Paul Fusco: The Story Behind the Photos
As told to Onnesha Roychoudhuri.
Mon Dec. 20, 2004 12:00 AM PST
Last year, my close friend Nina Berman told me she was photographing some of the casualties returning from Iraq. They were very difficult to get, and a lot of hard work, but she did a great story. During this period, I was reading the paper and I was just in a complete outrage about the whole war and the administration. Saddam is obviously an evil man -- but this was not about that. A democracy that prides itself and holds itself up as the paragon of truth was doing something incredibly deceitful -- leading our sons and daughters into a war based on lies.
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Continued From Above
Nina’s photos made me realize that there was another story that was missing. Most of the press has capitulated to Bush and weren’t accurately reporting what was going on. I thought it was an outrage. I wanted to do something. I couldn’t go to Iraq; I’m too old. So I thought I would photograph these funerals. The Bush administration has never honored the fallen publicly. The families weren’t being publicly addressed and mourned for. It assuaged some of my horrific anger and contempt to start this project.
The first funeral I went to was for Tyanna Avery-Felder. I went to the funeral home the day before the funeral, walked in and introduced myself to the people there. There were all these soldiers standing around—big guys. They asked me who I was, and I told them. They asked me why I was there. I told them, “I’m a photographer. I take pictures.” They said, “You can’t stay in the funeral home.” So I asked, “Are you saying that? Or is it the request of the family?” They said it was the family’s request. So I asked if I could talk to the family. “No.” And one of them ushered me out. As he did, he told a couple of soldiers to make sure “this guy gets out of here.” I went to 17 funerals and I got the same treatment from the military at every single one of them. They weren’t just picking on me. They did this to all the press, television, the local people, everybody. They would let the writers into the back of the church, but no photographers. They were always on guard. It would break down, eventually, and then I would sneak in and get pictures. None of the people attending the funerals ever told me to go away. There was no opposition from them. No anger, angry glances or any kind of rejection when I was able to somehow work my way near the funeral. No one ever asked what I was doing there except the military. Never. There was a great deal of respect shown for the families and for the soldiers.
I talked to some cousins and friends and many shared with me their anger at feeling that the government was totally ignoring them. They weren’t just angry; they were humiliated and insulted. They were disgusted. Every community I went to, every funeral, a lot of people showed up. I saw people around me who weren’t from the family, just people from the community who were there. It was a great loss for them and it was very evident from their faces.
I wish I could have taken more pictures. I wish I could show the true extent of the pain with everybody instead of just a few. It’s a terrible loss and the communities aren’t saying, "What a glorious death, what a wonderful thing to give your life for your country." I remember when the Avery-Felder family was approached by the officers carrying the folded flags from off the casket and presented with these flags. I saw this incredibly emotional moment in which you could see their faces changing. They were backing away from the flags. They were recoiling from these flags. Here, here’s this rag in place of your wife. Aren’t you proud? And you can see the awful loss and the contempt they have for this exchange. It was the same with the woman in the brown coat at the funeral of Scott Rose. She was out in the front of the church, and when she is presented the flag, the look of hatred and anger in her eyes is absolutely remarkable. It was so apparent, vivid, and powerful. It was another kind of pain besides the loss and suffering and everything that goes along with losing a family member. It was just so out of place—this shallow military memorial and observation of the glory you gain from dying for your country—considering the circumstances of the war. These young men and women were killed through lying.
It was an unbelievable thing to observe -- the suffering of these innocent people who took no part in the decision to go to war -- who weren’t allowed to take part in the decision, but were dying for this decision. Such a stupid, wanton waste of life. How can the Bush administration do this? How can they allow this to happen to our kids? I hope that anyone who sees these pictures will get a bit of an understanding of the monstrosity of this situation, of the gravity. The continuing loss of people through this war is a terrible waste.
Comments
We can only hope and pray for these individuals in such grief "back home" and their family and friends. And hope and pray this madness will end.
As Anthony Swofford wrote in his 2005 article ...”but more corpses are en route, and more broken bodies, shattered psyches, damaged souls.” It is now thousands more when will Americans wake up and demand this Stops Now! When America!
We must become outraged at the evilness in the Bush administration, clearly that starts with the evil dry-drunk Bush and the angry evil Cheney and a trail of evil hate filled thugs they are all criminals and have murdered our fellow Americans. For that there is no salvation. And until Americans rage in the streets and in the halls of congressmen and at their homes this evil insanity will continue.
Let Americans demand the Impeachment of the evilness that has taken over Our Americans White House. Then Bush and Cheney and their cast of thugs should be forced to wear bright orange criminal jumpsuits paraded publicly so the world can see they have been taken into custody as criminals and immediately turned over to The Hague for pending trials of War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity. And may their fate end appropriately when found guilty.
This insanity will not end without a collective act of conscience by the American People. And likely the end of Bush and Cheney being physically removed from Our American White House; most appropriately they should be removed from the White House by American Armed Forces placed under arrest for High Crimes!
The collective act of conscience must begin and spread like a wildfire throughout the hills and valleys, from the flatlands to mountains sea to shining sea in every corner town city and tiny hamlet of American Dignity. For without an act of conscience by Americans the dry-drunk insanity and delusional religious fanatic policies of Bush and Cheney will continue to be night terrors for all Americans.
I hope and pray our soldiers will come home soon. I spent 24 years in the Army and I feel the fighting needs to stay overseas; we cannot afford another 9-11. The 9-11 terrorist operators showed the world that they want to kill Americans!! Human life to them means nothing; human life to us is everything. How soon we forget; when they would capture civilian workers/soldiers, within 24 hours they would video cutting off their heads for the world to view. There are countries right next door supplying and training the so called (freedom fighters) how to make IED. Hopefully the next president will have a good understanding of what they are trying to do to us. No one knows what it feels like to deploy troops into war until they are put in that situation.
As a former soldier and veteran of
Dessert shield/storm. I do not agree with Fusco. As a soldier we have a job to do at cost to our life otherwise we would not join the military. It is a sacrifice that is very hard especially for the soldier and family. We need to support our soldiers and family, not criticize which make the loss of a love one without any value or purpose. There is also the need to respect the privacy of the soldier's family.
Hello,
I am a photographer from Lyon, in France, and I'm trying to contact Paul Fusco. Why? Because, I attended a demonstration in Paris where I saw Paul Fusco's photos showing the effects of Tchernobyl on people and in particular on children. I was very upset by these images, which I photographed myself. I would like to get in touch with Paul Fusco to ask him for the authorization to use his images in my fight against the nuclear power in France. I would like to ask you if you know a means to have its e-mail address.
Sincères salutations,
Philippe Doby
We all took part in whether we go to war -- including this one . It's through how much we want to hold our district's Congress and Senator's feet to the fire !! Those individuals are supposed represent us -- "the innocent people". Do we vote -- even in the primaries? Did we elect individuals who are willing to ask the hard questions and risk not getting reelected ? The real Lt. Colonel Winters in his book "Beyond Band Of Brothers", says that he has seen much physical courage, but was more impressed with moral courage which was much rarer. That is what we need more of and be vigilant in demanding it from our representatives.
