George Mendonsa -- the VJ Day Sailor

 

日本投降"二战"胜利日水手

George's father came to America alone in 1911 and raised his sons on the water fishing. George joined the US Navy at 19 in 1942.

乔治的父亲在1911年只身来到美国，靠捕鱼来抚养他们一家人。1942年，19岁的乔治参加了美国海军。

His experience in fishing boats and a need for navigation experience in the rapidly expanding fleet lead to his assignment to quartermaster school and advancement to petty officer third class on graduation. Mendonsa then served on the USS THE SULLIVANS to the end of the war.

因为有捕鱼船上的经历和美国不断扩大的军舰实力对航海经验的需求，乔治很快被派遣到军官学校深造，在毕业时他已经晋升到了下士。随后，门多萨在沙利文号驱逐舰上服役，直到战争结束。

When the war ended in Europe, army troops there were transferred to the Pacific in preparation for the planned invasion of the main islands of Japan. This provided the opportunity for rest for the ships in need of maintenance.

欧洲战争结束后，武装军队转移到了太平洋为日本内陆的进攻做准备。这使得军舰和海军们有机会喘口气以备战时之需。

George also went on leave and flew home to Newport, Rhode Island, where he met Rita Petry, a cousin of his brother-in-low's. George stayed with Rita's family in New York City for a few days before his return to the west coast in the early morning of August 15th, 1945.

乔治也飞回了罗得岛的纽波特老家，在那里他邂逅了丽塔·佩特，他姐夫的表妹。乔治在纽约和丽塔一家共度了几天，随后又在1945年的8月15日一早赶赴西海岸线。

George and Rita went to a movie on the 14th of August. The show was interrupted by the announcement that Japan had surrendered and the war was over.

乔治和丽塔8月14日那天看过一场话剧，话剧开演之中突然被日本在二战中投降的消息打断了。

The streets came alive with wildly happy people pouring out from every building, celebrating the day they had all been waiting for.

街头立刻陷入狂欢之中，排山倒海的人群从街道走出，共庆他们一直苦苦等待的这一天。

George and Rita stopped for a few drinks as they were headed for the 42nd Street subway station through the wildly excited crowd.

伴随着欢快的人潮，乔治和丽塔在在第7大道和49街拐角处的蔡尔兹酒吧喝了几杯。

As they passed through Times Square, a nurse in uniform walked along in the crowd. George took her in his arms as she passed and started to kiss her.

路过时代广场时，一个穿着制服的护士刚好走过人群。乔治把她拉了过来，随即就吻了她。