In his own words: “Doc” Bernie Duff on his Vietnam War paintings
-
- November
- 18
“Doc” Bernie Duff, an Army medic during the Vietnam War and member of Rockland County’s Vietnam Veterans of America, started painting scenes from the war five years ago, while receiving treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He moved to Vietnam last year and now lives in Ho Chi Minh City with his girlfriend – the daughter of a former North Vietnamese military officer. (Ah, peacetime.)
While in Ho Chi Minh City and Tra Vinh, I spent a few days talking to Bernie about the related changes to his artwork and humanitarian goals. The story ran today.
Click on the video link below (or go to this YouTube page) to hear him talk about eight of his Vietnam War themed paintings: Price Tags, Frozen Heat, Childhood Lost, Nefarious Memories, Faces, More Than Friends, Bait and Snitch, and Heather’s Homecoming-Operation Babylift.
7 Responses to “In his own words: “Doc” Bernie Duff on his Vietnam War paintings”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
[...] You can read the rest of this blog post by going to the original source, here [...]
I have known Bernie for several years. He did the cover for my book, Poems In The Keys Of Life: Reflections of a combat medic, Publish America, April 2005. He and I both serve on the board of directors, Sharon Lane Foundation. Our board built a medical clinic in Sharon’s honor (she was the first nurse killed during combat in Vietnam).
Bernie is a dear friend who has moved back to Vietnam and he works to help the children there. He is a remarkable man.
[...] Check it out. And, notice the similarities between this photo and Bernie Duff’s painting, above, of a U.S. soldier during the Vietnam War? Bernie calls this weary, shell-shocked expression the “thousand yard stare.” [...]
When we went to the Nam together in 2005, Bernie captured the moment I returned to the battlefield of Hoc Mon Feb. 14, 1968 and painted a very personal painting of a second frozen in time. Frank A. Beavers, a medic who saved me Oct. 3, 1967 died Valentines day at the age of 19 and the dreams continue
[...] “Doc” Bernie Duff, a member of Rockland County’s Vietnam Veterans of America, is gearing up for the annual tradition he started after moving to Vietnam last year: dressing up as “No En,” Santa Claus, and visiting disabled and poor Vietnamese children at local schools and institutions. You can read about his plans on his blog by clicking here. [...]
As always, I am overwhelmed by the things that people say about me. It is a surreal feeling as if these words are meant for someone else, for I just feel like an average guy whose walk has taken him to many wondrous places. In each place that I have visited along this walk, I have met such wonderful and truly exceptional people, such as those who have commented here, that it is I who consider myself lucky. In 1969, when I was a young 19 year old medic (here in Vietnam) as scared as anyone has ever been, I never could have imagined the way my life would have turned out. If only people could live inside of my body and experience all that I see and feel each day, you would surely know why I consider myself the luckiest man alive!
[...] Bernie Duff painting, “Price Tags,” came to mind when we heard this [...]