Who were Buzz and Tommy from 1949?
I stumbled across an interesting photograph, which captured my
interest and made me think and want to write about it.
This emotional and poignant dedication, on the back of a photograph of two young men, speaks volumes, yet their identity remains unknown.
I want to explain the importance of this image, as well as to put my own theories as to who they might have been.
The significance of the inscription is important for every gay person, although particularly gay men. We have been persecuted for many years, being forced to conceal our true identity, as well as our feelings. If you imagine this was an image of a young man and a young woman, with the same inscription, it would be an entirely different story. Even if it had been a story of two women, there could still have been a happy outcome. However, because of society's deep-rooted persecution of gay men, this particular story is probably quite tragic.
Let me speculate and give my own perspective.
Let us assume this all centres around 1949; a time when homosexuality was illegal, and where penalties were harsh. It was very brave of Tommy to write such an inscription to Buzz, let alone actually give it to him - lest their secret be discovered. As often happens to young gay men, Buzz might have been heterosexual, whilst Tommy found himself innocently and unwittingly attracted to his friend. It is extremely common - indeed, I am living proof; it happened to me when I was eighteen years old.
I would suggest they were in their late teens; had they been any older, they would almost certainly have been involved in the war, or at least, have been conscripted (national service was ended in 1946 in the USA). If their friendship had been during March, and the photograph taken then, the location would have had to be somewhere in Florida, otherwise the weather would have been far too cold for them to be dressed in only swimming trunks and T shirts. One of them is wearing what appears to be a fairly good quality watch (it has a metal strap), and the time appears to be about half past two (in the afternoon). The young man wearing the watch appears to have a tattoo on his left arm, although it is not very clear. They weren't necessarily on a beach; they could have been in any park that had a water feature or even a swimming pool; the USA invested heavily in these facilities around that time, and life guards would have been essential for the safety of those enjoying the water. I suggest they were around 18 years old. It is possible they shared accommodation, which would have allowed them to enjoy some intimacy, although they would have had to be extremely discrete and cautious. I suggest their relationship would haven been quite innocent, with any physical association being restricted to a kiss, holding hands, embracing and focussing on the true love they felt for each other; often this type of relationship was focussed on emotions rather than physical sex. (I am again basing my suppositions on my own, personal experience.)
It is possible they were on holiday and took a job at the facility on a short-term basis, which would have paid for their stay. Of course, it could have been a regular job, leading one to conclude they lived not far from the facility.
It is highly probable that they met at the location, and began a friendship that innocently blossomed into a deep love. Gay young men are highly capable of and susceptible to such relationships, and this is something that regularly occurred with the draconian laws in place; people cannot help falling in love - even gay people.
I would think the sentiments were mutual, as otherwise I very much doubt that the photograph and its inscription would both have survived intact.
As to finding out who they were (or are), that poses a problem. They could have lost contact and gone on to live separate, heterosexual lives. With the Internet being a modern invention, people of that age leave very small - if any - "footprints" online, and with data protection legislation, it is not difficult to erase all traces of oneself.
Let me expand on my hypotheses about these two men:-
We are all assuming the image is of Buzz and Tommy. In which case, who took the photograph? It couldn't have been either of the boys. We don't know when the image was taken - or where. Supposing the photograph shows two other young men, completely unrelated to "our" story. They may have been two entirely separate co-workers, with whom Buzz and Tommy had an innocent friendship. The photograph had to look "innocent", because it would have had to be developed and printed by someone. Quite often, if a processor found an image they deemed "inappropriate", they would withhold it from the originator; it was easy to make out there was a problem with the negative, and nobody could prove otherwise. The image we have is tasteful, innocent and "decent". We are speculating that is shows Buzz and Tommy, because of the inscription. We want it to be those two boys, because we want to see who had such beautiful and romantic sentiments. The real Buzz and Tommy may not have been young, handsome, and desirable; they could easily have been middle-aged. The two young men in the image were, undoubtedly, very handsome - and perhaps Buzz and Tommy also thought so, hence the photograph. It could have been a reminder of the time they spent together.
Whatever the facts about this image and the inscription, they remain important to remind us just how essential it is to allow people to love whoever they wish to, and that the repression and criminalisation of such love is a travesty, and causes deep distress and sadness.
Whilst we have moved on from those days, they could easily return, if certain people and organisations are allowed to replace freedom with prejudice.
Whoever Buzz and Tommy were - or are - I wish them well, and hope that they both had happiness in their lives.
If you do have any information about these two men, please contact me: writer@webwords.org.uk
The following is my own, fictional account of what could have happened to Buzz and Tommy. It is purely fictional and conjecture. I wrote it in order to satisfy the desire to know about the lives of two such people. Make of it what you will, but remember that in 1949, the outcome was almost certainly that the two enjoyed only a brief time together, and, in all probability, had to live the remainder of their lives with only memories to satisfy them.
Summer at Miami Beach
My name is Tommy Smith. I was born on January 20th, 1930. This is the story of how I met Buzz Johnson during my vacation, when I worked at Miami Beach in 1949.
Back then, I was 19 years old. I was a strong swimmer, and I very much wanted a vacation somewhere warm and sunny. I lived with my family in Palmetto Bay. My family wasn’t wealthy, so the only way I could get a vacation was to work. I applied to the Department of Parks, to see if they had any vacancies. I was lucky! They had a temporary vacancy as a life guard at Miami Beach from March to July. I would have to sleep in one of the lifeguard stations, buy my own food, and wear their uniform, but they would pay me $1 an hour, which was enough, especially since I didn’t have to pay for accommodation. I lived only a few miles away, so it was ideal for me. I could drive there, park up, and enjoy some time away from my family. I hadn’t any real experience of life; I had not long graduated from high school, and I wanted to meet new people around my age. It was like the beginning of an adventure.
I was told to arrive for 8am on 1 March. I set off early, eager to get started. It took me around 20 minutes to get there, and I soon found somewhere to park my car. The weather that weekend had been dry, warm and sunny, and the outlook was for more of the same. I found my way to the admin. office, where I was “processed”, and shown to the beach hut where I would be staying. It was pretty sparse, but comfortable, with sufficient space for two people to sleep comfortably. As I entered, I was greeted by a young man about my age, who introduced himself as Buzz Johnson. He was friendly and kind and I knew we would get along. I guessed he must have been about my age. I felt drawn to him; he had a cute smile, a gentle manner, and blue eyes. I did what I could to show the friendly side of my nature, but not over friendly.
Once we were alone, we settled into where we were going to sleep, and to finding where things were: there was a small area for preparing food, one large bed, a shower, and the main room. I wasn’t quite certain about the sleeping arrangements, until Buzz told me it was usual for lifeguards to sleep in the same bed together, and that there really was nothing to it. I was pleased, because I liked Buzz; he was just really nice. When he laughed and smiled at me, his whole face lit up, and I found myself strangely attracted to him.
I had always led a healthy lifestyle, and I was glad to find Buzz was the same: neither of us drank alcohol, smoked, or did anything else that might get us into trouble. It also meant the hut wouldn’t smell of cigarette smoke, or become cluttered with beer bottles or ashtrays. It also meant we wouldn’t be disturbed by others, who wanted to share our tranquillity.
We went out to get some groceries; there were shops nearby, and Buzz was keen to help. We bought enough for lunch and a snack for the evening. The remainder of the day was spent in setting up the hut, familiarising ourselves with the area we were to patrol, and talking. I learnt a lot about Buzz. He was about a year younger than I was. He was born on June 25th 1931. He was an only child, lived in Fort Lauderdale, had learnt to swim at high school, and was also looking for a cheap vacation away from his parents.
In other words, we were ideally suited to living in close proximity with each other. He was easy going, quiet, and friendly.
After the day was over, we closed up the hut, locked the door, and put the shutters up. It was safe and quiet, and we would not be disturbed by drunken revellers or late-night swimmers. Buzz had made up the bed, and it looked very inviting. He was completely relaxed as he undressed and changed into a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. He wasn’t in the least bit shy, and wasn’t bothered at all that I would seem him undressing. I did likewise, a little embarrassed, although Buzz said nothing and only glanced at me occasionally. He was soon in bed, under the covers, waiting for me to get in and turn out the light. Gingerly, I awaited my opportunity, when Buzz suddenly pulled back the covers and patted the space next to him. “Come on,” he said cheerily, “I don’t bite, and I don’t have fleas, either.” His voice smiled at me, and I felt comfortable. There was plenty of room in the bed, and we would have enough to ensure we weren’t on top of each other. I stepped in, pulled the covers over me and wriggled down the bed. I could feel the warmth of Buzz’s skin, as I settled down next to him. I had already switched out the light, although I could see enough. Buzz was laying on his side, grinning at me. He gently patted my left shoulder, and I felt reassured and relaxed. It was silent in the hut, save for the gentle noise of the sea in the distance. The odd creak of the wood didn’t trouble either or us, and I soon felt myself drifting off into a gentle sleep.
Nothing awoke me that first night, although I was vaguely aware of Buzz’s occasional movement, and the gentle sound of his breathing. It was a comforting noise, and I enjoyed being with him; it was quite innocent, and I felt safe and reassured; I appeared to have made a new friend.
When I awoke next morning, Buzz was still next to me, with his arms holding me in a gentle embrace. I didn’t move; it was strange, but I enjoyed the warmth of his body and being close to another man. It was a totally new experience for me; I had never slept with anyone before.
Eventually, Buzz awoke, yawned, stretched and said quietly “Good morning, Tommy. Did you sleep well? Did I snore?”
“I slept like a log, and no, you didn’t snore. I hope I didn’t, either,” I replied softly.
He appeared unaware that he had been holding me in his arms, and untangled himself without saying anything more.
I stretched, yawned and immediately relaxed again. Buzz's right arm gently slid under my neck, and I allowed myself to be cradled by this cute guy next to me, as though it were the most natural thing to do. It sure felt like that. I did not move, but took his hand in mine and held it gently. Buzz didn’t move or say anything; he appeared content to just be with me.
Eventually, it was time for us to get up and have breakfast. We did this together and, when finished, Buzz suggested we both take a shower. There was more than sufficient room for two people in the shower cubicle, and Buzz directed me in. He joined me, turned the shower tap, and soon we were both enjoying the warm, cascading water droplets, as they gently fell on our naked bodies.
Buzz gently soaped my back, and washed me, as though I were his child. I found it a most beautiful experience. I did the same to him, which he also appeared to enjoy. Fortunately, we had privacy, and were not interrupted during our shower. When finished, we towelled ourselves dry and changed into our uniforms, which consisted of black swimming trunks and T shirts.
“I feel ready for the day, “Buzz exclaimed cheerfully.
“So do I,” I responded, almost dreamily. “Thanks, Buzz. You’ve made me feel relaxed and welcome. I admit, I was a bit nervous at first, but you’re cool.”
He smiled at me, patted my shoulder, and said nothing; there was no need; we understood each other.”
Over the next few days, we spent a lot of time together; we weren’t always “on duty”, so we had lunch together, went swimming, enjoyed the sights, but also spent a lot of time getting to know each other. As our friendship grew, I found myself attracted to everything about Buzz; not just how he looked, but his mannerisms, his character, and the friendship he brought with him. In turn, he showed me affection, friendship, the most innocent attention, and love; he would often tell me he loved me. I had never experienced such emotions before. Our love grew and we became inseparable, and enjoyed a few brief times of true happiness.
We slept together each night; it was very quiet and private, and we became accustomed to not being interrupted. Nobody said anything; the other lifeguards were friendly towards us, but at a distance. Buzz and I went everywhere together, but were able to maintain sufficient distance so as not to be noticed. We had our photograph taken by one of the resort’s photographers, who thought Buzz and I were the epitome of what the resort stood for: friendship, happiness, and youth. We were both a little shy, because we didn’t want to be singled out; discretion was always paramount to us.
I wished it could be different; I so longed to hold Buzz’s hand as we walked along together; to show my growing fondness for him. However, this was 1949, and any intimacy between two men was not only frowned upon, but illegal, and neither of us wanted the shame attached, as well as the possibility of a prison sentence and a criminal record.
It was strange, because everyone who saw us together appeared to know that we were more than just colleagues, or even just friends. However, nobody seemed to mind; nobody took any notice. We were still very cautious and discrete: we ensured the hut was locked every night before we undressed, and that we couldn’t be seen once inside. Nobody ever disturbed us, though; we had everything we needed, and did as we were asked. Nobody ever troubled us, and nights were extremely peaceful.
Gradually, I found myself falling deeply in love with Buzz. I was in no doubt that he felt the same to me, because he told me how he felt, and showed me every day. We spent all of our time together, getting to know everything about each other. I was happier then than I had ever been before. I didn’t want our time to end, and every day disappeared quicker than the previous one.
In mid-May, we were warned about a spell of bad weather, that was due to arrive one evening, and that would last the night. The huts had been built to withstand everything except a bad hurricane, and ours was far enough up the beach so as not to be affected by any high tides. We prepared ourselves by closing all the shutters, bolting them, and ensuring everything was fastened, secured, tied down, closed, secured, and tightened up!
Buzz and I were ready for anything; we had food and water, blankets, spare clothes, and flashlights. More importantly, though, we had each other. Buzz was ever by my side; he comforted me, reassured me, protected me, and loved me. I felt safe with him. We had come to know each other so well. I felt that nothing could separate us.
We closed the hut early that evening. The wind had already started, and the clouds raced across the sky. We felt safe; it appeared sturdy enough, and there were no holes in the roof or the walls. There was no creaking or swaying, and there was no draft coming in to the hut, so we were as prepared and safe as we could be.
The wind increased around 8 O’clock that evening, with the rain following soon after. It hammered on the roof of the hut, but didn’t penetrate; we were dry and safe inside. We went to bed early, extinguished the lights, and just lay in each other’s arms. It was exciting. I felt so secure and content. Buzz wrapped his warm arms around me and held me tight. I sighed and relaxed. He kissed the back of my neck, ruffled my hair, and softly whispered “I love you,” as I basked in the innocent fondness of our pure love. I kissed his hands and arms, snuggling against his warm body. The wind howled, whilst the rain pelted down, but we were safe and dry. A sudden flash of lightning meant the storm was overhead. Still, our little hut held strong, not swaying or shaking. It was as strong as the love Buzz and I had for each other. We were safe from all danger.
We slept soundly that night. Buzz never let me go and I felt very safe, and very loved.
Whilst we were never disturbed at nights, it was good to know there was no chance whatsoever that anyone would awaken us on such a night. The shutters we had secured held fast, not moving, rattling or flapping about at all. The roof kept every drop of rain out, and the walls let nothing in; not even a slight whisper. Buzz and I slept soundly. As usual, I awoke to find myself in his arms. He was as close to me as he could be. I enjoyed it. I felt so loved, and so secure. We stayed in bed; the storm was still raging outside, and there was no point in opening the hut until it had completely passed, which would be some time later that day. It was a day off for us; we decided to stay in bed until we could be bothered to get up. We were warm and safe; that was all that mattered, so we stayed where we were.
By late afternoon, the storm had passed, and we went to the admin. office. They asked us how we were getting along, and we assured them we were fine. They said they were pleased with us, and hoped we would enjoy the rest of our stay. They asked how we had fared during the storm, and we assured them that the hut had done a good job of protecting us, and that there was no damage. They weren’t worried about carrying out an inspection, as they knew we looked after everything. We knew, too, that they wouldn’t arrive suddenly and unexpectedly, so our routine could continue. There were no awkward questions; nothing was said that would have led us to believe anything was wrong, or that anyone suspected we were anything other than work colleagues who had become good friends. It was reassuring. They just paid us our money, which we signed for, and wished us well.
The weeks passed, and Buzz and I enjoyed our time very much indeed. We had plenty of days where we didn’t have to work, so we spent time swimming, walking, talking, and visiting wherever we wanted to. We had become accepted by the other life guards, who were cheerful and friendly towards us. They seemed to like us, but they left us alone, almost as though they knew we just wanted to be together. Most of them were in similar “accommodation” to ours, and I wondered how they found sleeping together. We heard no complaints, though, so assumed they just made the best of their situation. It was a strange almost acceptance, as though they knew about us. However, perhaps because of our caution and manner, as well as that they all seemed disinterested, there was never any problem; no questions were asked about us, and we never heard of anyone gossiping about us; maybe they weren’t those sort of people. Either way, we just carried on as we had become accustomed to doing. Neither Buzz nor I asked any questions about any of the others, and we never made gossip about them, either. I was pretty sure we weren’t entirely alone in our special friendship, as I noticed at least two other “couples” whose friendship appeared closer than “normal”. However, we all maintained a distance from such matters; we weren’t going to do anything that might have raised awkward questions about our own friendship. It may just have been that people were more involved with their own lives; enjoying a break, learning new skills, relaxing, keeping vigilant, in case of accident. Either way, it provided Buzz and I with the perfect “cover”.
On June 25th, it was Buzz’s birthday. I bought a small cake, and we had a romantic evening, followed by a loving and gentle night together. I was in no doubt that Buzz felt as strongly towards me as I did towards him. He made that abundantly clear every day.
I knew that, when it came time for us to leave, it was going to be difficult for me; not being able to be close to Buzz was going to be terrible. However, the time eventually arrived. We packed up everything into our cars, swapped contact details and assured each other we would meet again soon.
I had written my parents telling them of Buzz, and they replied saying he would always be welcome to visit and stay. They said they were glad I had made such a good friend. Buzz was delighted, and said his parents had expressed a similar feeling about me. It meant that our friendship could continue, and I knew then that this was only just the beginning of a new life for us both. We would never be separated, and I could endure the brief times when we would have to resume our “normal” lives.
The photograph below was taken towards the beginning of our holiday (March). I managed to get a print, and, when it was time to leave, I wrote Buzz a message on the back, to express my feelings for him. I hated to be apart from him, but I had to be sensible.
Buzz (left) and Tommy (right)
After we returned home, Buzz and I stayed in regular contact. We were able to visit each other often, and both our sets of parents never asked any awkward questions. We were allowed to sleep together – just as we had done in the hut at Miami Beach. They all seemed to accept that was just how we were, and didn’t raise any objections. We carried on as though we were still on vacation. When our parents were away, we were alone and carried on as such.
Eventually, Buzz’s parents decided to move, but this would be good for us; they were going to buy a property that had an outbuilding, and the plan was that Buzz and I could live there. It wasn’t all that far from where I lived, and I welcomed the chance to be with Buzz.
I am happy to say that he didn’t change very much, and we both remembered the times we spent together; the beach, the people, the weather and, of course, our temporary home.
And that was how we were able to be together, without questions, without too many obstacles, and without the difficulties so many men in our situation had to endure.
For Buzz and I, it was a happy conclusion, but we both knew that we were the exception, and that most men in our situation had to endure a lifetime of emptiness, discrimination, and of having to conceal their true selves from a hostile and unforgiving world.
I suppose we were just lucky.
This is how both you and I would like the story of Buzz and Tommy to have been. However, for most gay men, it was quite different. Even now, homosexuality is scorned, misunderstood, discriminated against, and forbidden. Many older gay people are alone, because they were denied the opportunity for love and companionship, because of prejudice. I am living proof. I have had relationships which have been prematurely ended, because my partner could not accept – or risk – living the truth about themselves. Thus, they preferred to spend a lifetime in denial, and perhaps in a relationship they didn’t truly want, just in order to calm society and the influence of their friends and family.
My story about Buzz and Tommy is only conjecture about what could have happened to them. However, it is only a fantasy. I think you all know that, in probability, these two young men never had the happiness they should have enjoyed. I could have written such a story with that outcome, but I chose not to, because it is so close to my own story that I didn’t want the extra sadness.
We can all disassociate ourselves with the real story of people like Buzz and Tommy, because it is too easy to do. It will not be until we accept them and people like them, and that they, too, have a right to happiness, that people’s lives will improve. Nobody should be forced into a relationship that is alien to them, or to live a life alone and isolated, just to appease the delicate whims and sensibilities of those who are too narrow-minded to accept that life isn’t the same for everyone, and that it is wrong to impose a supposed “normality” on others, for whatever excuse or justification.
Whatever became of the real Buzz and Tommy, I sincerely hope they had good lives, and that they were able to continue their special friendship.