The Navy Frogmen surveying the islands in the Pacific to prepare for the Marines amphib landings left it on signs ashore. My father saw them on Tarawa, Tinian, Saipan, and Okinawa.

Every year for my birthday my grandmother would draw Killroy peaking over a fence in the card, just as her way of personalizing her greeting. She most likely picked it up from my grandfather, who was a WW2 vet. I'd never made the connection before now, though I'm certain I heard of the Killroy thing before now.

I was born in 1954, and Kilroy was around and known to me as a kid.

I was born in 72 and knew Kilroy, but never where it came from.