Kim Phuc, Woman in Iconic 1972 Vietnam War Photo, Learns to Forgive Through Her Christian Faith

Kim Phuc, subject of iconic 1972 Vietnam War photograph
Photojournalist Nick Ut and Kim Phuc (L) attend the presentation of the latest Leica equipment at Photokina 2012, the world's largest fair for imaging, in Cologne September 17, 2012. Ut took the iconic 1972 Vietnam War photograph of Kim Phuc running naked down a road after being burned in a napalm attack near Trang Bang. More than 1,200 exhibitors from 45 countries will show their latest products at the Photokina 2012 from September 18-23. REUTERS/Ina Fassbender

The iconic image that portrayed the horrors of the Vietnam War featured a 9-year-old girl running away naked from a napalm attack, suffering from burns back in 1972. That girl, Kim Phuc, recently met the photographer who shot that famous picture and is now a Christian.

According to Dianne Bourne of the Mirror, 52-year-old Phuc reunited with Vietnamese photographer Nick Ut, who took the picture that made front page news around the world, in England. She now works as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and campaigns for peace around the world.

"When I look at the image I'm just amazed that I'm still alive, I'm so grateful and thankful for that," Phuc said. "I have learned from tragedy, from the pain, from the challenges, and I'm so grateful to be healed."

Phuc added that her traumatic experience, along with her Christian faith, allowed her to "do my best to help victims of war around the world."

"I am grateful for what happened to me because it made my faith strong and it made my body strong," Phuc said. "I like to say the world gave that little girl in the picture a sour lemon, but I have made it into a lemonade."

Ut told the Mirror that he constantly gets asked a lot about his award-winning image.

"I hate war, and I knew when I had taken that photo it was the one that would stop the war," Ut said. "I had photographed the war for so many years and all I hoped is that I could one day take a picture to stop the war and this finally did it."

Ut added that his photograph "made front pages everywhere in the world and made people see what was really happening."

"So for me, that made it the best picture in the world," Ut quipped.

According to the Mirror, Ut took the young Phuc and her family to hospital, where doctors feared that she would not recover from her severe burns. However, Phuc beat the odds, survived, and forged a lifelong friendship with the photographer.

"I'm a girl, so of course when I first saw it I didn't like it," Phuc said about the first time she saw Ut's photo. "I said 'why he take that picture I look ugly, why am I naked?' but I had to learn to accept it."

Phuc added that she was "happy" after learning to "accept the picture as a powerful gift."

According to Paula Newton and Thom Patterson of CNN, Phuc, who now lives in Toronto as a wife and mother, underwent countless painful skin grafts and surgeries that helped heal her physical wounds. However, she did not find peace until she became a Christian at 19 years old; she credited God for saving her life.

"When I became Christian, I have a wonderful connection -- the relationship between me, and Jesus, and God," Phuc said. "And from that point, I learned to forgive."

According to CNN, Phuc radiated "an unmistakable poise and peace when she tells her story." She noted that the picture is just one of many blessings.

"I really want to thank God that he spared my life when I was a little girl," Phuc said. "Whatever happened to me, I have another opportunity to be alive, to be healthful, to be a blessing, to help honor other people."

Phuc told CNN that the terrified little girl in the picture is "not running anymore. She's flying." She established a charity called the Kim Foundation International, which is aimed at helping children suffering from war.

"Its mission is to help the most underprivileged children suffering from war -- building hospitals, schools and homes for children who have been orphaned," Newton and Patterson wrote.

Phuc indicated to CNN that she would live out her life in service of that mission.

"That's why I'm really thankful that I had that picture taken and I can work with that picture for peace," Phuc said.

    Most Popular
  • Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Faith-based films often receive mixed reactions, and The Last Supper is no exception. The movie attempts to bring a fresh perspective to one of the most iconic moments in Christian history, but does it succeed? Some reviews from critics and audiences provide insight into its strengths and shortcomings.

  • ‘The Chosen’ Season 5: The darkest season yet—What to know before watching

    The wait is over—The Chosen is back with its fifth season, and this time, things are getting intense. The new episodes dive straight into the final days of Jesus’ life, covering some of the most emotional and dramatic moments in the Bible. If you’ve been following the series, you already know that The Chosen isn’t just about retelling familiar stories—it’s about bringing them to life in a way that feels real.

  • Massacres in Syria: Over 1,000 dead, including Christians and Alawites

    Syria’s coastal regions have been devastated by a series of massacres, with reports indicating that over 1,000 people—many from Christian and Alawite communities—have been killed in brutal attacks. Entire families have been wiped out, and survivors are fleeing in search of safety as sectarian violence escalates.

  • Kim Sae-ron and Wheesung: The tragic irony of Korean society and the principles of happiness

    Not long ago, the media was in an uproar over actress Kim Sae-ron’s passing. Just months before, the same people who had relentlessly criticized her for her DUI incident were now expressing sympathy, saying, "The world was too harsh on her." The irony is impossible to ignore.

  • Newsboys move forward as a quartet after Michael Tait’s departure

    After more than a decade as the lead singer of the Newsboys, Michael Tait has officially parted ways with the band, marking a significant shift in the Christian rock group’s lineup. The remaining members—Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee—have assured fans that they will continue forward, embracing a new season of music and ministry.