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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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10

Iconic Vietnam War Survivor a Symbol of Hope

Kim Phuc now gives hope to burn victims

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(Newser) – When Kim Phuc was only 9, she unintentionally played a part in ending the Vietnam War. Nick Ut of the AP photographed Phuc running naked from a napalm attack in which she was horribly burned. She wasn't expected to survive, but survive she did, with the help of Ut, who got her to a hospital, and 17 operations. The mother of two, who now lives in Toronto, is a peace activist and UN goodwill ambassador who recently addressed a conference of burn survivors and doctors in New York City, HealthDay reports.

An expert at the Hearst Burn Center explains that burn treatment has improved dramatically in the years since Phuc was burned over 65% of her body. “I should be dead," Phuc said,  "but I was spared. So now I think, 'I cannot change something that happened to me already. But I can change the meaning.' I still have pain, but the pain I consider as my protection. It humbles me, and helps me to never take my life for granted. And to share my story."

Vietnam war survivor Kim Phuc smiles during a presentation at the Liberty Baptist Church in Newport Beach, Calif., Sunday, July 15, 2007.
Vietnam war survivor Kim Phuc smiles during a presentation at the Liberty Baptist Church in Newport Beach, Calif., Sunday, July 15, 2007.   (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Vietnam war survivor Kim Phuc, left, and Pulitzer Prize-winning Associated Press photographer Nick Ut are shown together before her talk in Newport Beach, Calif., Sunday, July 15, 2007.
Vietnam war survivor Kim Phuc, left, and Pulitzer Prize-winning Associated Press photographer Nick Ut are shown together before her talk in Newport Beach, Calif., Sunday, July 15, 2007.   (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Vietnam war survivor Kim Phuc sits down as a picture of her, taken in 1972 by Associated Press photographer Nick Ut, is shown at the Liberty Baptist Church in Newport Beach, Calif., Sunday, July 15, 2007.
Vietnam war survivor Kim Phuc sits down as a picture of her, taken in 1972 by Associated Press photographer Nick Ut, is shown at the Liberty Baptist Church in Newport Beach, Calif., Sunday, July 15, 2007.   (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
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10 comments
VIEWING:
 
ClearSight
Sep 10, 09 3:47 PM CDT
That image is worth 10 million words! Reply
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-6
IN RESPONSE:
UrUndertaker
Sep 10, 09 4:23 PM CDT
Clearfrieght, your hypocrisy is amazing. You know deep down this is just another brown skinned person you and GW would love to erase from the earth so don't play like an angel on one while posting trash as you have al day about Mexicans and anything else not white. You are the worst type hypocrite and coward. Totally without honor or merit
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+6
IN RESPONSE:
Spudsy
Sep 10, 09 5:45 PM CDT
Lighten up on the hypocrisy charge Uru. Maybe he was referring to watching a Viet burn.
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0
IN RESPONSE:
Robert_Dada
Sep 10, 09 6:14 PM CDT
Another f'ing christian hypocrite. I really wish Jesus existed (as you believe it anyway) so I could watch him spank your pimply ass.
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LiberalJesus
Sep 10, 09 6:25 PM CDT
Even now that is still a horrifying image from one of our worst moments....until Iraq. I often wonder what becomes of kids we see in pics from the battlezones past and present. Reply
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United Nations • Vietnam • bombing • photograph • attack • Vietnam War • Associated Press • burn victim • Kim Phuc • Nick Ut • UN goodwill ambassador

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