Renditions of the Famous Saigon Execution Photo
Posted on June 2nd, 2009 in Vietnam | 3 Comments » |
The photo above is the iconic photo that won Eddie Adams the Pulitzer Prize award in 1969, but surprisingly so many people characterized it as ‘a bad guy killing a good guy.’ The truth is that Adams’ photograph actually shows Nguyễn Ngọc Loan, a South Vietnamese National Police Chief executing Nguyễn Văn Lém, a Viet Cong officer who was said to have participated in warcrimes towards civilians earlier the same day. Regardless, the photo instantly became an icon of the war’s savagery that leaded to the end of a war, but ruined the life of a Saigon Police Chief in 1969.
The photograph’s legacy would haunt Loan for the rest of his life. Following the end of the war, he was reviled wherever he went. After an Australian hospital refused to treat him, he was transferred to the United States, where he was met with a massive attempt of deportation. He eventually settled in Virginia and opened a restaurant but was forced to close after vandals sprayed graffiti on his restroom wall, saying “We know who you are, fucker”.
Adams later apologized in person to General Loan and his family for the damage it did to his reputation. Adam admitted, “The general killed the Vietcong; I killed the general with my camera.”
Many Vietnamese still finds the photo above to be very offensive, as there are still many overseas Vietnamese coordinating protest against the VC til’ this day. For those who may find this article a little too offensive please understand that I am not doing this for any political reasons. In fact I hate politics and wars. The only war that I will ever support is Star Wars. Please know that my reason for posting this article is to simply share with the world a great example of how we can take the negative and turn it into the positive so that we can do our small parts to prevent history from repeating itself. Let us all show the world how to truely forgive and forget.
Lets begin shall we?
Redited by Mark Daughhetee from USA
Redited by Mike Stimpson from the UK
Reedited by Xiang Jing from China
Redited by the Amnesty International located in New Zealand
Redited by Dolk Lundgren from Norway
Redited by Franck Réthoré from France
Stories continues below ⇓
Redited by Kenyon Bajus from USA
Redited by Krista Wortendyke from USA
Redited by minipliman from Germany
Redited by onebee from USA
Redited by etchasketchist from USA
Found on a residence’s wall in Cardiff, Wales by pilipapa9 from the UK
Lastly, redited by (me) Gotweird from USA
If you enjoyed this post, please share with us your reditted version of the Eddie Adams’s Pulitzer Prize-winning photo.
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3 Responses to “Renditions of the Famous Saigon Execution Photo”
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I have personal knowledge of General Loan’s time here in Springfield, VA, when he ran the “Three Continents” restaurant (in French). I spoke to him several times and on one occasion he said that the reason he shot the VC was because he personally witnessed the VC executing two of his policemen.
He also said that Eddie Adams told him that if he had any idea of the trouble Loan would be caused, he never would have taken the picture.
I wasn’t aware of the graffiti, but I noticed that he seldom had other customers in the restaurant. My suspicion at the time was that he was being financed by someone or some group. His usual stance was holding down the counter with his elbows.
This is known that money can make us free. But what to do if someone does not have money? The one way is to get the credit loans and auto loan.
“The only war that I will ever support is Star Wars.” funny! i also love the one with the stamp, really good…