Famed My Lai photographer Ron Haeberle requested that the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, and the Son My Memorial Museum in Quang Ngai Province, correct the caption to one of his iconic photos, taken during the 1968 massacre. Haeberle had discovered and verified the identities of the two children depicted—and learned that they were still alive. He wanted historically accurate captions, and, while the War Remnants Museum complied, the Son My Memorial Museum has refused to do so. Government officials rebuked the War Remnants Museum and made them remove the truthful caption.
Haeberle is calling on the government of Vietnam to ensure that the true caption is displayed on the photos at the Son My Memorial Museum. Equally important, he wants the War Remnants Museum, which has already agreed to use the correct caption, to be allowed to do so.
Watch this interview with Haeberle where he discusses the drawn out, decades-long experience of telling his story and being under attack for his insistence on the historic truth:
And, to further uncover details of this latest issue, read Haeberle’s letters to the Vietnamese Ambassador to the U.S.:
It should be apparent that this is a terrible way to treat someone who has been hailed as a hero in Vietnam for the past five decades and, beyond that, it is shocking that Vietnam’s government in this instance is supporting those people in Quang Ngai Province who are determined to suppress historical truth.
We hope this gets resolved in a way such that the actual facts are given light to prevail and a creator’s wishes can be respected.