Photojournalism
One of the most important stories that LIFE Magazine would ever cover was the Vietnam War. From sending photographers to the trenches to covering the stories of draft dodgers and deserters, LIFE Magazines during the 1960s explored every aspect of the most highly televised conflict in history. LIFE Magazine would do it’s part to shape the story, as well.
Life Magazine (October 27, 1961) Advisers in Vietnam, mans eye
Life Magazine (January 25, 1963) Mekong Delta
Life Magazine (November 15, 1963) South Vietnam soldiers
Life Magazine (March 20, 1964) Henry Cabot Lodge in Vietnam
Life Magazine (June 12, 1964) Patrol in Vietnam
Life Magazine (August 21, 1964) South Vietnam’s General Khanh
Life Magazine (November 27, 1964) Vietnam GIs
Life Magazine (April 16, 1965) U.S. helicopter crew, Yankee Papa
Life Magazine (July 2, 1965) Wounded marine evacuated in Vietnam
Life Magazine (August 6, 1965) U.S. Navy vs. Vietcong
Life Magazine, August 20, 1965 – Draft inductees
In the summer of 1969 I got my induction papers from Uncle Sam; I think it read: “I Want You”
Life Magazine (November 26, 1965) Vietcong prisoner
A Vietcong prisoner, captured during the battle at Cape Batangan, under guard as he awaits transfer to a U.S. POW compound.
Life Magazine (January 14, 1966) Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh and Pham Van Dong
Life Magazine (February 11, 1966) Wounded GIs in Vietnam
Life Magazine (February 25, 1966) Dawn mission over South Vietnam
Life Magazine (October 28, 1966) Wounded marine
Life Magazine (November 4, 1966) President Johnson goes to Vietnam
About four years after this photo, Vice President Spiro Agnew paid a visit to Vietnam. Our unit provided security around Saigon before his arrival.
Life Magazine (January 13, 1967) Navy patrol in Mekong River
Life Magazine (March 10, 1967) U.S. paratroopers over Vietnam
Life Magazine (April 7, 1967) Hanoi air-raid alert
Life Magazine (May 26, 1967) General Lew Walt
Life Magazine (August 25, 1967) Marine and young Vietnamese friend
Life Magazine (October 27, 1967) GI at Con Thien
Life Magazine (February 16, 1968) North Vietnamese soldiers
Life Magazine (March 22, 1968) Ho Chi Minh
Life Magazine (November 8, 1968) Vietnam war victim, This girl tron
Life Magazine (June 27, 1969) American dead in Vietnam
One of LIFE’s most memorable stories was from an issue published on June 27, 1969. Editor-in-chief Hedley Donovan approved a yearbook-like spread of photos of the 242 soldiers who died in Vietnam between May 28 and June 3. That feature did what the editor hoped – it burned into the American consciousness the young faces of the men who fought.
Life Magazine (September 6, 1969) Woodstock
The Woodstock festival was a protest to pull soldiers from the Vietnam War.
Life Magazine (October 24, 1969) Composite: Dissent
Life Magazine (May 15, 1970) Wounded Kent State student
Some of the students who were shot had been protesting against the American invasion of Cambodia, which President Richard Nixon announced in a television address on April 30.
Life Magazine (May 22, 1970) Composite: Our Forgotten Wounded
Life Magazine (January 29, 1971) Bob Hope
I was very fortunate to be able to attend the Bob Hope USO Christmas Show in 1970. It was by far my fondest memory of my Vietnam tour…
Life Magazine (March 12, 1971) South Vietnamese soldiers in Laos
Life Magazine, January 21, 1972 – Single U.S. Vietnam casualty in a week
Life Magazine (May 12, 1972) Vietnam soldier carries wounded buddy
Life Magazine (November 10, 1972) Navy POW
Life Magazine (June 1, 1979) Marlon Brando in Apocalypse Now
When I saw this issue of LIFE on a magazine rack in 1979, it definitely got my attention. It had an article about a movie to be released August 15th of that year featuring the unit (1st Squadron 9th Cavalry) I served with in Vietnam.
My Vietnam Experience 
Very good job here.
Hey thanks Walker! Sometimes pictures speak louder than words…
Rob, thanks for the job and your effort!
Thank you Jesus…
How do i cite this?
Stephanie, please explain your question…
In terms of referencing this site for a history project i am doing
Steph, you can use this link: https://usastruck.wordpress.com/2011/09/05/life-covers-the-vietnam-war/
I hope this is helpful…Rob
June 1969 my friend Bill on the cover of Life. Only 10 miles from me. Dies alone in a river. For what?War goes on and old guys still wave flags.
No he wasn’t alone. Gearing was with Jeremiah June. I was in the same unit as they when this happened. June was a close friend. Meet Gearing in passing, exchange hi’s and never meet again. Not sure just what happened. Never saw the after action reports. But word at Battalion was that the unit they were working with had stopped and grabbed some c-rations for a quick meal. June and Gearing had went a little away from the main group, sat under a tree, and started to eat. One mortar round was fired, just one, and hit next to them killing them. Now I cannot say if this was true but like I said this is the word that came back to us. But I am sure that they were together when they were KIA
.
More details please…
That is my grandpa in the May 12th, 1972 issue. (Carrying his friend)
My cousin was on the cover of Life during the Vietnam War. His name is Bubba Delasanta. I cannot find that one. He was with two other men in the picture. Do you have that one?
To narrow it down, come up with a year and even a month if you can…
Hi ,
I’m trying to locate magazine (not sure if it was time or life Magazine) from 1967. I recent discover from a cousin my father was on the cover , he was an injured marine was described to me he was leaning on am marine truck or rank after recent been involved in an explosion was awaiting medic to come get him. His name is Matthew Smolinsky . Not sure on best way to tlocate or who to ask about.
Thank You ,
Tammy DiMaggio
Tammy, good luck with that…
Does anyone know how to reach Clark Clifford? May 22, 1970 cover, “Our Forgotten Wounded “? My dad is pictured in that cover from Cambodia. Dad somehow never got his purple heart. The picture is very clear.
Any Fonda friends, don’t need your shit! So step off with your hate, vile and bullshit. He didn’t want to be there. It’s a miracle he made it back to make me.
Nancyjschnell74@yahoo.com
Nancy, did you find out any info about the May 22 cover of Life magazine? I was interested to see if my Dad was one of the soliders.
Hi Missy,
As I told Nancy, my sister’s first husband is on that cover. Was your dad in the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (11ACR)? That was the unit my bother in law was in when he was wounded and that picture was taken. You can email me at keystone117@ptd.net
Hi Nancy, my sister’s first husband is on that same 22 May 1970 LIFE cover, he’s the guy with his hands on his hips. He was in the 11th ACR (Black Horse Regiment). He’s now a retired car mechanic who lives in Houston. I’m sending a private email to your yahoo address. You can email me at keystone117@ptd.net.
My uncle Denver McClanahan is the wounded Marine on the July 2nd, 1965 cover of Life… He passed away yesterday. He denied that It was him. Even when his mom (my grandma) said she knew it was him. Until about a year ago, he finally admitted the wounded Marine was him. Rest in peace, Denver.
Denver was a good friend of mine. We were both from Grundy, VA. I was in the 101st Airborne and Denver was in the Marines. I only saw Denver once at Cam Rahn Bay in Vietnam when he was there for medical help. I really would have liked to see him one more time before his death but it was not to be.
“”RIP My Brother in Arms”
Stephen Guleff November ,1972 the small town in Ohio noted on the front cover is my home town,Massillon,Ohio . In the middle of that mag Is 9 of my close friends and myself in town center ,all Vietnam Vets. There is a whole story on that picture which I believe would make a terrific book on lifestyles and affects on each life before ,during and after the Vietnam experience we all shared . The great thing is I believe nine are still alive and the stories we all have are totally mind bending!
Thank you for sharing and Welcome Home!
I am looking for the Life cover, with several wounded soldiers riding on a tank. One of the soldies was from our home town ( Bucyrus Ohio ) Can you help me with this Life cover… Contact Davey Jones WQEL Radio, 800-492-9226 ext 214 .. thanks
Davey, If you don’t see it as one of the Life magazine covers in my post, I doubt I can help you. Perhaps someone else here can help…
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