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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: 7 1/4 x 6 7/8 in. (18.4 x 17.5 cm)
Accession Number 2025.191
Classificationsphotograph
ProvenanceJeff Perry; Des Moines Art Center [gift from the previous, 2025]
South Korea: South Korean Army officer, right, writes the name and unit of a retreating South Korean soldier, July 16, 1950
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
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: 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
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
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
Training Pays Off: South Korea: In the rugged, treacherous terrain of Korea, the battle of supply is quite often more important and more violent than the actual combat between men. One unit of the 19th Infantry Regiment, their stones and ammunition shrunken by poor transport and worse roads, discovered a small railroad. Near their position and proceed to make use of it. Utilizing some battered equipment and their own ingenuity, they fashioned an adequate supply line on rails. The tiny railroad was named “Spaulding’s Spur,” after an executive officer in the Regiment. A group of GI’s, aided by some South Koreans, assemble a railroad car from some discarded equipment they found, September 23, 1950
1950
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
South Korea: An American first aid map treats a wounded United States soldier at front line aid station. The wounded are evacuated by litters carried on jeeps to hospitals in the rear, July 10, 1950
1950
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
South Korea: American wounded in battle in South Korea are evacuated by jeeps and litter from the front line. They pass a column of troops being moved up to the front. One man is going into battle well shaved as he soaps his face, July 10, 1950
1950
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
A detachment of United States marines dig in on side of hill, relax, during lull in fighting. South Korean forces were reported fighting deep inside the 38th Parallel, October 3, 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: 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