AAlfano
Well-known
One of the most unusual sights in a city overflowing with strange sights is the slight figure of a 12 year old Vietnamese boy darting into the street battles, scrambling across the rubble, deliberately heading for trouble.
Lo Manh Hung, the Story of the Youngest Photo Journalist in South Vietnam, 1968
Lo Manh Hung, the Story of the Youngest Photo Journalist in South Vietnam, 1968
wlewisiii
Just another hotel clerk
Obituary 11 tuổi chụp ảnh chiến tranh chấn động thế giới
From Google Translate, Vietnamese to English:
At the age of 11, he took pictures of the war that shocked the world
Event: News
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The person who was once the youngest war correspondent kept many special stories in his heart. He himself was also a very special person during the 1968 Mau Than Spring Offensive.
I had always believed that when I had the opportunity, I would meet Mr. Lo Manh Hung (real name is Lo Binh Hung, born in 1954) to talk about his very special life and the memories he has kept since the moment he took office. cameras captured the war until leaving the country. He is known as the youngest war correspondent in Vietnam when he was only 11 years old.
More than three weeks ago, he and his wife returned home to attend their nephew's wedding, and took the opportunity to visit many places in the Central region. The flight from Da Nang back to Ho Chi Minh City on January 27 did not go smoothly for him. He had a heart attack, then was transferred to Hospital 115. However, he did not survive and died that day.
11 years old is brave and talented
In 1968, the American newspaper Southeast Missourian published an article about Lo Manh Hung with the title "A boy photographer looks for danger when others run away". Many of his photos are well known. But after that, almost no one had any information about this photojournalist anymore.
We lost our chance and have no other chance to hear his story. However, he shared those memories with his beloved partner: Mrs. Vong Cam Thu (55 years old). She shared with us with great emotion.
Ms. Cam Thu said she had a peaceful childhood life in Saigon. Then she met Mr. Hung in America, the two fell in love and became husband and wife. She paid little attention to politics and current events, while Mr. Hung always carried hidden feelings. However, the memories of war were so strong that it was perhaps a burden, a profound sadness, so he chose to live separate from the media. Therefore, almost no one knows about his life after 1975.
Vivid documentary photos of the working journey of 11-year-old war photojournalist Lo Manh Hung in 1968. Photo: Provided by the character's family
He often told his partner about his passion for photography since childhood, because his father had a photography shop, which could also be considered a small news agency. His father often took photos and sold them to newspapers. Therefore, Mr. Hung often followed his father to learn the trade and was carefully taught by his father. At the age of 11, the boy used the camera very professionally and took many beautiful photos.
But besides passion, there is another reason that Mr. Hung often tells his wife: he wants to help his father make money. Hung is the eldest son, after Hung there are seven younger brothers. Mr. Hung's father worked too hard to raise a group of children. Mr. Hung was always trying to earn more income for his family.
During the historic time of the General Offensive in 1968, Mr. Hung's father rushed into the street, following a car that closely followed the events in Saigon. Little Hung also jumped after a military vehicle of the Republic of Vietnam forces but in a different direction and worked like a true war reporter.
Mr. Hung told his partner that many newspapers came to buy his photos, including the photo of the car taking the bodies to the mass burial site. The brutality of war is evident in every photo and deeply embedded in his memory.
But at that time, many newspapers bought and published his photo with the newspaper's name. The story became known to many people when the American newspaper published an article about Mr. Hung's career.
Special memories that have not yet been told
Ms. Cam Thu shared that Mr. Hung always had anxious feelings about memories of the war and his homeland. But he chose a quiet life in Oregon, USA. He still works as a photo editor and photo editor. Ms. Thu said it was not a rich job, just enough to make a living, but it helped him live with his passion.
They have two daughters. The eldest daughter has graduated from college, the youngest daughter is in high school. They have a gentle, peaceful life. My grandparents still arranged to fly back to Vietnam to visit my brothers and relatives. He is not in contact with the media but still shares his memories, stories and photos with interested friends. Mrs. Thu tried to share her thoughts with her husband, but she did not have to experience the harsh memories of the war, so she said her heart was much more relieved.
His funeral was held at Ms. Thu's sister's private home in Tan Binh district. Ms. Thu's sister, Tran Cam Lan, said she loves Mr. Hung very much because he is very gentle and kind.
January 30 was the day he was supposed to board the plane to return to the US, but he stayed with relatives in his homeland. The heavy memories engraved in the heart of a young reporter will only be left behind photos and stories.
Even though he was hit by a bullet, he still managed to take the photo of a lifetime
He recounted that he jumped in the car to take photos, then followed the plane to many different locations. He was hit in the arm but took many special photos. He remembered the cars filled with dead people... At that time, he was so young...
Ms. VONG CAM THU
