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Label TextThis image was taken by a photojournalist working under the employ of the Associated Press, a US news agency founded in 1846 and still in operation. These photographers endeavored to take in-focus, direct, and straightforward illustrations of the war that would clearly communicate important events with the American public. Because the Korean War occurred before the advent of television news, it was the last American war that Americans received almost entirely through photos printed in newspapers and magazines.
DimensionsOverall: 3 3/4 x 8 1/4 in. (9.5 x 21 cm)
Accession Number 2025.182
Classificationsphotograph
ProvenanceJeff Perry; Des Moines Art Center [gift from the previous, 2025]
South Korea: An American machine gun crew are well prepared for the enemy in the southwest sector of the Korean war zone. Left to right: Pfc. Richard Bowker, Cheyenne, South Dakota; Pfc. Carle Batty, Rock Island, Illinois; and Cpt. George E. Murphy, August, Georgia, August 7, 1950
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
Anti-Tank Task: South Korea: Pfc. Billie Harrell (left) of Griffin, Georgia, and Pvt. Morgan Hannan of Columbus, Mississippi, lie behind their “tank antidote,” the 3.5 and 2.7 bazookas, on the Naktong River front. Late reports had yanks on the offensive on three Korean fronts, August 14, 1950
1950
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
Chow Now? And How!: South Korea: Pfc. Andrew T. Jones of Milton, Florida, and Pfc. Ray Scalf (right) of Elizabethon, Tennessee, enjoy hot chow at forward command post in the Yongdong sector. Troops in the field are now eating hot rations in full quantity. Weeks ago the menu wasn’t so complete, August 3, 1950
1950
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
South Korea: While Lt. General Walton H. Walker, CG 8th Army looks on, General J. Lawton Collins, Army Chief of Staff, inspects some captured North Korean small arms near the Korean battle front. Collins visited the Korean front to analyze the war’s progress, August 24, 1950
1950
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
South Korea: Lt. Col. Kim Young, Korean Air Force commander, briefs part of the Korean volunteer group before take-off on mission over enemy held Korea, July 25, 1950
1950
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
South Korea: Grim looking supply drivers pictured as they arrived at rear base to load more supplies for front lines. Left to right: Cpl. Johnnie McLeroy, Paducah, Kentucky, and Pfc. Carlton Wright, Herbing, Arkansas, July 18, 1951
1951
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
Marine Leaders: South Korea: Brigade General Edward A. Craig (second from left), commanding General, First Provisional Marine Division, confers with other officers aboard ship prior to the landing of the leathernecks at a South Korean port. Left to right are: Col. E. W. Snedeker, Chief of staff; General Craig; Captain L. D. Sharp, R. J. Lamb, Flagship Commanding officer, August 6, 1950
1950
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
Battle Casualty: An unidentified United States Marine is aided down slope by two buddies after he and four others were injured by enemy mortar hit on crest of ridge in Naktong River sector of Korean forest, August 22, 1950
1950
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
South Korea: Cpl. Frank Wilson, Piakskill, New York cleans 155 mm gun on Korean front while Cpl. Alfred Valader, New Bronfield, Texas, has a bite to eat, July 14, 1950
1950
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
Relax Before Battle: Pvt. Raymond Williams (left with banjo), Moberly, Missouri, and Pvt. Bob Clinton (with guitar), Bismarck, Missouri, entertain fellow Americans aboard flat car moving men and equipment to Korean front. Listening are fellow 25th Division men PFC Bill Persinger, (lower center), Dille, West Virginia; Cpl. John H. McKinney (right), Logan, West Virginia; and Cpl. Mack C. Cook (foreground), Altoona, Pennsylvania, August 7, 1950
1950
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
GI’s Take Koje Today: Businesslike GI’s, well-armed for their day’s work, march along a road on Koje Island with a large North Korean flag which they had just taken from prisoner-of-war compound 85. The enemy banner is one of the many symbols of defiance ordered removed the troublesome prisoner enclosures on the South Korean island, site of the largest Allied prisoner concentration, June 9, 1952
1952
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
South Korea: Cpl. Francis Dickey, Miami Beach, Florida, shows his injured hand and damaged rifle after treatment in ambulance near the front lines. Cpl. Dickey advancing behind cover of a tank, was hit when sniper fire struck his rifle shattering the trigger housing. Fragments from the trigger lodged in Dickey’s right hand, August 11, 1950
1950
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
South Korea: South Korean Army officer, right, writes the name and unit of a retreating South Korean soldier, July 16, 1950
1950