This is clearly a reference to the famous “V-J Day Kiss” photo, which showed a sailor inflicting similar treatment on a randomly selected woman. Apparently the practice was more common than that one singular photo would indicate.
After years without women, he’s taking advantage of any opportunity to kiss one, even if it means pretending they’re his girlfriend (or pretending that he thinks they are).
Hey, this was 70 years before #metoo.
Also note that he’s bearded to imply a long time away, and that the train seems to be carrying a lot of homeward bound soldiers and sailors.
Bill Mauldin offered a more sardonic take. Some ragged-looking soldiers, evidently fresh from the war in the Pacific, are greeted by a civilian: “You boys shoulda been here for V-J Day. Free drinks, pretty gals kissing’ everybody, whistles blowin’, windows busted …”
He also did a few cartoons about railroads favoring full-fare civilian passengers over soldiers returning home, and several about housing shortages, unemployment, and domestic friction for vets. There were simple gags about Willie and Joe adjusting to civilian life, but Mauldin’s sense of outrage steered him into news and politics. He became an editorial cartoonist and remained one for the rest of his career.
Just in a lecturing mood tonight.
Yeah, he’s just taking advantage of the occasion.
I’ll second Kilby’s thought and add that because the photo became famous, the guy here figured maybe he could become famous too, with the extra bonus of being able to kiss random women without repercussions.
Don’t know that it is related to the photo.
He jumps out, kisses a pretty girl and pretends it is his girlfriend. She being patriotic will tell him he is mistaken, but won’t slug him for kissing her. He does it at every stop, kissing a pretty girl each time.
Comics I Don't Understand 
This is clearly a reference to the famous “V-J Day Kiss” photo, which showed a sailor inflicting similar treatment on a randomly selected woman. Apparently the practice was more common than that one singular photo would indicate.
After years without women, he’s taking advantage of any opportunity to kiss one, even if it means pretending they’re his girlfriend (or pretending that he thinks they are).
Hey, this was 70 years before #metoo.
Also note that he’s bearded to imply a long time away, and that the train seems to be carrying a lot of homeward bound soldiers and sailors.
Bill Mauldin offered a more sardonic take. Some ragged-looking soldiers, evidently fresh from the war in the Pacific, are greeted by a civilian: “You boys shoulda been here for V-J Day. Free drinks, pretty gals kissing’ everybody, whistles blowin’, windows busted …”
He also did a few cartoons about railroads favoring full-fare civilian passengers over soldiers returning home, and several about housing shortages, unemployment, and domestic friction for vets. There were simple gags about Willie and Joe adjusting to civilian life, but Mauldin’s sense of outrage steered him into news and politics. He became an editorial cartoonist and remained one for the rest of his career.
Just in a lecturing mood tonight.
Yeah, he’s just taking advantage of the occasion.
I’ll second Kilby’s thought and add that because the photo became famous, the guy here figured maybe he could become famous too, with the extra bonus of being able to kiss random women without repercussions.
Don’t know that it is related to the photo.
He jumps out, kisses a pretty girl and pretends it is his girlfriend. She being patriotic will tell him he is mistaken, but won’t slug him for kissing her. He does it at every stop, kissing a pretty girl each time.