The Beverly Deepe Keever Collection

Photos by Beverly Deepe Keever, 1968

Embassy Bombing

About three in the morning on January 31, as fireworks exploded throughout the city, a nineteen-man Viet Cong suicide squad in civilian clothes blasted through the wall surrounding the U.S. Embassy, situated near the office-residences of many journalists (except mine).

Beverly Deepe Keever

(Keever, 190)

A crowd of people in the street, some climbing over cars. Photo taken through the back window of a jeep. A man leans into the driver's side window and another stands in the passenger's seat.

Embassy Bombing (363-0766)

“Embassy Bombing” “A crowd of people in the street, some climbing over cars. Photo taken through the back window of a jeep. A man leans into the driver’s side window and another stands in the passenger’s seat.”

Embassy Bombing (363-0767)

“Embassy Bombing” “A crowd of people in the street. Two men in an ambulance attempt to drive around them.”

Embassy Bombing (363-0768)

“Embassy Bombing” “A crowd of people in the street. Men in uniform lift a man on a stretcher into the back of an ambulance.”

Embassy Bombing (363-0769)

“Embassy Bombing” “A group of firemen in the street. Two firemen carry a wounded man on a stretcher.”

A crowd of people in the street. A military truck is parked in the middle of the street. Three men carry a body on a stretcher, looking to the right. A fourth man stands with one arm protectively over the body.

Embassy Bombing (363-0770)

“Embassy Bombing” “A crowd of people in the street. A military truck is parked in the middle of the street. Three men carry a body on a stretcher, looking to the right. A fourth man stands with one arm protectively over the body.”

A crowd of people in the street. A military truck is parked in the middle of the street. Two men carry a man with one half of his face bandaged on a stretcher.

Embassy Bombing (363-0771)

“Embassy Bombing” “A crowd of people in the street. A military truck is parked in the middle of the street. Two men carry a man with one half of his face bandaged on a stretcher.”

Two cars have collided in the steaming rubble. Two men enter a ruined building. A man crouches in the debri-ridden street to take a photograph.

Tet Offensive

A crowd of people in a debri-ridden street. Most are taking pictures of the wreckage. Some attempt to help or to avoid stepping on others on the ground. Two men carry a body on a stretcher away from the scene. A fireman stands with his arms out in front of the photographer.

Embassy Bombing (363-0773)

“Embassy Bombing” “A crowd of people in a debri-ridden street. Most are taking pictures of the wreckage. Some attempt to help or to avoid stepping on others on the ground. Two men carry a body on a stretcher away from the scene. A fireman stands with his arms out in front of the photographer.”

Two cars have collided in the steaming rubble. A crowd of people stands nearby to take pictures. Two bodies lay in the rubble beside the crowd.

Embassy Bombing (363-0774)

“Embassy Bombing” “Two cars have collided in the steaming rubble. A crowd of people stands nearby to take pictures. Two bodies lay in the rubble beside the crowd.”

Two cars have collided in the steaming rubble. A crowd of people stand nearby. Men in uniform push the crowd away from two bides lying in the rubble.

Embassy Bombing (363-0775)

“Embassy Bombing” “Two cars have collided in the steaming rubble. A crowd of people stand nearby. Men in uniform push the crowd away from two bides lying in the rubble.”

Embassy Bombing (363-0776)

“Embassy Bombing” “A crowd of people in the street. A group of people pass in front of a car.”

Three firemen carry a bag of limbs from the wreckage. Behind them, another fireman runs a hose from the back of the firetruck. People cluster in the right corner.

Embassy Bombing (363-0777)

“Embassy Bombing” “Three firemen carry a bag of limbs from the wreckage. Behind them, another fireman runs a hose from the back of the firetruck. People cluster in the right corner.”

A crowd of civilians, U. S. Army and U. S. Navy officers. One civilian holds a rifle. Two men carry a severely burned body away on a stretcher

Embassy Bombing (363-0778)

“Embassy Bombing” “A crowd of civilians, U. S. Army and U. S. Navy officers. One civilian holds a rifle. Two men carry a severely burned body away on a stretcher.”

Two men take a statement from a man with a bandaged head. A second man holds the bandaged man up with one hand and holds a hankerchief to his mouth with the other. Behind them stands a ruined building and more people.

Embassy Bombing (363-0779)

“Embassy Bombing” “Two men take a statement from a man with a bandaged head. A second man holds the bandaged man up with one hand and holds a hankerchief to his mouth with the other. Behind them stands a ruined building and more people.”

Embassy Bombing (363-0780)

“Embassy Bombing” “Two men carry a body on a stretcher toward an ambulance. Other people and cars crowd the street.”

Embassy Bombing (363-0781)

“Embassy Bombing” “Two men lay a strecher beside a body, preparing to take it away. Firemen and officers keep the crowd off the debri-ridden street.”

Embassy Bombing (363-0782)

“Embassy Bombing” “A fireman carries a severely burned body from the building. A second fireman and a man in civilian clothes look on.”

Embassy Bombing (363-0783)

“Embassy Bombing” “Two cars have collided in the steaming rubble. Two men enter a ruined building. A man crouches in the debri-ridden street to take a photograph.”

A crowd of people in the street, mainly officers scrambling to help. Two officers carry a body on a stretcher through the street. Beside them, a medic prepares to whistle for help. A military truck is parked behind them.

Embassy Bombing (363-0784)

“Embassy Bombing” “A crowd of people in the street, mainly officers scrambling to help. Two officers carry a body on a stretcher through the street. Beside them, a medic prepares to whistle for help. A military truck is parked behind them.”

A crowd of people in the street. Two officers carry a body on a stretcher past two cars. A military truck is parked in the middle of the crowd

Embassy Bombing (363-0785)

“Embassy Bombing” “A crowd of people in the street. Two officers carry a body on a stretcher past two cars. A military truck is parked in the middle of the crowd.”

Embassy Bombing (363-0786)

“Embassy Bombing” “A jeep parked in a crowded street.”

American Help

U.S. officials needed a new label to define their efforts to win the hearts and minds of the peole. The Americans adopted the term pacification, despite warnings that the French had used it to describe their domineering colonial and military approach to the villagers.

Beverly Deepe Keever

(Keever, 51)

Aid (363-03335)

A soldier is seen giving aid to an injured villager’s hand

Child Haircut (363-03336)

A child is having their hair trimmed by a soldier as he holds a cigarette in the other hand

Aid (363-03337)

Hibbs is seen helping a child with their nose by holding a cloth over it, other children are watching around them

Soldier with Villagers (363-03338)

Hibbs is seen talking with Vietnamese villagers

Aid (363-03339)

Two soldiers help examine a man’s hand as other villagers watch

Aid (363-03340)

Hibbs is putting some type of medicine on a cloth to help an injured villagers

Aid (363-03341)

Two soldiers are examining a child as villagers watch

Aid (363-03342)

Two soldiers are beginning to examine a elderly village man as others watch from the background

Aid (363-03343)

A soldier is seen comforting a child as in the background another soldiers appears to be examining a woman’s leg/foot

Aid (363-03344)

Hibbs examines a young child’s eye

Aid (363-03345)

Hibbs helps a Vietnamese man adjust his shirt as a man holding a hat is seen in the foreground

Aid (363-03346)

Hibbs shows some villagers something on his arms

Hibbs with Newborn (363-03347)

Hibbs is tending to a newborn baby

Hibbs with Newborn (363-03348)

Hibbs is seen examining a newborn babies head

Hibbs with Newborn (363-03349)

Hibbs is seen examining a newborn

Hibbs with Newborn (363-03350)

Hibbs is seen examining a newborn

Hibbs with Newborn (363-03351)

Hibbs is seen examining a newborn

Hibbs with Newborn (363-03352)

Hibbs approaches a newborn and his mother

Tending to Young Boy (363-03353)

Hibbs kneels in front of a young boy

Tending to Young Boy (363-03354)

Hibbs examines a young boy’s arm/hand

Tending to Elderly Man (363-03355)

Hibbs is examining an elderly man’s hand/arm

Tending to an Elderly Man (363-03356)

Hibbs is tending to an elderly man’s hand

Lighting a Smoke (363-03357)

Hibbs is helping a villager light his smoke, as the soldier smokes himself

Watching Villager (363-03358)

Hibbs watches as a villager attaches something to his hut

Medical Bag (363-03359)

Two soldiers dig through a medical bag as a young child watches

Building a Frame (363-03360)

Hibbs watches as some villagers build some kind of frame

Children on a Jeep (363-03361)

A group of children are sitting on top of a Jeep

Children on a Jeep (363-03362)

A group of children are sitting /standing on a Jeep, someone driving the Jeep is holding a child out of the side

Driving a Jeep (363-03363)

Two soldiers are driving a Jeep

Driving a Jeep (363-03364)

Hibbs is driving a Jeep as children hang on the front and side of the vehicle, one of the children is holding onto a map

Examining Fabric (363-03365)

Hibbs stands next to a parked Jeep surrounded by Vietnamese children while examining some type of fabric

Medical Bag (363-03366)

Hibbs is loading up a medical bag into a parked Jeep as he is surrounded by Vietnamese children

Hibbs with Child (363-03367)

Hibbs poses for a photo holding a young child on top of his knee

Talking to Child (363-03368)

A Hibbs speaks to younger Vietnamese children

Taking Hands (363-03369)

A Hibbs takes the hand of a young Vietnamese child

Vietnamese Children (363-03370)

Young Vietnamese children are seen standing in a field holding various objects

Handing Out (363-03371)

Hibbs is handing out supplies to villagers

In the Box (363-03372)

Hibbs is explaining what is in the cardboard box being held by a villager

Handing Out (363-03373)

Hibbs is handing out supplies to villagers

Bandaging Finger (363-03374)

Hibbs is putting a band-aid on a Villager’s finger

Shaking Hands (363-03375)

Hibbs is shaking the hands of young Vietnamese children

Shaking Hands (363-03376)

Hibbs is about to shake a young child’s hand as other Villagers watch

Exchange (363-03377)

Hibbs is exchanging some sort of supply to a villager, as another soldier examines another villager in the background

Aid (363-03378)

Hibbs is examining a villager’s hand as he goes to reach into his medical bag

Aid (363-03379)

Hibbs is bandaging a woman’s leg as many other villagers are watching

Waving (363-03380)

Hibbs is waving to villagers after handing out supplies

Soldier with Children (363-03381)

Two soldiers are standing in a line with many Vietnamese village children as the photo is taken

Soldiers Examining Villagers (363-03382)

Two soldiers are examining villagers near their parked Jeep, many villagers are gathered around to watch

Loading Supplies (363-03383)

Two soldiers are loading supplies into their Jeep, one is holding a box and the other a medical bag

Posing with Villager (363-03384)

A soldier poses next to a couple villagers for a photo

Speaking with Villagers (363-03385)

Two soldiers are speaking with Villagers, Hibbs is looking at his hand

Aid (363-03386)

A soldier is digging through a box of bandaids to aide an injured woman, a second soldier is in the background

Digging for Supplies (363-03387)

A soldier is digging through his medical bag for supplies

Showing Children (363-03388)

A soldier is digging through his medical bag as a young child closely watches

Digging for Supplies (363-03389)

A soldier is digging through his medical bag for supplies

Hibbs (363-03390)

Hibbs is looking at some pill bottles

Aid (363-03391)

Two soldiers examine and aid to an injured villager’s toe/foot

Aid (363-03392)

A soldier aids a young child’s eye with some medical supplies

Thieu

“The Armed Forces as a well-organized and best-disciplined strength will continue to assume the present leadership role until a stable democracy is built.”

Nguyen Van Thieu

Bev Keever Collection (Packet 98)

Thieu Aboard 7th Fleet (363-02930)

Thieu on U.S. 7th Fleet.

Thieu Aboard 7th Fleet (363-02931)

A blurry photo of Thieu aboard the 7th Fleet.

Thieu’s Wife (363-02932)

A blurry photo of Thieu’s Wife aboard the 7th Fleet.

Thieu’s Wife (363-02933)

Thieu’s wife is line with some soldiers on the 7th Fleet.

Thieu Aboard 7th Fleet (363-02934)

Thieu on the U.S. 7th Fleet.

Thieu Aboard 7th Fleet (363-02935)

A blurry photo of Thieu on his visit aboard the 7th Fleet.

Thieu’s Wife (363-02936)

Thieu’s wife is line with some soldiers on the 7th Fleet.

Thieu’s Wife (363-02937)

Thieu’s wife walks aboard the 7th Fleet, soldiers are seen saluting around her.

Thieu’s Wife (363-02938)

Thieu’s wife walks aboard the 7th Fleet, soldiers are seen saluting around her.

Thieu Aboard 7th Fleet (363-02939)

Thieu arrives aboard the 7th Fleet, soldiers are seen surrounding him

Thieu Aboard 7th Fleet (363-02940)

Thieu arrives aboard the 7th Fleet, soldiers are seen surrounding him

Thieu Aboard 7th Fleet (363-02941)

Thieu arrives aboard the 7th Fleet, his wife appears to be at his side.

Thieu (363-02942)

A photograph of Thieu which appears to be printed over another negative of some sort of building in the background.

Air and Sea

After my Bien Hoa trip I assessed that allied bombing, rocketing, and shelling of province towns and cities created a highly explosive political backlash so significant that it risked offsetting the short-term military advantages gained by killing numerous Communist forces.

Beverly Deepe Keever

(Keever, 196)

USS Ranger (363-02791)

Photo of the USS Ranger out on sea.

USS Ranger (363-02792)

Photo of the USS Ranger, flight deck with aircraft aboard.

USS Ranger (363-02793)

Photo of the USS Ranger out on sea. Photo is taken of the whole ship from the side.

Corsair II (363-02794)

An A-7A Corsair II, the Navy’s newest attack aricraft, comes in for a landing on the flight deck of the USS Ranger, with other A-7s being shown in the foreground.

Corsair II (363-02795)

The Navy’s new A-7A Corsair II being readied for launch from the deck of the USS Ranger.

Corsair II (363-02796)

A-7A Corsair II of VA-147 with bomb load.

Corsair II (363-02797)

Two Corsairs II’s of the VA-147 in flight.

Thieu Aboard Constellation (363-02798)

James A. Purl shakes hands with Republic of Vietnam President Nguyen Von Theiu aboard the San Diego-based attack aircraft carrier USS Constellation.

USS Constellation (363-02800)

Unofficial description – Photo of the USS Constellation out at sea.

Corsair II (363-02833)

A Corsair II is in flight with a second aircraft.

Corsair II (363-02834)

Three of the Navy’s new A-7A Corsair II attack aircraft from Attack Squadron 147 flying in formation.

Aerial Photos

For the six years from the Americanization of the war in 1965 through 1970, the U.S., South Vietnamese, and allied forces woud expend 12.22 million tons of explosives. During one month alone in Vietnam, when the U.S. expenditure of munitions peaked in 1970, the 128,000 tons of air and ground explosives equated to the explosive force of 8.5 Hiroshima-size A-bombs, without the resulting long-lived radioactivity.

Beverly Deepe Keever

(Keever, 154)