Vise Library sponsored a photographic exhibition for its fourth iRead program on the book, Stealing Buddha’s Dinner. Mr. Bernie Ash, professional photographer and owner of Creative Photography on the Square in Lebanon was our featured artist. Mr. Ash began by setting the context of the times when he was 18 years old in 1965 and a recent graduate from Lebanon High School. Martin Luther King, Jr. was leading the Civil Rights movement, the cost of the average home was $13,000, and you could buy a cup of coffee for 5 cents. The War in Vietnam was being fought and young boys approaching 18 had to decide what to about the War. Some got married and others went to college to defer their service. Others were drafted and sent to fight in the infantry. It was a heavy decision. Many men stepped up and did not wait to be drafted. Bernie was one of these young men. He joined the Air Force and with one year of service left, he received orders to go to Vietnam for 12 months. Since he had a desire to become a preacher, he asked to be assigned as a Chaplain’s Assistant. Chaplains could not carry weapons so he travelled with the Chaplain to provide protection. He was sent to the Central Highlands of Vietnam, Phu Cat, near the South China Sea. It was great – except for the War!

During the Vietnam War 58,000 American soldiers were killed and 350,000 were wounded. Mr. Ash read the names of 15 young men from Wilson County who lost their lives. Several of these men were friends of his in high school, and one of them was an African American who was one of the first students to integrate Wilson County Schools. Over 2 million Vietnamese were also killed.

Mr. Ash carried an M-16 and a camera with him and took photographs of the people and places he saw on his tour of duty in Vietnam. He went with the Chaplain to visit villages, churches, and missionaries where they were helping people displaced by the War. As he guarded the jeep, he took photographs of the children he observed. Some not only lost their families, but their arms and legs as well. The “Girl with the Doll” (below) was taken as the little girl was leaving a missionary. She shows great joy in receiving this prize treasure. The other children in the photographs are all also smiling and playing like children everywhere. Even though they are living in a war zone, there is hope and innocence in their eyes.

Mr. Ash’s photographs, Children of Vietnam, will be exhibited in the Library until March 31, 2011.