Vietnam: The Real War
Photographs from The Associated Press

Grisham Gallery
June 5 – October 6, 2019

image: U.S. Marines move through a landing zone, December 1969. (©AP Photo).

The Vietnam War was a long, costly and divisive conflict that pitted the communist government of North Vietnam against South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States. The conflict was intensified by the ongoing Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. More than 3 million people (including over 58,000 Americans) were killed in the Vietnam War, and more than half of the dead were Vietnamese civilians. Opposition to the war in the United States bitterly divided Americans, even after President Richard Nixon ordered the withdrawal of U.S. forces in 1973. Communist forces ended the war by seizing control of South Vietnam in 1975, and the country was unified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam the following year.

The Associated Press (AP) is a not-for-profit global news agency headquartered in New York. Founded in 1846, it operates as an independent cooperative and has earned 52 Pulitzer Prizes, including 31 for photography, since the award was established in 1917.

To cover the Vietnam War, The Associated Press gathered an extraordinary group of superb photojournalists in its Saigon bureau, creating one of the greatest photographic legacies of the 20th century. This collection tells the story of a divisive war that left a deep and lasting impression on American life.

From Malcolm Browne’s photograph of the burning monk and Nick Ut’s picture of a 9-year-old running from a napalm attack to Eddie Adams’ photograph of the execution of a Viet Cong prisoner, Vietnam: The Real War contains images that both recorded and changed history.

This exhibition was organized by the Huntsville Museum of Art and The Associated Press. 

Many images in the exhibition are graphic and document the hard realities that come along with war. Parental discretion is advised when viewing the exhibition.

The Gift of One Picture: Nick, Kim and the Napalm Girl
A mini-documentary produced by The Associated Press.

Please join the Huntsville Museum of Art Board of Directors, the Executive Director, and Mayor and Mrs. Tommy Battle
at an exclusive

Presentation & Preview Reception

Thursday, June 6, 2019

(SOLD OUT)

Presentation by J. David Ake: 6:00 – 6:45 p.m., Great Hall
(please note doors open at 5:30 p.m.)

Preview Reception: 6:45 – 8:30 p.m., Gallery Level

Following the presentation, guests will have the opportunity to preview
this poignant and riveting exhibition, while enjoying a selection of fine wines,  live music from Julia Dina, Charles Hogue, and Ariana Arcu from the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, and passed canapés provided by Chef Narvell.  Also in attendance will be representatives from Huntsville’s Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1067.

Members: $50; Non-members: $75
Seating for the lecture is limited to 170 guests.

Preview Reception Honorary Chairs:
Mayor and Mrs. Tommy Battle
Huntsville Museum of Art Board of Directors
Command Sergeant Major (R) Charlie Miller
Command Sergeant Major (R) John Perry
Chief Warrant Officer 4 (R) Marshall Eubanks

About the Speaker:

J. David Ake is AP’s director of photography.  An award-winning photojournalist,  he has documented major news stories in more than two dozen countries on six continents.  He currently leads the news agency’s global photojournalism and has previously directed AP’s photo coverage in Washington, D.C. as deputy bureau chief.  David was also a White House photographer during the presidencies of George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.


Vietnam Veteran Wall

A Vietnam Veteran Wall will be prominently displayed in conjunction with the exhibition, similar to the honor walls that were included with past military related exhibitions highlighting World War I, World War II and also the West Point Academy.

Many lives were impacted by the Vietnam War and this Vietnam Veteran Wall is a symbolic way to acknowledge those special veterans who served our country.  

We are privileged to honor the Vietnam Veterans and appreciate everyone who contacted us to be a part of this historic exhibition.

In honor of SGT Robert Akenhead | 1969- 1970 | Given by Linda Akenhead

In honor of LTC (Ret.) Emile A. Alt, Jr. | 1969-1970 | Given by Linda Alt

In honor of MAJ US Army David Belcher | Given by Patsy and John Shields

In honor of SGT E5 James W. Bilbro | 1969-1971 | Given by Peggy M. Bilbro

In memory of SGM (Ret.) Eugene Brooks | 1966, 1968-1969, 1971-1972 | Given by Cynthia G. Brooks

In honor of SSG Thomas Larry Bullington | 1964- 1969 Service Dates | Given by Kristi and Mark Leberte

In honor of LTC (Ret.) US Army James W. Cape | 1969-1970 | Given by Adelaide Cape

In honor of SP5 Dannie R. Certain | 1960-1967 | Given by Jeannette Owens

SP4 Aircraft Tech Edmund Cholewa | 1970- 1972

In honor of 1LT Dr. H. Samuel Cooke | 1969-1970 | Given by Dr. and Mrs. N. Ricky Byrn

1LT Harry G. Craft, Jr. | 1964-1966

In honor of E9 SGT MAJ John H. Duncan III | 1965-1992 Service Dates | Given by John H. Duncan IV

In honor of CAPT US Navy David Edwards | 1968-1972 | Given by CAPT US Navy Deborah Barnhart

In memory of BG (Ret.) US Army N.G. Dallas W. Fanning | 1971-1972 | Given by Sarah Fanning

In honor of SP5 US Army Andrew J. Fuller | 1966-1968 | Given by Narvell Patton

In memory of PFC Michael Gigliotti | 1968 | Given by Peggy and George Quillivan

In memory of SP4 James David Goff | 1970-1971 | Given by Jennifer Goff

In honor of COL (Ret.) Richard Carlton Hamley | 1971-1974 | Given by Rose and Tonya Alexander

COL (Ret.) US Army Jimmy C. Hill | 1969

In honor of COL (Ret.) Jimmy C. Hill | 1969 | Given by Steve and Andi Hill

In honor of CPT Ralph L. Hill | 1967-1968 and 1971-1972 | Given by Jon D. Randel

In honor of COL William P. Hooker | Given by Jean and Jerre Penney

In memory of COL Robert J. Hueffed | 1970-1971 | Given by Emily F. Hueffed

In memory of SP4 Claude Hughes | 1968- 1972 | Given by Jerolyn Hughes-Golightly

In honor of 1SGT (Ret.) George E. Jolly | 1968- 1969 | Given by Judy Jolly

In honor of CPT US Army William Joseph Klus | 1971- 1972 | Given by Claudia Klus

In honor of LTC (Ret.) US Army Richard L. Kowallik | 1970- 1971 | Given by Dee Kowallik

In memory of CPT USMC Lynn Meinert LaPointe | 1963-1968 Service Dates | Given by Susan Anderson

In honor of COL (Ret.) George E. Lewis | 1967-1968 and 1971 | Given by the Lewis Family

In memory of SMSGT Richard A. Loring | 1971-1972 | Given by Eleanor and Rick Loring

In honor of SGT Edward L. McCormick | 1967- 1969 | Given by JoAnne E. McCormick

COL (Ret.) Arthur C. Meier II | 1968-1969

In memory of CPT Charles Moore * | 1966-1967 | Given by Katherine and Raymond Tomlinson

In honor of SSG US Army Milton Gale Randel | 1966-1967 | Given by Jon D. Randel

In honor of E4 US Army Glenn Dewey Searcy | 1966-1968 | Given by Shirley Hurley Lievanos

In memory of MAJ (Ret.) US Army John Rucker Simmons | 1966-1967 and 1971-1972 | Given by Cynthia R. Simmons

In memory of SGT James Michael Spaulding | 1968- 1970 | Given by Evelyn Spaulding

COL (Ret.) US Army Gary M. Stewart | 1969-1970

LTC (Ret.) US Army Ron Sumera | 1970- 1970

LTC (Ret.) US Army John W. (Tim) Thames, Jr. | 1968-1969

In honor of SP4 Buford Thompson | Given by Narvell Patton

In honor of LTC (Ret.) US Army Thomas Morris Thompson | 1966- 1967 and 1970- 1971 | Given by Middie Y. Thompson

In honor of COL Raymond Tomlinson | 1966-1967 and 1970-1971 | Given by Katherine Tomlinson

In honor of CPT Shannon W. Turney, M.D. | 1966-1967 | Given by Peggy Turney

In honor of COL US Air Force Edward L. Uher | 1966-1967 | Given by his family

In memory of 1LT Jan A. Ulmer | 1967-1968 | Given by Dr. Harold R. Winton

In memory of Technical SGT US Air Force John Francis Virnich | 1969-1972 | Given by David and Kimberly Reyes

In honor of CPT Walter Y. Walker | Given by Betsy and Peter Lowe

In memory of MAJ Jack J. Wells | 1962-1963 US Army and 1965 USAID| Given by Kathleen and Philip Dotts

CPT Don. A. Wheeler | 1963-1965

LTC Harold R. Winton | 1967-1968 and 1969-1970

In honor of CPT Donis R. Wolfe | 1968-1969 | Given by Sarah K. Curtis

BG John Zierdt, Jr. | 1968-1969

*Killed in Action


Thank you Sponsors!

Co-Lead Sponsors:

The Jurenko Foundation

Exhibition Sponsors:

Raytheon
Bill Stender

Media Sponsors:

Alabama Media Group