Viewer discretion and parental guidance are suggested. This exhibition contains scenes and descriptions of war that some visitors may find disturbing.

Vietnam: The Real War, Photographs from Three Local Perspectives

In addition to national media coverage, local reporting on the war offered tri-state residents access to personal stories of hometown soldiers. The Telegraph Herald newspaper and KDTH radio (owned by the Telegraph Herald at the time) sent local correspondents Bob Woodward Jr. and Jim Geladas to Vietnam for a series of reports in 1966, 1967, and 1968, a dispatch that was unique for a community of Dubuque’s size. The correspondents recorded interviews with soldiers from this area, took hundreds of photographs, and sent home stories about what it was like in Vietnam. Over one hundred of their images, along with clips from interviews, are included in the exhibition courtesy of the University of Dubuque’s Charles C. Myers Library Archives.

Click here to explore the Woodward Collection at UD, recently digitized on the UD library's website.

Virtual Walkthrough

From the University of Dubuque, Charles C. Myers Library Archives

South Vietnamese soldier who lost a leg. From the University of Dubuque, Charles C. Myers Library Archives

From the University of Dubuque, Charles C. Myers Library Archives

A wounded soldier gives a thumbs-up to medics and helicopter crew at Phu Bai. From the University of Dubuque, Charles C. Myers Library Archives

From the University of Dubuque, Charles C. Myers Library Archives

From the University of Dubuque, Charles C. Myers Library Archives

Side profile of a soldier in a helicopter From the University of Dubuque, Charles C. Myers Library Archives

Bob Woodward Jr., U.S. Army Major McClean and an Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) Ranger. Major McClean was an advisor to the ARVN Rangers. From the University of Dubuque, Charles C. Myers Library Archives

Bob Woodward Jr. photographing Mike O'Meara (left) and another soldier in Vietnam in 1968. From the University of Dubuque, Charles C. Myers Library Archives.

American soldiers walking with children. From the University of Dubuque, Charles C. Myers Library Archives

Documenting the Vietnam War was not only the purview of the press. The U.S. military has used photography since the late nineteenth century for documentation, intelligence, operational planning, and propaganda. Military photography and video recording were used extensively in all aspects of the Vietnam War. Chicago photographer Ron Testa, whose work is in the DuMA collection, was a Navy combat photographer who served three tours from 1966 to 1970 on the USS Ticonderoga off the coast of Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin. He photographed and recorded everything from launches, landings, and reconnaissance to injuries and casualties. Fifteen unclassified photographs that Testa took during his service, along with a poignant image of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, are in this exhibition.

Helicopter preparing to lift off the flight deck for rescue and reconnaissance during a launch cycle. Courtesy of the artist.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Washington D.C. Courtesy of the artist.

Crew members at dusk on the fantail taking a smoke and relaxing after a long day launching air strikes. Courtesy of the artist.

Fighter pilot on the flight deck heading out to his aircraft in full flight gear. Courtesy of the artist.

A-1 Skyraider (SPAD) on port catapult loaded with 4 rocket pods ready to launch. Courtesy of the artist.

Left: Ordnance handlers loading a Sidewinder heat-seeking missile onto the bomb carriage of an F-8 Crusader. Right: Two 250 lbs bombs loaded onto the wing pylon of an A-4 Skyhawk readied for launch. Courtesy of the artist.

An F-8 Crusader executing a barricade recovery after a Viet Cong SAM (surface-to-air-missile) shot off his left landing gear strut. Courtesy of the artist.

Homecoming after 8 months at sea Long Beach Naval Shipyard, California. Courtesy of the artist.

The Flight Deck Safety Officer giving the "thumbs up" to the pilot and the catapult crew that the aircraft is cleared for launch. Courtesy of the artist.

During the Tet Offensive in 1968 24 hour bombing runs were initiated. This is an A-4 Skyhawk recovery during night strike operations. Courtesy of the artist.

Ordnance handlers inspecting time delay nose fuses before arming 250 lbs bombs. Courtesy of the artist.

USS Ticonderoga CVA14 returning to the South China Sea with a full Carrier Air Wing on-board. Courtesy of the artist.

Aerial view of the USS Ticonderoga at sea in the Tonkin Gulf. The photograph was taken with a horizon to horizon panoramic camera mounted in the nose cone of an F-8 Crusader. Courtesy of the artist.

A-4 Skyhawk launch off the port catapult with a full ordnance load. Courtesy of the artist.

Ordnance handlers hustling a bomb cart with 250 lbs bombs across the the flight deck to arm an aircraft prior to a launch cycle. Courtesy of the artist.

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Vietnam Local Stories

Virtual Walkthrough

From the University of Dubuque, Charles C. Myers Library Archives

South Vietnamese soldier who lost a leg. From the University of Dubuque, Charles C. Myers Library Archives

From the University of Dubuque, Charles C. Myers Library Archives

A wounded soldier gives a thumbs-up to medics and helicopter crew at Phu Bai. From the University of Dubuque, Charles C. Myers Library Archives

From the University of Dubuque, Charles C. Myers Library Archives

From the University of Dubuque, Charles C. Myers Library Archives

Side profile of a soldier in a helicopter From the University of Dubuque, Charles C. Myers Library Archives

Bob Woodward Jr., U.S. Army Major McClean and an Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) Ranger. Major McClean was an advisor to the ARVN Rangers. From the University of Dubuque, Charles C. Myers Library Archives

Bob Woodward Jr. photographing Mike O'Meara (left) and another soldier in Vietnam in 1968. From the University of Dubuque, Charles C. Myers Library Archives.

American soldiers walking with children. From the University of Dubuque, Charles C. Myers Library Archives

Helicopter preparing to lift off the flight deck for rescue and reconnaissance during a launch cycle. Courtesy of the artist.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Washington D.C. Courtesy of the artist.

Crew members at dusk on the fantail taking a smoke and relaxing after a long day launching air strikes. Courtesy of the artist.

Fighter pilot on the flight deck heading out to his aircraft in full flight gear. Courtesy of the artist.

A-1 Skyraider (SPAD) on port catapult loaded with 4 rocket pods ready to launch. Courtesy of the artist.

Left: Ordnance handlers loading a Sidewinder heat-seeking missile onto the bomb carriage of an F-8 Crusader. Right: Two 250 lbs bombs loaded onto the wing pylon of an A-4 Skyhawk readied for launch. Courtesy of the artist.

An F-8 Crusader executing a barricade recovery after a Viet Cong SAM (surface-to-air-missile) shot off his left landing gear strut. Courtesy of the artist.

Homecoming after 8 months at sea Long Beach Naval Shipyard, California. Courtesy of the artist.

The Flight Deck Safety Officer giving the "thumbs up" to the pilot and the catapult crew that the aircraft is cleared for launch. Courtesy of the artist.

During the Tet Offensive in 1968 24 hour bombing runs were initiated. This is an A-4 Skyhawk recovery during night strike operations. Courtesy of the artist.

Ordnance handlers inspecting time delay nose fuses before arming 250 lbs bombs. Courtesy of the artist.

USS Ticonderoga CVA14 returning to the South China Sea with a full Carrier Air Wing on-board. Courtesy of the artist.

Aerial view of the USS Ticonderoga at sea in the Tonkin Gulf. The photograph was taken with a horizon to horizon panoramic camera mounted in the nose cone of an F-8 Crusader. Courtesy of the artist.

A-4 Skyhawk launch off the port catapult with a full ordnance load. Courtesy of the artist.

Ordnance handlers hustling a bomb cart with 250 lbs bombs across the the flight deck to arm an aircraft prior to a launch cycle. Courtesy of the artist.