'Kissing Sailor,' 80, Fells Burglar
Man Claims To Be 'Kissing Sailor' In Famous 1945 Life Magazine Photo




PLANTATION, Fla., Sept. 18, 2006

(AP) A man who claims to be the "kissing sailor" made famous in a 1945 Life magazine photo thwarted an apparent burglary attempt in his home, pinning down an intruder until police arrived.

Carl Muscarello, a retired New York City detective, said he was in the bedroom when he heard his 67-year-old wife scream from the kitchen.

Running to investigate, the 80-year-old retiree said he saw a man swinging a golf club at his 36-year-old stepson. One of the intruders ran out the front door, but Muscarello managed to subdue the other.

"I jumped on this man's back and put a chokehold on him. I was surprised I could do it," said Muscarello. "I had him pinned down to the concrete by the pool floor when the police got here. He said, 'Let me go — I'll give you plenty of money."'

Additional details from Plantation police about the arrest were not available Sunday.

Muscarello claims to be the tall, dark-haired sailor photographed kissing a nurse in Times Square during street celebrations of the Japanese surrender on Aug. 14, 1945. Several men have purported to be that sailor, but the woman Life identified in 1980 as the nurse has said she believes Muscarello is the one she smooched.

"I often happen to be at a strange place at a strange time," Muscarello said.

Awwww!! I love that picture.

I have met him before when i was in high school. He autographed the famous Life Photo for me. I have it hanging on my wall right now. I saw the news on the local stations when it was first reported about a week ago.

I also have an autographed photo from one of the Marines from the First Flag raising on Iwo Jima.