The January 2010 issue of Armchair General magazine features the cover story “War: A Photo Essay,” our picks for 25 of history’s greatest war photos (plus 5 Great Photos we didn’t pick and 6 Famous Fakes). We asked our ACG Advisory Board members to select their own favorite war images. Their choices appear below.

 

Gen. Hal Moore – Soviets Leave Afghanistan 1989
“On February 16, 1989, the Soviets pulled out of Afghanistan. They crossed the Friendship Bridge, led by Lt. Gen. Boris V. Gromov (last Russian off the Afghan land). They had been in Afghan nine years and 50 days. I and several other Vietnam Vets went to the Soviet Union and met, and hiked with former Russian soldiers who were Vets from the Afghan war. We met in Moscow and then trecked together. We spent time in advance of the trip learning their language somewhat. We developed a common bond — we were both evacuated and lost both wars.

Photos of the Russian pullout have always been important to me. Perhaps it is because it serves as a reminder of the Vietnam War and what may lie ahead for us in Afghanistan.”

–Gen. Hal Moore

Carlo D’Este – Photo of U.S. cemetery at Normandy
“Since the founding of our nation the price of freedom has always come at a high cost. It is one of our government’s solemn responsibilities to honor the fallen, many of whom are buried overseas in military cemeteries like this one at St.-Laurent-sur-Mer, Normandy, France. That duty is superbly carried out with great care and dignity by the American Battle Monuments Commission.”

–Carlo D’Este

Jack Mountcastle – Chosin Marine, Korean War 1950
“I have chosen this photo by David Douglas Duncan. It was originally published by Life magazine in 1951. Later, it was featured in Duncan’s excellent pictorial presentation entitled This is War!: a Photo-narrative of the Korean War.

Duncan accompanied Marines of the 1st Marine Division who were ‘attacking in a different direction’ from the Chosin Reservoir during the seventeen-day period between November 27 and December 13, 1950.

The young Marine’s bone-deep fatigue is evident. But so is his determination to carry on, in spite of the brutal cold and overwhelming numbers of Chinese that assaulted the American Marines, British Marines, and American Soldiers who fought their way to the coast of North Korea. These fighting men knew that U.S. Navy ships were waiting for them at the port of Hungnam.

This young man has been, for me, the quintessential warrior — ever since I first saw this photo taken by Duncan, a former Marine and masterful Life Magazine war photographer.”

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