Kilroy Was Here
By Dr. Ann
@drannhh (15219)
United States
March 1, 2008 8:44pm CST
A friend just sent me yet another urban legend about Kilroy, which certainly brought back memories. It had most of the details of the one and only "true" Kilroy story, but with some embellishments, of course. So I checked my facts, and then came right over to myLot, expecting to find oodles of discussions about my favorite wartime hero.
Amazingly, the myLot search bar brought up no discussions, although there was an ad posted for those who might be interested in purchasing a "Kilroy Was Here" lapel pin. Kewl!
Although anyone can get the full story on Wikipedia, the gist of it is that Kilroy was a little quick-sketch line drawing of a cute fellow who was always sticking his nose over the fence. Initially a favorite of US soldiers, as much as ten years after Kilroy emerged in popular culture kids all across the US, and the world for all I know, school kids were still scrawling his image on rocks, fences, and the backside of every barn they could find. He reemerged later as Kiljoy, where now with a Bart Simpson haircut he now graces pop-culture T-shirts.
Does the phrase "Kilroy was Here" bring back memories for you? Do you know what the phrase means? Could you draw a sketch of Kilroy without looking at the photo?
Have you ever gone to a far away place and found that Kilroy got there before you?
Is there any similar icon that reminds you of him?
4 people like this
9 responses
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
2 Mar 08
Although I would recognize the image and the phrase, I don't know much about kilroy. I actually never heard about kilroy until I was an adult.
I am sure I could draw kilroy without a photo but I have no idea of any special meaning for the phrase. Sadly I have never found kilroy anywhere, maybe we haven't been in the same places LOL
1 person likes this
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
3 Mar 08
hi drannhh! ^__^ just dropping by here coz i don't really know who is kilroy and i don't know his story. but i'm interested to learn about him. it just so happens that one of my penfriend has a friend in the US named Kilroy. of course, he has nothing to do with your kilroy, i just thought it was a funny coincidence. ^__^;;
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
8 Mar 08
i forgot his last name. he and my broke up a long time ago. it really broke my friend's heart. i like the name kilroy though. it sounds like "kill Roy!" LOL i had a high school classmate with Roy as his name so that's why. ^__^;;
@diansinta (7544)
• Indonesia
8 Sep 08
(*hug) Hi Ann,
I will let you know if Kilroy visit Bali island. I think this drawing is simple, but easy to recordnze, and make a point in a good way! the artist is so talented!!
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
3 Mar 08
I am not familiar with Kilroy... but i do not the ____________ was here word... i just didn't know that the original name is Kilroy...But i guess he is really very popular with servicement or those who love to travel and leave their mark... wherever they go... i have never tried it before... but i don't think i will...
@SaintAnne (5453)
• United States
8 Sep 08
I honestly haven't heard of Kilroy until I read this post. I'm sorry, I guess this was not a part of my growing up. The drawing reminds me of that House Improvement neighbor... you don't really get to see him that much from the other side of the fence.
So did the phrase "Kilroy was here" started the whole "name of person was here" phenomenon?
1 person likes this
@girlgonefishing (2174)
• United States
6 Mar 08
Wow drannhh! I had totally forgotten about kilroy before you brought up this discussion. Yes I remember him well. He was all over my school and my town when I was growing up. I kinda miss him. LOL Anyway, no, I can't draw him. I can't even draw a stick man!
@girlgonefishing (2174)
• United States
6 Mar 08
OH, and I forgot to say....the only icons that even came anywhere close to him was the one of the cat hanging on with the phrase "Hang on" and of course the smile inside of the circle.
