Sad image - Vietnam war museum (HCMC)

[Willy wombat]

Visited the war museum in HCMC when i was there in December and spent quite a few minutes in front of this photograph. Such a sad place in so many ways. Im only 28 and wasnt touched by any family members going over to Vietnam during the war (thank goodness), and i cant say much about the Vietnam war except what i have read in books and experienced in my travels, but reading about all the journos who got shot up over there reporting on the war was so sad. This image grabed me.



Just wanted to share. Shame about the reflections .

[Raskill]

I think more Journos have been killed in Iraq now than in the whole of the VietNam conflict.

I hope the owner of the camera wasnt taking a shot at the time!

If you find the 'gritiness' of war correspondent photos interesting, try to find images by Joe Galloway, who wrote the original 'We were soldiers once..And Young'. He was right in the thick of the action.

Damian Parer, and aussie camera man, was also in the thick of it in WWII, unfortunately, he was killed in action.

I often wonder if these men are brave or foolhardy, I tend to think more the former though.

[sirhc55]

Steve - the reflection adds a dramatic edge to this poignant reminder that a camera is no match for a bullet - a first class photo

[jben_net]

That is a very disturbing image. I will probably remember that forever.

[mark]

Powerful image there. I have to admire those who place their lives in danger to bring us news from war zones.

A few weeks ago our local paper (Byron Shire Echo) did a full page artical "Where words are met with bullets, reporters die." It is available online here for anyone who wants to have a read.

At least 81 journalists we killed in 2006 in 21 countries while doing their job, or for expressing their opinion...

[norbs]

I saw the very same photo.

I am not sure about you Willy Wombat, but I shed a few tears at the War Remnants Museum. Im a bit of a boofy bloke who doesnt usually show alot of emotions, but by christ that was a sad place.

[gstark]

This is an amazing photo.

Apart from the frivolous aspect (it shows that Nikons are not really bulletproof) the damage inflicted on the camera, and by implication, anyone wearing or using it at the time, is simply too horrific to contemplate.

Norbs, in terms of museums, I think that if one has the capacity to move a viewer emotionally, then the curators of the exhibit have truly done a great job.

Two other museums of note that have affected me in a similar manner would be the 6th Floor Museum in Dallas, and the Getty in LA, where I saw the Photos For The Press exhibition just on a year ago.

This lattermost exhibit had images that had been published in papersfrom WWII through to the 70s, including Vietnam War, both Kennedys, and so on. Probably the most powerful photographic exhibition I have ever seen.

[norbs]

You are probably right Gary.

We heard a story from 2 different people that the War Remnants Museum was actually called the War Crimes Museum, but pressure from some American war veterans upon the Vietnamese government caused them to change the name of the museum.

Here are 2 of my photos from the same museum. The 1st one is hard to read due to the reflections, but is one of the stories that I read twice just to make sure it sank in.


Click for full size




Sorry for hijacking your thread WW, but it is a hell of a place. Did you get to the Cu Chi tunnels?

[Willy wombat]

No problems - feel free to post ofther pictures here if you want guys. This is the general discussion area afterall.

Didnt shed any tears at the war museum but was left feeling fairly numb all over. It certainly moved me emotionally. Horrific stuff. Had similar experience when visiting the atomic bomb museum in Hiroshima a few weeks before this place.

[Trieu]

I'm 28 and pretty much have grown up in Sydney and call myself an Australian, speak to me on the phone and you won't be able to tell my accent

But images of this brings a tear to my eye...
I feel for my parents and the journey they made to get out of a war torn country.
I feel for all the families that have to live through a war torn country, some of the stories that my parents have told me are horrific.

I am forever greatful to the place I live in today.

[norbs]

Trieu,

I grew up in Bass Hill and then from 11, in Cabramatta. I was surrounded by refugees and came to love the vietnamese people. I knew a few Vietnamese words and phrases (mainly rude ones) and got on well with them.

When in Vietnam on my honeymoon, I found the Vietnamese people to be fantastic. They are warm hearted (apart from when you are haggling) and have a great sense of humour. Having travelled to quite a few Asian countries now, I think the Vietnamese are the Australian Asians. They love banter and a piss take. They spent alot of time rubbing my stomach and calling me happy buddha. The love a laugh and are very welcoming. Have a read of my BLOG for just 1 example.

The War Remnants Museum is an important place in Vietnamese history. Its a hard place to visit, but I am glad I did.

[Alpha_7]

norbs, loved the blog entry, and while in Fiji had a similar sort of experience with being asked to sit down and have a meal, with the locals.

Its a great read.