SAWADA Kyoichi

SAWADA Kyoichi 沢田 教一 (1936.2.22-1970.10.28) Aomori-shi, Aomori Pref. Japan's second Pulitzer Prize winner in 1965 for his "Family Flee to Safety to Escape Bombs" photo which showed two mothers and their children crossing a river during the Vietnam War.

Major themes Vietnam War

Education Graduated Aomori High School in 1954 and failed university entrance exams twice.

Career Bought his first camera at age 13 by working as a newspaper delivery boy. Graduated Aomori High School in 1954 and failed university entrance exams twice. Worked at a camera shop at Misawa Air Force Base. Moved to Tokyo in 1960 and joined the Tokyo Bureau of United Press International (UPI) in 1961. Became the chief photo editor in less than 6 months.

Someone once told him, "The only people who can gain glory from war are generals and photographers." He took this to heart and decided to go to Vietnam. Photographed the Vietnam War from Feb. to March 1965 first using his own money and vacation time.

Became a staff photographer for UPI's Saigon Bureau in July 1965. Became known as a daring combat photographer who hitched rides to major battlefields on medical helicopters.

Became head of UPI Hong Kong Bureau's photo dept. in 1969. Returned to Saigon in 1970 to cover Laos and Cambodia. Killed in Cambodia while on the job on Oct. 28, 1970.

Awards Pulitzer Prize, 1965