Iconic World War II photograph ‘is not banned,’ Department of Veterans Affairs declares

A tweet on social media about a Department of Veterans Affairs memo banning a famous World War II photo of a sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square went viral Tuesday morning, prompting a swift response from VA Secretary Denis McDonough denying its accuracy.

“Let me be clear: This image is not banned from VA facilities — and we will keep it in VA facilities,” McDonough posted to X, formerly Twitter.

McDonough’s tweet, which included the black-and-white image of an unidentified sailor holding and kissing a woman in a nurse’s uniform when news broke of Japan’s surrender in World War II, garnered more than 116,000 views by 10 a.m.

More so, an X account under the name @EndWokeness had drawn 2 million views by 11 a.m. with the original tweet stating, “The Department of Veterans Affairs just BANNED the V-J Day kiss photo from all department facilities.”

Included with the tweet was a memo from RimaAnn Nelson, the VA assistant secretary for health for operations, that was sent in February to the Veterans Integrated Services Network Directors.

Nelson’s memo had requested the photo be removed and replaced at all VA facilities to support a “respectful, safe and trauma-informed” workplace.

FILE – In this Aug. 14, 1945 file photo provided by the U.S. Navy, a sailor and a woman kiss in New York’s Times Square, as people celebrate the end of World War II. The ecstatic sailor shown kissing a woman in Times Square celebrating the end of World War II has died. George Mendonsa was 95. It was years after the photo was taken that Mendonsa and Greta Zimmer Friedman, a dental assistant in a nurse’s uniform, were confirmed to be the couple. (Victor Jorgensen/U.S. Navy, File)AP

The VA confirmed the validity of the memo Tuesday but said it should not have been issued.

The memo stated, “to foster a more trauma-informed environment that promotes the psychological safety of our employees and the veterans we serve, photographs depicting the ‘V-J Day in Times Square’ should be removed from all Veterans Health Administration facilities.”

The memo asserted the spontaneous kiss was nonconsensual and therefore violated the VA’s “no tolerance” policy against sexual harassment and assault.

“A memo was sent out that should not have been, and it has been rescinded,” said Terrence Hayes, VA press secretary. “VA is NOT banning this photo from VA facilities.”

Nelson’s memo also ordered the replacement of the photo and detailed the Department of Justice’s definition of sexual assault as “any nonconsensual sexual act.” The memo asserted some employees complained about the photo “as a tacit endorsement of the inappropriate behavior it depicts.”

“The placement of this photo in VA facilities was initially intended to celebrate and commemorate the end of World War II and the triumphant return of U.S. soldiers,” according to the memo. “However, perspectives on historical events and their representations evolve. Recent discussions have highlighted concerns about the nonconsensual nature of the kiss.”

The kerfuffle over the photo comes as the VA manages public fallout and scrutiny over allegations of improper sexual conduct by supervisors within an office set up to promote a harassment-free workplace.

The allegations have been aired at recent congressional hearings looking into claims of sexual misconduct by supervisors at the VA’s Office of Resolution Management, Diversity and Inclusion.

The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the VA are conducting investigations of the alleged incidents.

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