Vietnam was America's first televised war, and the images flashing on the screen may have galvanized Americans to immediate action either in defense or in opposition to that conflict. But it was the work of the combat photographer which may have had a more enduring impact on how the war wore on us. Images, frozen in time live on long after television's renderings fade to black. There are two such iconic photos waiting for you in the doc share section.
Larry Burrows' ‘Reaching out'
Eddie Adams' ‘Execution'
In two to three pages, answer the following:
1. Where and when were the photos taken? Identify to the best of your ability all or most of the main participants.
2. Tell something about the photographers: Who were they? Who were they working for in Vietnam? What's happened to them since?
3. Finally, the photos themselves: What's going on? Imagine being alive when these photos were taken and seeming them in the newspapers. How would you respond? What impact do you think images like this might have had on Americans who were living through the Vietnam War.