton’s picture with Carl, taken March 22, 2005, isn’t quite so … amorous. The two are posing together with a copy of the magazine cover, with Carl in his Navy uniform.

“A lot of men claim to be the sailor,” Clayton tells us. “There have been very few women to claim they were the nurse, but Edith Shain was given the most credit.”

Clayton provided us with copies of stories about that famous photo, including some old RTS columns about the same issue, and a story in which Life Magazine identified Edith as the woman in the photo. In turn, she agrees that Carl was indeed the smooching sailor.

“They both have attended many functions together to promote the photo and donate money raised to help charity,” Clayton said.

Carl is a former New York City Police Detective, and is now retired and living in Florida. Edith passed away in 2010.

Another man, Glenn McDuffie, also claimed to be the sailor in the photo. He had a Houston Police Department forensic artist recreate the scene and validate his claim to be the sailor. She did, and said she was certain it was McDuffie. Clayton says with certainty that Carl was the man in the photo. “If you print this, I bet someone will dispute it,” he says.

Perhaps the mystery may never be solved.