The remarkable story of Vietnam's most famous casualty
- Denise Chong
This book is the story about Kim Phuc - the girl who survived the bombing of napalm in Vietnam. Kim was only 9 years old at the point of the bombing in 1972. A photoghapher by the name of Nick Ut, was fortunate to be there to capture this famous picture which ran prints all over the world. Kim Phuc and most of her family members survived the bombs, but not without cost. To date, Kim underwent at least 17 operations and still experiencing excruciating pain for the scars behind her back
Denise Chong explained in a very simple language detail events of the life before and the life after the bombing. But one thing remains the same, Kim's family was still poor. After the experience that she had in the hospital, Kim wanted to become a doctor. But the Vietnam government just wanted her to assist in the office because she is "the world's most famous war survivor'. She eventually overcome the obstable and granted the approval to study pharmacology in Cuba.
She met Toan, her husand in Cuba. Right after their marriage, the couple went to Moscow for their honeymoon. Unknown to Toan, Kim already planned an "escape" from being part of Cuba nor Vietnam (communist regime). While the plane was refuelling in Canada, the couple defected and seek political asylum. In 1998, they eventually got their Canadian citizenship together with their 2 sons.
Today Kim Phuc is a motivational speaker, a child welfare advocate and a peace activist.
page 362
... Sometime I thought I could not live, but God save me and give me faith and hope. Even if I could talk face to face with the pilot who dropped the bombs, I will tell him we cannot change history but we should try to do good things for the present and for the future to promote peace."
page 363
... "Kim, do you know the man that you're been wanting to find?" (the pilot who dropped the bombs)
"Yes?"
"He's right behind you."
She turned around and looked into the face of pain. She held her arms out.
Plummet (the pilot) fell into them. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry..."
"It's okay," she replied. "I forgive, I forgive."
Some Vietnam War Facts:-
1) 58,000 Americans died in Vietnam War
2) 300,000 Americans had come home wounded
3) 600 Americans had been captured
4) 1,300 Americans was still MIA in Vietnam
5) 3,000,000 American veterans who had served in Vietnam searched for the meaning of their sacrifices
6) 1 American President lost his office
Personal review
I bought this book in Cambodia some 3 months back, but haven't got the chance to read it until the 13th August 2010. It took me only 3 days to finish this 372 page book.
Simon & Schuster UK Ltd
First Edition
ISBN 0-7432-0703-3
- Denise Chong
This book is the story about Kim Phuc - the girl who survived the bombing of napalm in Vietnam. Kim was only 9 years old at the point of the bombing in 1972. A photoghapher by the name of Nick Ut, was fortunate to be there to capture this famous picture which ran prints all over the world. Kim Phuc and most of her family members survived the bombs, but not without cost. To date, Kim underwent at least 17 operations and still experiencing excruciating pain for the scars behind her back
Denise Chong explained in a very simple language detail events of the life before and the life after the bombing. But one thing remains the same, Kim's family was still poor. After the experience that she had in the hospital, Kim wanted to become a doctor. But the Vietnam government just wanted her to assist in the office because she is "the world's most famous war survivor'. She eventually overcome the obstable and granted the approval to study pharmacology in Cuba.
She met Toan, her husand in Cuba. Right after their marriage, the couple went to Moscow for their honeymoon. Unknown to Toan, Kim already planned an "escape" from being part of Cuba nor Vietnam (communist regime). While the plane was refuelling in Canada, the couple defected and seek political asylum. In 1998, they eventually got their Canadian citizenship together with their 2 sons.
Today Kim Phuc is a motivational speaker, a child welfare advocate and a peace activist.
page 362
... Sometime I thought I could not live, but God save me and give me faith and hope. Even if I could talk face to face with the pilot who dropped the bombs, I will tell him we cannot change history but we should try to do good things for the present and for the future to promote peace."
page 363
... "Kim, do you know the man that you're been wanting to find?" (the pilot who dropped the bombs)
"Yes?"
"He's right behind you."
She turned around and looked into the face of pain. She held her arms out.
Plummet (the pilot) fell into them. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry..."
"It's okay," she replied. "I forgive, I forgive."
Some Vietnam War Facts:-
1) 58,000 Americans died in Vietnam War
2) 300,000 Americans had come home wounded
3) 600 Americans had been captured
4) 1,300 Americans was still MIA in Vietnam
5) 3,000,000 American veterans who had served in Vietnam searched for the meaning of their sacrifices
6) 1 American President lost his office
Personal review
I bought this book in Cambodia some 3 months back, but haven't got the chance to read it until the 13th August 2010. It took me only 3 days to finish this 372 page book.
Simon & Schuster UK Ltd
First Edition
ISBN 0-7432-0703-3
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