| I was a civillian photographer and film cameraman with UPI and NBC News in Vietnam from 1967 through most of 1968. A lot of that time was spent in I Corps with the Marines. Having spent "quality" time under fire with the "grunts" in Con Tien in late '67 and Khe Sahn and Hue during the Tet Offensive in early '68, I developed a strange, almost existential affection and afinity for the US Marines. That close afinity resulted in my being wounded three times by enemy fire directed at the Marines, and in one really bizarre corps adventure, having my life saved by a lens that stopped a sniper round. As I pulled the camera and lens from my pack and poured what was left of the glass, the lens barrel and the bullet into my hand, the grunt who had been sitting next to me in the chopper when the bullet struck observed dryly: "F*** man, you must be f****** crazy. You're a f****** civillian from the f****** real world man. You don't even f****** have to f****** be here!" It's easy to split infinitives when you're under fire! |
(Click on any of the thumbnails to view a larger photo).
The 'Nam Exhibition...
The Moustache & Us...
| F. Kurt Rolfes |
| The month long exhibition was held for the first time at Notices, The Gallery in The Four Seasons Hotel, Singapore in 1999. It was the first time since I had left the 'Nam in 1969 that any of the photographs had been shown to the public. |
| The last eight months of my self imposed tour of duty in Vietnam was spent as part of a "pop/country western" trio called the "Moustache and Us." With my 14 inch waxed handlebar moustache, I was obviously the "Moustache" and along with Marina "Tiger" Bryant from Hollywood and Sandy Scott from Las Vegas, we entertained the troops from the delta to the dmz. But that's part of a remarkable and continuing story which will unfold later. |
| Photographer/Film Maker/Entertainer |
| Vietnam '67/'68/'69 |