Reading a picture, opinion.

1. Humanities 200
March 18, 2007
Gulf War Tragedy
“Weeping Sergeant in Gulf War” is the name of this picture and is from a TIME
book. The origination of this photograph is from the 1991 Gulf War, taken by David
Turnley, and involves US Sergeant Ken Kozakiewicz and 4 other soldiers evacuating in a
medical helicopter. Ken is the one in the arm sling who is upset for a reason other than the
one that I originally thought of when I first looked at this photo. After reading the article
that explains this photo, I learned that the bag to his left contained the body of a tank
crewmember that was a friend of his, not killed by the enemy but by “friendly fire.” Since
seeing the picture Ken’s father said, “I saw the look on my boy’s face, and I know he will
never be the same.”
David, in my perception, captured how serious the Gulf War was and what kind of
pain it evoked and to remind the viewer that soldiers do die but those who are left also hurt
and will be scarred for life. In addition, I have seen few men cry in my lifetime so the fact
that Ken is crying in this picture tells me that he is just very sensitive or just experienced

2. something very tragic which adds more meaning to the photograph. Rather than just
showing a book by its cover, like what broadcasts on television most of the time, he opened
the book and displayed the true meaning and understanding of what really happened. In
addition, I feel this picture helps people like me, who never had close relatives in a war,
really feel a little of what those soldiers are feeling. I would say 95% of this photo is pain
(physical and emotional): Ken who is crying and has his arm bandaged up, the person in
the middle with a bandage on his head and of course, the dead soldier. Before I read the
article, I felt that Ken was just upset over the stress of the war and I could conclude that the
body in the bag was a soldier, but knowing that quot;friendly firequot; is what killed him makes the
picture much more emotional.
On the other side of the table, which the article does not mention, I noticed that
David might have been trying to capture “the show must go on” kind of perception. In the
upper left corner I see a soldier filling out some paperwork and in the right side of the
photo is another soldier working on something. Regardless of whether or not these two
soldiers and the one in the middle, who does not look emotional, knew the person in the
bag, they are doing what they have to do to get to safety and not lose any more lives. There
is a place and time for everything and David really showed how seriously soldiers take
their duty.
Therefore, David shows that any war is a serious war that no person should take
lightly. Conflict can happen in the middle of the day or halfway through the night.
Although soldiers have a job to do while in war, they, in so many ways, are deeply
affected, which ultimately trickles down to their families as well. Some soldiers cannot

3. help but grieve while other must go on. Where there is war there is death and no matter
what the circumstances of the death, there is always pain.