Don McCullin
ON THE RECORD · 10 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“Every night. It never leaves me.”
Don McCullin · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-21
McCullin told CBS News that the Battle of Hue never leaves him.
“It was amazing any of us survived,”
Don McCullin · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-21
McCullin spoke to CBS News correspondent Charlie D'Agata at his home in southwest England about the 1968 Battle of Hue.
“I said, 'Bring him to me' and I put this Marine on my back, and I ran him away along the old medieval wall to safety,”
Don McCullin · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-21
McCullin recounted putting down his cameras to carry a wounded Marine to safety along a medieval wall under fire.
“It's just that you have to be careful when you make these pictures,”
Don McCullin · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-21
McCullin added a caution about the dangers of making war photographs too bearable to view.
“If you turn them into an iconic picture and they are bearable to look at, you haven't done your job properly because it means that people will accept instead of turning away.”
Don McCullin · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-21
McCullin warned that turning war photos into bearable icons means people will accept suffering instead of turning away.
“Frankly, I hate this picture, because people think it's the only decent picture I've ever taken.”
Don McCullin · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-21
McCullin expressed discomfort with the fame of his shell-shocked Marine photograph.
“I made five frames of this soldier sitting there and not once did his eyelashes move. Every one of those frames is identical,”
Don McCullin · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-21
McCullin described taking five identical frames of his famous photograph of a shell-shocked U.S. Marine at Hue.
“I was told by a senior officer that there was going to be a 24-hour operation, and you know, 11 days later I was still there.”
Don McCullin · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-21
McCullin recounted being told the Battle of Hue operation would last 24 hours, but he was still there 11 days later.
“To this day, I live that battle every night I go upstairs in this house to go to sleep, every night,”
Don McCullin · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-21
McCullin told CBS News that he still relives the Battle of Hue every night when he goes to sleep.
“I took a picture of this man being held against the wall. This man was wounded and I photographed him.”
Don McCullin · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-21
McCullin described photographing a severely wounded Marine pinned down by enemy fire during the Battle of Hue.