On Sunday, three journalism giants gathered to celebrate a momentous achievement by one of them at a local restaurant in Garden Grove.
Pulitzer Prize winners Nick Ut, left, Peter Arnett, center, and David Hume Kennerly celebrating Kennerly’s 50th birthday after winning the 1972 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Film Photography.
(Raul Roa)
At a small gathering hosted by film producer Naja Lockwood, famed journalists Peter Arnett and Nick Ut joined David Hume Kennerly and a few close friends to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Kennerly’s 1972 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Film Photography. Held at the famous Vietnamese restaurant Brodard Chateau, the group dined on a variety of Vietnamese dishes. Lockwood said she and writer, producer and director Tony Bui as well as Nick Ut wanted to celebrate Kennerly’s work and contribution “and move beyond the sadness of April 30 (Fall of Saigon, April 30, 1975) this weekend and rather towards the hope and joy of celebrating David.
Vietnamese American producer Naja Lockwood, standing, says a few words about Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer David Hume Kennerly, left.
(Raul Roa)
The three men are now the only living Pulitzer Prize winners from the Vietnam War era.
Kennerly, who was also President Gerald Ford’s chief photographer, won the Pulitzer Prize in 1972 for his portfolio of 1971 photographs of the Vietnam War, Cambodia, Pakistani refugees from the east near Calcutta, and the Ali battle. -Frazier at Madison Square Garden.
The Pulitzer Prize certificate for David Hume Kennerly as he celebrates the 50th anniversary of winning the 1972 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Film Photography.
(Courtesy of David Hume Kennerly)
Kennerly recalled that on May 1, 1972, he was on duty in Saigon as a photojournalist for United Press International when he learned he had won the Pulitzer Prize. Kennerly initially said he “didn’t believe it”, but when confirmation came from the main office he was thrilled.
One of the set of David Hume Kennerly’s 1972 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Film Photography.
(David Hume Kennerly)
The next day, Kennerly said, he came out to cover the war and was nearly killed in a fierce exchange of fire between North and South Vietnamese soldiers.
David Hume Kennerly takes cover in a shootout a day after winning the Pulitzer Prize.
(Dirck Halstead)
While discussing his accomplishment, Kennerly mentioned that he has helped around 25 Vietnamese refugees come to America by sponsoring them from refugee camps in America and abroad. “At one point,” he said, “there must have been about 15 people living in my house.”
When asked how he felt about reaching his 50th birthday, Kennerly said he was “just happy to be here to see this happen.”
Nick Ut, left, Anh Do, center, and Naja Lockwood, right, take cellphone photos of Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer David Hume Kennerly.
(Raul Roa)
“I didn’t think I would see my 25th birthday in Saigon because I had been through a year of fighting and so many close calls,” he added.
“When I turned 25, it was a big day, and I was in Saigon. Less than two months later, I won the [Pulitzer] Price,” Kennerly said.
Peter Arnett, left, Tony Bui, second from left, Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer David Hume Kennerly, third from left, and others celebrate the 50th anniversary of winning the 1972 Pulitzer Prize.
(Raul Roa)
“Now I’m 75 and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the highest honor I’ve ever received in my profession, and I’m still here to enjoy it,” Kennerly continued.
Lockwood added that the celebration is “a reminder of the importance not only of photojournalism and the power of photography in promoting social justice, showing readers its powerful portrayal of the costs of war.”
“But it also reminds us of the humanity in all of us and helps us to act with awareness and compassion. The power of these photos unleashes deep and unconditional empathy, whether it’s helping helpless, empty-handed Vietnamese refugees in America or finding compassion for newly arrived immigrants in our land,” Lockwood concluded.
Kennerly said his motivation for continuing to work was “the importance of news photography. We are the trusted messengers who show the world the truth about what is really happening.
David Hume Kennerly, Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer.
(Raul Roa)
Kennerly travels the world and continues to work for a variety of clients. Kennerly is also a Canon Explorer of Light, a program sponsored by the Canon camera company.
With Vietnamese-American independent filmmaker Tony Bui at left, Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer David Hume Kennerly.
(Raul Roa)
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