We were burning children.

Boomers remember this photo. 

The "Napalm Girl" photograph was taken on June 8, 1972. Children were running from an American napalm attack, headed directly toward the photographer, Nick Ut. The photograph won a Pulitzer Prize. The image circulated everywhere. There wasn't any way to hide from the consequences of our war in Vietnam. Whatever else we were doing there, there was an undeniable fact we had to acknowledge: We were burning children.

There was video that provided context. We saw the skin peeled off her back.

There were American servicemen on the road. She turned to them for help. 





Larry Slessler shared with me some reflections on getting through the trauma of war. He entered the military in the fall of 1961 and served until 1972. His service included Cuban Crisis of 1962 and Vietnam 1965-1966. His post-military career involved service to veterans and “Welfare to Work” programs.

Guest Post by Larry Slessler: "Napalm Girl."

I grew up with the saying; “A photo is worth a thousand words.” That statement is tempered some today because photos can now be so easily altered.

Ask anyone who was alive, and over a certain age during the 1960’s and 1970’s, whichVietnam War photos had the largest impact on the war and two photos will rise like cream to the top. One is the picture of a Senior South Vietnamese officer killing a captured/helpless Viet Cong with a pistol shot to the temple. The photo is seen at the exact time the bullet strikes the captive. The other photo is of a naked, 9- year-old Vietnamese girl, running and screaming with napalm burns from friendly fire. Note: Friendly fire isn’t friendly. Both of those photos are seared in my brain forever. American civilian reaction was intense.

The Sunday, June 12th New York Times has a story written by that now-59-year-old ”Napalm girl.” The title of the story is; “I Am Not ‘Napalm Girl’ Anymore” by Kim Phuc Phan Thi. Her story is both sad and uplifting as she details her journey from near death, her long emotional and physical struggles to her place of inner acceptance today. One of the things she says is; “I’m proud that in time, I have become a symbol of peace.” She gives other examples of her growth. One is her pride of helping to establish a foundation and traveling to war-torn countries providing medical and psychological assistance to children victimized by war.

Her message and lesson is clear to me. The worst pain from traumatic events--such as war, rape, molestation and other “Sanctuary” trauma--is pain with no MEANING. I define sanctuary trauma as trauma imposed by the people and institutions that are there to protect us. For vets many times it is “Mother Country.” Priest’s molestation of youth is another example. Equally apparent to me is relief from that trauma pain is not best served in the bottle, numbed with drugs, anger, or stuffing it. We all have seen first-hand those do not work. At best they give the momentary illusion, with temporary relief that soon passes. And, the cycle continues.

Victor Frankl, a Jewish survivor of the Holocaust wrote a book; “Man’s Search for Meaning.” Two things he said about the topic of trauma are: 1… “An abnormal reaction to an abnormal situation is normal behavior.” (I say trauma is a normal reaction to a crazy situation). 2… “Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose.”

Finally; I suggest Sanctuary Trauma is a moral wound to a person’s soul. Some wounds cannot be treated by a doctor. A wise Vietnam Vet once said; “We had to go crazy to stay sane.” Peter, Paul and Mary sang; “The answer my friend is blowing in the wind.” This vet suggests; “The answer my friend is finding meaning.” I can’t define meaning for anyone but myself. I can however help others find what that meaning is for themselves. Unresolved moral pain with no meaning will destroy the soul. Napalm Girl learned that lesson.