The girl in the picture is named Kim Phuc. This picture is the one that has haunted my childhood memories.
The first time I saw it on TV, I was with my parents and I was stopped dead in my tracks. I recall asking them what these kids were running from and they told me that during the Vietnam war the V.N.A.F. (Vietnamese National Air Force) accidentally bombed a village called “Trang Bang” which was 25 miles west of the capital city of Saigon, with Napalm.
I couldn’t get it out of my mind then, and it still conjures up those same emotions even when viewing it after all these years.
I have just found out that she lived literally down the street that we live on, about 3 blocks away. She even gave birth to her 2 children at the hospital that we both work at. I never in my wildest dreams, thought that I would one day have even the smallest connection with this person.
Kim Phuc also has a great non-profit Foundation for children who are victims of war. She has a great Canadian connection and now identity that makes me proud to be Canadian.
This event, that unfolded right in front of our eyes, is one that I can remember where I was when I first was first exposed to it, how about you?
Keep on Jammin’
This is a Video of what happened to her on that horrific day.
As a photography student, I took a history of photography course last year. This image was one of the studies we looked into. The situation surrounding that image, is very very depressing.
Tina, This is Tricia commenting for Chris since I’ve taken over the computer now that our other computer isn’t working. LOL
We were amazed to discover that one of my doctors is her doctor. There was a thank you note from her hanging up in the doctors waiting room and that’s how we figured it out.
The story is depressing but she’s one amazing woman.
I remember this picture vividly from the first time I saw it in a magazine as a child. Your news about her having a normal life now is heartening. She is a survivor, indeed, and a symbol of hope for all that humanity has gone through. I wish her and her family all the best.
I can remember being sheltered from these horrors back in those days. I remember it as that because I had a window on the World that my parents didn’t know about. When my mom was in the doctor’s office for my baby brother’s check-ups, I would pour over the TIME magazines in the waiting room. What is really scary is that people in much of the Western World are as sheltered as I was back then, only now the governments and the media are acting like my mom and dad. PS: It was ok for my parents to try to shelter a little kid from Vietnam.
Wow that kind of thing is so sad! It’s good to be aware of this kind of thing though, thanks for sharing it.
Manila Mom, lets just hope that there will be a day when we never have to expose anyone to something as in-human as this!
Keep on Jammin'(or praying)
Interesting that you say that Martin! Every time when I go to see a Doctor and a picture like this is in a magazine, it brings me to the same feelings that you had as a kid!
Keep on Jammin’
Hey Court, the pleasure is all mine!
Isn’t it nice to have a bit of closure on something that we were exposed to as kids.
If I get the chance to meet her, I’ll find out which apartment she lived in and take a pic. for everyone. I will ask her for a picture of her as well because she wants everyone to remember that forgiving is a good start to conflict resolution!
Keep on Jammin’
Wow. Talk about an amazingly small world!
Ya, it really is!
Keep in Jammin’
Thanks for your story and for linking to the page I created about Kim Phuc.
http://education.davidspencer.ca/wiki/Kim_Phuc
David Spencer