2010.54.1912

It Became Necessary to Destroy the Town to Save It
c.a. 1968
18.12 in HIGH x 12.50 in WIDE
(46.04 cm HIGH x 31.75 cm WIDE)
All Of Us Or None Archive. Gift of the Rossman Family.
2010.54.1912


Top of poster has the text: " 'It became necessary to destroy the town to save it.' / - unidentified U.S. Army Major quoted by Associated Press Correspondent Peter Arnett in newspapers of February 7, 1968. The Major was referring to the destruction of the / town of Ben Tre which had been overrun by a regimental-size force (approx. 2500 troops) of Viet Cong. Ben Tre had a civilian population of about 35,000. The fight to wrest / Ben Tre from Viet Cong control cost the lives of an estimated 1000 civilians." Below the poster has a large black and white photograph of an elderly man and woman. Both figures appear upset and the male figure is behind the woman with his arms around her.
Bookmark and Share