DICKEY CHAPELLE (3/14/1918 to 11/4/65)
Trailblazer, war correspondent, photojournalist, free speech advocate, truth teller
“If you can’t prove it happened with a photo, it never happened.” D. Chapelle
There are many fascinating women that I come across in my work as a writer who uses a variety of genres to tell a story. Some of the women that I’ve read about haven’t been nationally recognized or memorialized in stone, as they should be. Yet Dickey Chapelle might just be leading the list of “Most Underappreciated Women of the Twentieth Century.” If you’ve never heard of her, you’re not alone. So hold on and listen to the contributions and sacrifices she made to photograph war with all its graphic depictions laid bare for the world to see. Did she face scrutiny and harsh criticism? You betcha. Did it stop her? Only in death. Sadly.
Born over a century ago, even as a young child Dickey was noticeably intelligent, feisty and she possessed an uncanny ability to capture a moment. I won’t list all her accomplishments but let’s just say she hit the ground running. At 16, she graduated from high school as the valedictorian who then received a scholarship to MIT. She quit when she realized she’d rather be flying in an airplane than studying about aviation. A go-getter, she sweet-talked her way into a job as a photographer for TWA and then again into a job as a war correspondence with the marines. Yes, the actual marines. In combat.
Let’s pause for a minute. This happened in 1960. Women weren’t allowed to be soldiers let alone trapezing into the battlefield dressed in fatigues. They were expected to be homemakers and baby factories. Not Dickey, although she was married for a while to a fellow photojournalist and was once quoted as saying that the job of a woman was to “glorify men.” Nothing in my research lead me to believe that a woman who had to fight sexism, misogyny and unchivalrous talk (“Get that broad the hell out of here”) would make herself small so a man could shine brighter. However she did pen a memoir titled, “What’s a Woman Doing Here?” and wore a pearl earring to highlight her femineity (I like to think that the earring signified “Don’t shoot me, I’m unarmed”). But most of all, she placed herself in combat so she could get the best shot. Bringing the truth home, especially during the Vietnam war, was her mission. Her photos screamed- war isn’t pretty-we’re not winning- and death and gore are the backdrop of a soldier’s life.
Her immersive style of journalism paid off. Before Dickey, most of the war correspondents and photographers stayed a safe distance away from combat. In 1963 the Press Photographer’s Association awarded her “Photograph of The Year’ for a picture she snapped in battle. It was the first photo of an American in combat in Vietnam. She would never have made that shot if she watched in the shadows. The sidelines were no place for Dickey.
“You’ve got to survive to get the story out in the world.” D. Chapelle
Unfortunately her decision to stay in the fray cost this hard-bitten, tough as nails reporter her life. On that fateful day in November she was not in battle, but walking the perimeter with a few other soldiers. It’s not clear if something tripped a wire or someone stepped on a mine field but she died at the scene, nonetheless. Dickey was the first woman to die in combat during the Vietnam War.
The life of a war correspondent is dangerous. Not only do they have to worry about dying trying to get “the shot” but so many have become pawns in the game of war, taken as hostages, tortured for information or killed, just for sport. The truth needs to be told, yes, and now with the use of drones, hopefully less photographers will lose their life in search of a story. I’m an advocate for truth, the kind of truth that doesn’t gloss over the ugliness, stays away from using “touch-up” programs and glam shots. But with the advent of social media, popularity of memes, fake news and AI, I fear for the hard truth, the grittiness of life and for stories and photos that make our hearts hurt. Dickey got it, but what a price she had to pay.
If you wan to learn more about Dickey, check out the resource list at the bottom. Sadly, despite all of Dickey’s accomplishments and sacrifices, she doesn’t have a statue or monument erected in her likeness. There is a memorial marker at her gravesite and a plaque that was etched by the marines. However, this is not enough. I find the oversight a travesty. Let’s get chiseling! It starts with one person. Coud be you? Get a petition started with signatures of people who would support this endeavor. Find an organization with deep pockets that could help move this quest alone. Find a sculptor with a soul and a parcel of land. We must honor Dickey with the monument she so deserves.
Rock on Dickey Chapelle! Your legacy is a beautiful testament to women and the power of the story. Long may you inspire women to “tell the truth all, the whole truth nothing and but the truth.”