Saying Goodbye to Vietnam

EmpowerU Studio at Frame USA
225 Northland Blvd
Cincinnati, Ohio 45246
Thursday, November 7, 2019

To View a Complete Recording of This Class–Click Here

To Purchase Ken’s great book go to:   http://www.sayinggoodbyetovietnam.com

Fifty years ago, in 1969, Ken Williamson went to Vietnam as a U.S. Army photographer. Armed with a BFA degree in photography and an old Leica camera, Ken began his journey to document the activities of the Army Engineers as he traveled throughout South Vietnam as an Army Photojournalist. Hoping one day to publish a book about his experience, he used the opportunity to also capture the beauty of the country and the struggle of the Vietnamese people to survive the horrors of war.  Following two return trips to Vietnam in 1998 and 2005, Ken published “Saying Goodbye to Vietnam”.

Ken will present an engaging story of how he documented Army Engineer activities for three publications, struggled with thoughts of why our country had a military presence in Vietnam, and dealt with thoughts of his pregnant wife living halfway around the world without him. Hear and see what life was like as a photographer in a combat zone and learn what Ken discovered about Vietnam during his two return trips.  From developing film in lake water, to capturing daily events under the most challenging tropical conditions, you’ll experience Vietnam at war and at peace through Ken’s words and photographs. He will read excerpts from his book, including letters between Nixon and Ho Chi Minh, poetry he wrote during his 1998 trip to help with his healing process, and share the experience of meeting a former Viet Cong soldier who was left in a field to die.

“Saying Goodbye to Vietnam” is a limited edition, hardbound book with over 450 of Ken’s photographs and, will be available for purchase after the presentation.   Ken will be signing and numbering copies of his book for a discounted price of $40.  Credit cards accepted.

Ken Williamson is a native of Cincinnati, a graduate of Norwood High School and Ohio University, where he studied photography. He was a U.S. Army Photographer and Journalist in Vietnam in 1969 and owned his own film and video production company for 28 years in Cincinnati.

His service in Vietnam, as a photographer, included the 815th Engineers in Pleiku and the 26th Public Information Detachment, USAECAV. While with the 26th, Ken traveled throughout South Vietnam documenting engineer operations. His photography appeared in engineer publications, The Castle Courier, Kysu magazine and Stars and Stripes. Ken has returned to Vietnam twice (1998 and 2005) to gather information for Saying Goodbye to Vietnam. During those trips he shot photos from many of the same locations as in 1969. Ken is Past President of VVA Chapter 649 in Clermont County Ohio serves on The Vietnam Veterans of America Buckeye State Board as District 3 Director. 

 

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