Considered one of the most influential images of the Vietnam War; Eddie Adams took this picture entitled (and forgive me because this is the American version of his name) "The Execution of Nguyen Van Lem". This photograph, though a bit graphic, allows us to see that although a picture may tell a story one must be conscientious of the story it tells. Van Lem looks like a civilian and because of this, this photo was a big resource in the anti-war movement. However, Van Lem was a member of the Viet Cong: National Liberation Front and was the leader of their death squad. He had a large hand in killing many South Vietnamese National Police officers and their families. The backlash after this image gained popularity impacted General Loan's (the executor) life in extremely negative ways. In fact, Adam's was quoted saying: "The General killed the Viet Cong; I killed the general with my camera."
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