“Oh my God—we hit a little girl”: 1966 America wakes up to civilian casualties in Vietnam
In 1966, Vietnam was not yet the broadly unpopular war it would become. News coverage was mostly supportive or neutral. It wasn’t until February 27, 1968 that CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite—“the most trusted man in America”—broadcast his message that victory was not possible.
In October 1966, Esquire magazine published a 33,000-word report by John Sack about his time embedded with “M” company in Vietnam. George Lois, the legendary Esquire art director, accompanied this with a simple stark cover, quoting a soldier. It is considered the first anti-Vietnam War cover from a major American magazine; it was not the last.
Note: Despite protests and many more casualties, the war would last another nine years. Without victory.
© 2023 by Bob Schwartz
Bob Schwartz 