You're awful, I love you

bertthebear:

askance:

planetoftheapes:

The man with the gun is South Vietnamese National Police Chief General Nguyễn Ngọc Loan. The man in the plaid shirt, who is or is about to be shot in the head (his death is shown in NBC News footage taken at the same time), is thought to be Nguyễn Văn Lém (or possibly Le Cong Na), and was either a Viet Cong officer or a political operative. His face was disfigured because he had been beaten. The title of the photo, which became instantly famous around the world, is “General Nguyen Ngoc Loan Executing a Viet Cong Prisoner in Saigon”

The lesser known part of this story is how this picture ruined the life of the man with the gun. Wherever he went, he was shunned, and couldn’t find a community in which to live. Eventually, he committed suicide, I believe.

Now you all may be thinking “But he killed a man! More than that, one who was bound, and couldn’t defend himself!” Our troops abroad kill lots of people, and sometimes civilians. Our military has become known for torture, especially in this last war. The man being killed was Viet-Kong. Not necessarily a good person.

Try to argue against me. I’m interested in having a debate right now.

The man in plaid has been shot in his head. this picture was taken before the bullet had exited his skull.