Dang Van Phuoc, Legendary Vietnam War Photojournalist, Dies at 90

Dang Van Phuoc, a fearless photojournalist whose lens captured some of the Vietnam War’s most searing moments, died on Friday at age 90. Phuoc, renowned for his decade-long work with The Associated Press, brought the world a front-row view of conflict in his homeland, often at grave personal risk.

Phuoc’s commitment to documenting the realities of war cost him dearly. While photographing a firefight near Saigon in the late 1960s, he lost his right eye to a grenade explosion—a wound he wore as a badge of both courage and sacrifice. Despite the injury, he returned to the field, continuing to deliver images that shaped public opinion and historical memory.

For New York’s media community, Phuoc’s legacy is a reminder of the city’s enduring ties to international journalism. The Associated Press’s Midtown Manhattan headquarters served as the nerve center for distributing his photos worldwide, influencing newsrooms from Park Avenue to Paris.

Even as the city’s media landscape shifts toward digital storytelling, Phuoc’s work stands as a testament to the power of visual reporting. Editors at several Manhattan outlets, reflecting on his passing this weekend, noted that his images remain a teaching tool for journalists learning to balance bravery and ethics.

His death comes as New Yorkers mark Memorial Day weekend, a time when the cost and coverage of war remain present in civic life. Phuoc’s life and work offer a poignant connection to the tradition of reporting from conflict zones—a tradition carried on by many in the city’s vibrant press corps.