The Vietnam War, or more appropriately, ‘The American War in Vietnam’, is one of the most complex and divisive conflicts of recent times. With advancements in television broadcast capability, the conflict saw unprecedented press coverage, with the horrors of war delivered daily to Western living rooms for the first time. The impact that the press and its images had on public perception of the war was significant. It contributed to America losing its innocence as a nation and gave birth to a popular distrust in government that has intensified to this day.
A Brief Moment of Rest
U.S. Marines, Battle of Hue, February 1968
© Don McCullin Contact Press Images
This image by famous British War photographer Don McCullin depicts two U.S marines in a moment of brief downtime, resting against a wall during fighting in Hue City, Vietnam's former Imperial Capital. Smoke billows from a fire in the background. The Battle of Hue was one of the fiercest battles of the war, lasting one month and resulting in thousands of civilian casualties. Whilst the siege resulted in a tactical victory for U.S and South Vietnamese forces, the battle was a significant turning point in the war with the North Vietnamese having a political and propagandist victory. Characteristic of many of McCullin’s prints from the era - the image is black and white with a high contrast; an aesthetic that McCullin used to increase the drama, impact and accentuation of textures. Below is a video recreation of McCullin's image with subtle movement and audio.
