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Times change. Nothing remains the same forever. But as you can see from these heartwarming pictures compiled by Bored Panda, one thing doesn't change no matter how much time passes, and that's love.
Usually when we say goodbye to somebody, we're pretty sure that we're going to see them again, and soon. But many of the people in the photographs below, taken during WW2, had no idea if they were ever going to be reunited with their loved ones again. And sadly, many weren't.
These pictures serve to remind us that life is short, so don't wait until Valentine's Day to tell somebody you love them. Tell them today!
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#1
Korean War Goodbye Kiss, Los Angeles, Sept. 6, 1950
John Mallernee 9 years ago
I wish there could have been someone to kiss me goodbye, or welcome me home, when I went away to the war in the old Republic of Viet Nam. There was nobody, either when I left or when I returned.
Reyna avila ramirez-arellano 3 years ago
i just want to say, thank you so much for your service.
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Anne Benhart 9 years ago
My mother had those shoes. They were called Spectators, according to her.
Chris Miilu 9 years ago
So did mine, and my aunts and my grandmother. Spectator pumps.
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RELATED:
#2
American Soldiers Getting Last Kiss On Ship Before Deployment To Egypt, 1963
Touche 9 years ago
Have you ever seen anyone stick their heads out of a washing machine? :D
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The Silk Road 4 years ago
Whoever wrote the title of this picture was on crack! This is the Italian school ship Amerigo Vespucci, unmistakable... there's only one.
Thufir Hawat 9 years ago
Its a Mistake It is NOT a US Navy Ship Is the ITALIAN Training Ship AMERIGO VESPUCCI The guys are not soldiers but Italian Navy Academy Cadets.
Thufir Hawat 9 years ago
The photo was probably made in spain in sixties. The US Navy has not a similar sailing ship. The only US tall ship is the Coast Guard Eagle.
Sergio laganà 9 years ago
This is the Italian Navy Training Ship "Amerigo Vespucci" during her usual summer cruise. Picture taken in North Europe n the 60's
Sergio laganà 9 years ago
Thi is the Itlian Navy sailing training ship "Amerigo Vespucci" during her usual summer cruise. Picture taken in North Europe in the 6o's
#3
A Sailor Kissing A Nurse In New York's Times Square. This Iconic Photo Symbolizes The End Of World War II, 1945
Lanny Rodriguez 9 years ago
Lol maybe they were both just very happy the war was over ?
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Christie Tondu 9 years ago
She said in later years that she didn't want to kiss him and he forced himself on her...early rape culture, immortalized forever
Bethany Fields 9 years ago
It creeps me out that the iconic photo is of a man, grabbing a woman he didn't know and kissing her. That's assault.
Rubi Marquez Basave 9 years ago
in SD they have the sculpture and when my family came and visit I told them the true story about "how they didn't know each other and she was a dentist, not a nurse"
Calla Something 5 years ago
Moron if you did t expect to get swept up and kissed like that —what would your exact body language be? Nothing wrong here.
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A Young Woman Lifts Her Feet While Embracing And Kissing A Uniformed Us Soldier At The Train Station, Connecticut, 1945
James Drury 8 years ago
this is New Hope station in Pennsylvania... not Connecticut. If you don't know, don't guess.
Jeanne Deaux 9 years ago
And the parents look at the scene lovingly hoping to not receive their son in pieces in a box.
Catherine Bellenger 6 years ago
I just like to say that this photo has not been taken in Connecticut but in Pennsylvania . But it is very pretty!
#5
Farewell To Departing Troops At New York's Penn Station, April 1943
Christina Jacobsen Ullom 9 years ago
I know the pain of saying goodbye. You never forget the feeling and you can't understand it if you haven't gone through it.
Juliette Deroulede 2 years ago
This one is my favorite. I don't know what copyrights or whatever it is on photos like this, but if I could, I'd use it as the cover for my WW2 novel.
#6
A Woman Leans Over The Railing To Kiss A British Soldier Returning From World War II, London, 1940
Saadia Pathan 9 years ago
I think this is my favourite, a happy kiss and just look at how they're reaching for each other!
#7
Jean Moore Kneels And Kisses Her Fiancé, Wheelchair-Bound World War II Veteran Ralph Neppel, 1945
John Mallernee 9 years ago
That's not just any picture of just any ordinary soldier! That guy is a true American hero, wearing our nation's highest award for military combat valor, the Medal of Honor, plus, he's wearing the ribbons for the Purple Heart and the Good Conduct Medal.
Nicole Banks 9 years ago
Yes. They were married until his death. http://m.legacy.com/obituaries/press-citizen/obituary.aspx?n=jean-a-neppel&pid=173914746&referrer=0&preview=false
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#8
A Soldier Comes Home From War, 1940s
#9
Saying Goodbye At The Train Station Before Departing To WWII
Om Prakash Bhuwania 8 years ago
Women lifted up in dignity, soldiers are so spirited before leaving for war.
Chris Davidson 9 years ago
The dude getting a handshake is pleading "come on now, don't make me look like a chump in front of all the other guys here. Give me some sugar"
#10
American Soldier Kissing His English Girlfriend On Lawn In Hyde Park, 1945
Amanda McGillan 9 years ago
I think he was having an affair with her cuz I see a wedding band on his finger
#11
Farewell To Departing Troops At New York's Penn Station, April 1943
#12
Soldiers Departing For Egypt Lean Out Of Their Windows To Kiss Their Loved Ones Goodbye, 1935
Michel Guntern 9 years ago
There's not enough women to go round. Love the kissing platform around the train.
Richard Petch 9 years ago
This is the way to do it, in front of everybody not down an alley way.
#13
An English ATS And Eighth Air Force Sergeant Enjoy A Blissful Kiss, 1945
Jean 9 years ago
have a problem with yank bastards? are they any worse than limey bastards?
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#14
English Soldiers Saying Goodbye To Their Wives, Getting Ready To Go To Egypt, 1937
Paul Nuttall 9 years ago
My grandad went to North Africa in ww2 and was killed there , never seeing his beautiful daughter , my mum.
Richard Petch 9 years ago
Old men saying goodbye to their wives and probably leaving a few children behind as well that they will probably not see again.
#15
A Sailor Leans Over A Picket Fence And Lifts His Girlfriend Up For A Kiss, 1945
#16
Saying Farewell To Departing Troops At New York's Penn Station, April 1943
#17
A British Soldier Whispers Into The Ear Of A Loved One As He Leaves For The Front, 1939
Alexandra Von Raven 9 years ago
Ear piercings? ...or stains on the photo in the perfect place?
#18
Coffee Served On Porch Of Ante-Bellum Mansion, At Party For Cadets From Local Army Flying School, Mississippi, US, 1943
Dorothy-Clare Jacobs 9 years ago
Those dresses must have been designed to keep the men at arm's length so there could be no unseemly behavior!
#19
US Soldier Tenderly Kissing His Girlfriend Goodbye Before Departing By Train, 1922
#20
A Young Woman On Roller Skates And Her Soldier Honey, 1940s
Sven Garthoff 9 years ago
Today it would be kind of the same.. just with a mobile phone in her hand. :)
Dorothy-Clare Jacobs 9 years ago
What a handsome guy! Reminds me of my Dad and one of his brothers
Florence Hastings 9 years ago
Notice the bandaid on his forhead, HE'S having nothin' to do with those skates again! :-)
#21
US Soldier Giving Japanese Girl A Bicycle Ride, With Handlebar Riding Forbidden, 1946, Japan
#23
A Girl Climbs To Say Her Goodbye To A Soldier Going Off To Fight In World War II, 1940
#24
A British Soldier Kisses His Wife On His Return From Serving With The Armed Forces, 1945
Jean 9 years ago
She has two arms to hold him, I hope it was enough for him. So many came back without limbs and though they left their manhood behind. They should have believed the women who loved them, and kissed like this, didn't care if there was one are or two....so many didn't come back at all.
Dorothy-Clare Jacobs 9 years ago
so sad that he can now hug her with only 1 arm. But she doesn't seem to mind <3
#26
A Kiss In Times Square Displays The Mood Of The World On V-E Day, New York, May 8, 1945
#27
Young Couple Chalking Hearts Onto A Tree, Valentine's Day, 1944
#28
Servicemen And Downtown Workers Embrace And Kiss In The Street As Word Of Surrender Flashed Through The Nation, 1945
#29
Us Soldier And Local Girl Sharing A Chocolate Bar And Cigarettes, 1940s
#30
A Member Of The 1st Battalion Of The Manchester Regiment During A Quayside Reunion At Southampt Before The Unit Moves Onto Egypt
#32
A Soldier Saying Goodbye To His Wife In Seattle, Leaving For World War I, 1917
Jean 9 years ago
1917, and its now 2016, 99 years later and have we learned anything? There are still wars, still family's saying goodby. I hope he came back to her.
Rokas Jan 8 years ago
Some people learned that war is a fast way to make money, so they keep fighting... :(
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#33
Soldier Is Welcomed Home At Long Beach Airport, 1945
Jean 9 years ago
I think someone else we cant see is hugging the couple, the arm around her is the wrong color from his jacket, and the one around him, looks like a mans hand...someone is on the other side.
Juliette Deroulede 2 years ago
Looks like a man's hands, maybe his dad...?
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Dana Patikamanant 9 years ago
This is the olympian and war hero Louis "Louie" Zamperini (Jack O'Connell) who, along with two other crewmen, survived in a raft for 47 days after a near-fatal plane crash in WWII - only to be caught by the Japanese navy and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp.
Rebecca Nielsen 9 years ago
I think that fellow is Louis Zamperini, the Olympic long distance runner. He was apart of the American Air Force and was a prisoner of war.
#34
An American GI And His French Girlfriend Holding One Another While On A Date, 1940s
Dorothy-Clare Jacobs 9 years ago
How do we know she is French? Are there palm trees in France? I wonder where this was taken?
#35
An American Soldier And A Frenchwoman Kissing In A Picture That Raised Eyebrows After Appearing In Life Magazine, 1944
#36
Man Kisses His Wife After Coming Back From War, 1940s
#37
Saying Farewell To Departing Troops At New York's Penn Station, April 1943
#38
Soldier Kissing A Red Cross Nurse, 1945
#39
Women’s Army Corp Member Kissing Her Husband, Upon Discharge January 1, 1945
ImGayForGreenDay 6 years ago
Awwwe, so cute that she and him look so happy to be together again.
#40
Anglo-American Friendship Is Furthered By Boy And Girl Meetings In Hyde Park, 1945
#42
A Russian Woman Cries Reunited With A Soldier Returning After The War, 1945
#43
World War Two Farewell Kiss, Between 1940-1945
#44
D. Brown Kissing Her Fiance Terry Under The Mistletoe, On Board The HMS Wakeful At Portsmout, 1955
#45
A Couple Celebrate The Victory On May 8, 1945
Karen Kachadurian 9 years ago
I'm surprised that the solider carries a helmet from WWI, doesn't make any sense. That is a "dough boy" helmet.
Rokas Jan 8 years ago
Maybe found in the forest and took like a trophy :)
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#46
Evacuated French Troops Relax On An English Beach
#47
Actress Martha O’driscoll Kisses A Soldier Goodbye In Los Angeles, 1941
Cameron (aka The Doctor) 9 years ago
What if that was her husband or something? This is a beautiful moment that doesn't deserve hate.What if that was her boyfriend or fiancee going to war and he never came back? Learn some logic before you start to hate on a picture of two people sharing a moment.
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#49
Comrades Heckle Soldier Kissing His Girlfriend Goodbye Before Leaving Waterloo Station, London, 1939
#50
A British Tommie Bestows A Last Kiss Upon His Rhineland Sweetheart As His Detachment Leaves For England As They Evacuate Germany. Konigstein, Germany, September 1929
#51
An American Soldier Leans Over The Side Of An Army Vehicle As He Kisses A French Woman On A Bicycle During The Liberation Of Paris, 1944
#52
Three Lovely Ladies Embrace Their Military Beaus, 1940s
YOM SAMEACH 4 years ago
Notice how the women have such natural faces, no heavy make up, they look gorgeous.
#55
Husbands Kiss Their Wives After Coming Back From War, 1940s
#56
Couple Laughing In A Park, California, 1943
Miroslav Furac 9 years ago
Yes, even German soldiers had wives, girlfriends, parents, children. .. 7d001346d1...6c11a3.jpg 
#57
Soldier Is Greeted With A Kiss From His Ecstatic Wife As He Comes Home From France On Christmas
#59
Couple In Penn Station Sharing Farewell Kiss Before He Ships Off To War, 1943
#61
A U.S. Officer And His Girl Walk By The Serpentine In Hyde Park, London, 1945
Redscrambled 9 years ago
Stunning photographs!!! We owe them so much. They gave everything for freedom Thank you!!!!
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What do you think ?
steunited1969 2 years ago
The boy in the photo is my wife's dad and is now 82
Load More Replies... Jeanne Deaux 9 years ago
Family of American soldiers: you will probably never know how grateful we, French people (well, those knowing history I mean, kids don't know s**t these days), are that you came to our rescue in 1945. Without you we would speak German today and say "Hay Furher" all day long. Thank you for your sacrifices, they weren't for nothing.
Kpucine Lapaq's 9 years ago
I agree with you. But I'm a kid and I'm French and I know history ;)
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Daria B 9 years ago
This list is interesting, but let's not romanticise the ugly side of humanity. There's nothing cute about wars, neither so about sending your loved one to the battlefield. All these people in the photos are (or were) in terrible pain.
Igor Vihnanek 9 years ago
well the whole point of this is to show what you lose with wars..
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Arty 9 years ago
Same scenes could have been spotted in Germany, Vietnam, Irak, ...etc etc...whatever the reasons wars only cause sadness, never resolve anything.
Ross Fortificacion 9 years ago
In order for wars to resolve anything, there must be absolute victory. I assure you that you must deal with bullies with strenght and not bow down to them or let's make friends. It does not work if you quit before the last SOB is dead or locked in a camp. Let the Marines kill the enemy without rules of engagement. Now the enemy is in the USA and they are in every public building in Washington DC. What do you do now?
Load More Replies... Miroslav Furac 9 years ago
Yes, even German soldiers had wives, girlfriends, parents, children. .. 7d001346d1...9a28e0.jpg 
Holly Stadtler 1 year ago
How can I find the source or copyright holder of any of the 62 historic images of love in the time of war? I would like to use a few of these in an indy documentary set in WWII. Holly
Nikolay Mirchev 9 years ago
An amazing time period to be a photographer - they are all unique and beautiful!!!
Ramlih Sov 9 years ago
These pictures made me cry.. All of them. Come to think that most of these brave men never made it home... It's sad.
steunited1969 2 years ago
The boy in the photo is my wife's dad and is now 82
Load More Replies... Jeanne Deaux 9 years ago
Family of American soldiers: you will probably never know how grateful we, French people (well, those knowing history I mean, kids don't know s**t these days), are that you came to our rescue in 1945. Without you we would speak German today and say "Hay Furher" all day long. Thank you for your sacrifices, they weren't for nothing.
Kpucine Lapaq's 9 years ago
I agree with you. But I'm a kid and I'm French and I know history ;)
Load More Replies... Daria B 9 years ago
This list is interesting, but let's not romanticise the ugly side of humanity. There's nothing cute about wars, neither so about sending your loved one to the battlefield. All these people in the photos are (or were) in terrible pain.
Igor Vihnanek 9 years ago
well the whole point of this is to show what you lose with wars..
Load More Replies... Arty 9 years ago
Same scenes could have been spotted in Germany, Vietnam, Irak, ...etc etc...whatever the reasons wars only cause sadness, never resolve anything.
Ross Fortificacion 9 years ago
In order for wars to resolve anything, there must be absolute victory. I assure you that you must deal with bullies with strenght and not bow down to them or let's make friends. It does not work if you quit before the last SOB is dead or locked in a camp. Let the Marines kill the enemy without rules of engagement. Now the enemy is in the USA and they are in every public building in Washington DC. What do you do now?
Load More Replies... Miroslav Furac 9 years ago
Yes, even German soldiers had wives, girlfriends, parents, children. .. 7d001346d1...9a28e0.jpg
Holly Stadtler 1 year ago
How can I find the source or copyright holder of any of the 62 historic images of love in the time of war? I would like to use a few of these in an indy documentary set in WWII. Holly
Nikolay Mirchev 9 years ago
An amazing time period to be a photographer - they are all unique and beautiful!!!
Ramlih Sov 9 years ago
These pictures made me cry.. All of them. Come to think that most of these brave men never made it home... It's sad.
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