Oliver Noonan, American, 1939-1969
American soldiers listening to a radio broadcast in Vietnam during the war in 1966
1966
AP Photo/Oliver Noonan
This iconic image taken in 1966, during the height of the Vietnam War, captures soldiers gathered around a small radio, listening to a broadcast. Though it is unclear what they listen to, their solemn faces and heads bent toward the radio indicate intense concentration. There is a sense of camaraderie within the image as they listen together in silence, offering companionship and solidarity in the face of the news.
Photojournalist Oliver Noonan covered the Vietnam War for the Associated Press. He died in 1969, during a fierce fire fight in which his helicopter was shot down. His film survived, however, and many of his photos of intense fighting were printed and published after his death.