AP Vietnam War Photographer Dang Van Phuoc Dies at 90 After 10 Years on Front Lines
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 30
AP Vietnam War Photographer Dang Van Phuoc Dies at 90 After 10 Years on Front Lines
7 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 30
Dang Van Phuoc died May 23 in Newport Beach, California, at 90, the Associated Press said, ending the life of a Vietnamese-born photojournalist whose images became part of the visual record of the Vietnam War.
From 1965 to 1975, Phuoc covered combat across South Vietnam and joined a daylight raid near Haiphong in the North, producing photographs that captured both battlefield terror and moments of human compassion.
A grenade explosion cost him his right eye, but his work continued to show the war's brutality, including images of interrogations, wounded prisoners and civilians displaced into refugee camps.
In a 2012 AP oral history, Phuoc said photographs gave him a voice to "tell the world," underscoring the broader impact of a career spent documenting the human cost of war.
What became of the artistic legacy Dang Van Phuoc built as a refugee photographer after fleeing his homeland?
How did a photographer, blinded in one eye by a grenade, change the world's view of the Vietnam War?
Dang Van Phuoc (1935–2026): The Enduring Legacy of a Vietnam War Photojournalist Who Shaped History Through Images
Overview
Dang Van Phuoc, the renowned photojournalist known for his powerful Vietnam War images, passed away at age 90 on May 30, 2026. His death prompted immediate tributes, including heartfelt memories from his great-nephew Kim Nguyen, who recalled being photographed by Phuoc as a baby and later sharing Phuoc’s work with his own son at a museum in Vietnam. These personal reflections highlight the deep and lasting influence of Phuoc’s photography, which not only documented history but also created meaningful connections across generations, ensuring his legacy endures both within his family and the wider world.