13 rare color photos of the Vietnam War, taken by the veterans who served

Advertisement

The Vietnam Slide Project is an ongoing archive-based photography project with the aim of sharing personal photos taken by servicemen during the Vietnam War.

The Vietnam Slide Project is an ongoing archive-based photography project with the aim of sharing personal photos taken by servicemen during the Vietnam War.
Advertisement

Getting access to these slides was easier than Rennick expected. After speaking with her family and friends, she discovered that a number of people she knew had family members who served.

Getting access to these slides was easier than Rennick expected. After speaking with her family and friends, she discovered that a number of people she knew had family members who served.
Advertisement

Rennick also contacted the Vietnam Veterans of America with her idea and concept, and they mentioned the project on their "Arts of War" website.

Rennick also contacted the Vietnam Veterans of America with her idea and concept, and they mentioned the project on their "Arts of War" website.

Source: Arts of War

This caught the attention of family members and veterans, who reached out to Rennick to contribute slides and stories.

This caught the attention of family members and veterans, who reached out to Rennick to contribute slides and stories.
Advertisement

One veteran even sent her a written essay about his experience in Vietnam. The daughter of a veteran who recently passed away sent her slides and information on the medals her father earned while serving.

One veteran even sent her a written essay about his experience in Vietnam. The daughter of a veteran who recently passed away sent her slides and information on the medals her father earned while serving.

Rennick's goal is to eventually raise money to donate to veteran services, and give back to those who served.

Rennick's goal is to eventually raise money to donate to veteran services, and give back to those who served.
Advertisement

Rennick described the responses she got as "remarkable." "Their openness to share these stories with me has been the highlight of this project," she said.

Rennick described the responses she got as "remarkable." "Their openness to share these stories with me has been the highlight of this project," she said.

Dennis Thornton, the photographer of the picture below, served in the First Air Cavalry division of the US Army. He spent 1969 and 1970 just a few miles north of Saigon.

Dennis Thornton, the photographer of the picture below, served in the First Air Cavalry division of the US Army. He spent 1969 and 1970 just a few miles north of Saigon.
Advertisement

James Allan Townsend, the veteran who took this photo, served in the US Army from 1967 to 1973. He served in Vietnam from 1968 through 1969. Townsend passed away last year of Agent Orange-related Parkinson's disease he sustained in Vietnam. His daughters provided the slides for the project.

James Allan Townsend, the veteran who took this photo, served in the US Army from 1967 to 1973. He served in Vietnam from 1968 through 1969. Townsend passed away last year of Agent Orange-related Parkinson's disease he sustained in Vietnam. His daughters provided the slides for the project.

These photos offer two perspectives of the war: the actual conflicts of the war, and the raw moments between soldiers as they hung out in their downtime.

These photos offer two perspectives of the war: the actual conflicts of the war, and the raw moments between soldiers as they hung out in their downtime.
Advertisement

Rennick is fascinated by the visual stories within these photographs.

Rennick is fascinated by the visual stories within these photographs.

"I am interested in the juxtaposition of the veteran playing guitar or ping pong during downtime, to soldiers walking through the swamp strapped with bullets, all photographed by the same soldier," Rennick said.

"I am interested in the juxtaposition of the veteran playing guitar or ping pong during downtime, to soldiers walking through the swamp strapped with bullets, all photographed by the same soldier," Rennick said.
Advertisement

"These images help to humanize the soldier and remind us of just how young they were, as well as the sheer gravity of the war," Rennick said.

"These images help to humanize the soldier and remind us of just how young they were, as well as the sheer gravity of the war," Rennick said.