Faces of Vietnam 2022 Exhibit
Vietnam Veteran J. Kimo Williams returned to Vietnam with his camera.
Public Law No: 115-15, Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 designated March 29th as the official day to recognize Vietnam Veterans and their service to country.
In that spirit, FACES OF VIETNAM will be on exhibit 11am to 5pm March 26th, 27th, and 28th, 2021 at the Shepherdstown War Memorial Building in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.
In 1969 as a high school senior, Kimo always thought Vietnam would be a third world backward gloomy environment. Once there he realized it was nothing like that at all. The country had beautiful landscapes and flowing rivers. The non-combatant Vietnamese were warm cordial and very friendly. He relished the opportunity to engage with the people and the culture. However, because of the nature of his presence there, any cultural exploration was very limited.
He left Vietnam in the Fall of 1970 never having had the chance to really understand the Vietnamese culture or to embrace the beauty of the land.
In 1998, Kimo returned to Vietnam for the first time specifically to the place of his first assignment in Lai Khe. From this cathartic return, he realized what he missed as a soldier and wanted so much more. He returned in 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2010. During each trip, he had his camera with him and captured the faces of those he encountered which for him provided the essence of who this culture was. FACES of VIETNAM is an exhibit of those photographs.
Read MorePublic Law No: 115-15, Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 designated March 29th as the official day to recognize Vietnam Veterans and their service to country.
In that spirit, FACES OF VIETNAM will be on exhibit 11am to 5pm March 26th, 27th, and 28th, 2021 at the Shepherdstown War Memorial Building in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.
In 1969 as a high school senior, Kimo always thought Vietnam would be a third world backward gloomy environment. Once there he realized it was nothing like that at all. The country had beautiful landscapes and flowing rivers. The non-combatant Vietnamese were warm cordial and very friendly. He relished the opportunity to engage with the people and the culture. However, because of the nature of his presence there, any cultural exploration was very limited.
He left Vietnam in the Fall of 1970 never having had the chance to really understand the Vietnamese culture or to embrace the beauty of the land.
In 1998, Kimo returned to Vietnam for the first time specifically to the place of his first assignment in Lai Khe. From this cathartic return, he realized what he missed as a soldier and wanted so much more. He returned in 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2010. During each trip, he had his camera with him and captured the faces of those he encountered which for him provided the essence of who this culture was. FACES of VIETNAM is an exhibit of those photographs.
