John Olson (born 1947)[1] is an American photographer, former combat photographer and Robert Capa Gold Medal winner for his photographs of the Battle of Hue during the Vietnam War. His photograph of a tank on which a group of wounded marines are piled is considered one of the most emblematic images of the conflict.[2]
Battle of Hue
editWhile working as a combat photographer for Star and Stripes newspaper, Olson took a series of photographs of the Battle of Hue fighting while following the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment trying to take back the city. The photographs were published by Stars and Stripes and also in Life magazine.[3] It is often attributed to the rawness of his images that they played a significant role in America's subsequent withdrawal from the Vietnam War. Olson was awarded the Robert Capa Gold Medal in 1968 for this work, for his "exceptional courage and initiative".[4][5]
References
edit- ^ "The Photography of John Olson". Life. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
- ^ Bowden, Mark (May 20, 2017). "The True Story of "The Marine on the Tank" and One of the Most Emblematic Images of Vietnam". Vanity Fair. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
- ^ "The Battle that Regained and Ruined Hue". Life. 64 (10): 24. March 8, 1968. ISSN 0024-3019. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
- ^ "John Olson, Photographer". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
- ^ "An Interview with John Olson". The Digital Journalist. July 2001. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
in 1967, and less than a year later he had won the Robert Capa Gold Medal for his coverage of the Siege of Hue
External links
edit- Photographs by John Olson on the website dedicated to the exhibition held in 2018 by Newseum on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Tet Offensive.