Mike Sciacca
Kim Phuc's eyes filled with warmth as she spoke about how her life's
journey brought her to Newport Beach.
For many years, however, Phuc lived in fear and pain, she said,
burdened with emotions difficult to overcome since her image had been
famously photographed for all the world to see.
In 1972, Phuc was a 9-year-old girl living with her family in the
village of Trang Bang in South Vietnam, a village that had been
overtaken by the Viet Cong army during the Vietnam conflict.
On June 8 of that year, a deadly napalm strike hit Trang Bang and
sent villagers fleeing for their lives.
During the chaotic aftermath, photojournalist Nick Ut snapped what
went on to become a Pulitzer Prize-winning photo of young children
fleeing in horror down a village road. In the photo, Phuc is seen
screaming as she runs naked. Fire from the attack had burned 65% of
her body and incinerated her clothes.
Her brothers can also be seen fleeing in the photo.
From that photograph, Phuc became internationally recognized as
"the girl in the picture."
"A lot of people know of the little girl in that photograph, but
no one knows what became of that girl," Phuc said.
Now, Newport-Mesa does. Phuc, along with her husband of 11 years,
Toan, and sons Thomas, 9, and Stephen, 6, spoke of her journey since
that life-changing day during 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday services
at Liberty Baptist Church.
"She's here to share her amazing story, and through that story,
offer hope to others," said Pastor Dwight Tomlinson, who served two
terms with the 75th Ranger Division during the Vietnam War. "We're so
honored to have Kim and her family with us. She is a model of
inspiration who has triumphed through all of this."
When Tomlinson finished speaking, Phuc asked if she could share
her secret for survival.
"I had nearly given up hope from all of this but one day, I placed
my faith and hope in Jesus Christ," she said on Friday at Liberty
Baptist's offices. "I was going through so much pain, but then I
found healing in Jesus Christ.
"I started reading the Bible, and the word of God changed my
attitude, she said. "I went from a person filled with sorrow, hatred
and bitterness to one who is joyful everyday. I have come a long way
from that photograph, and I want to share with people that they can
overcome whatever burdens them, too."
After the napalm attack, Ut rushed Phuc to a local hospital, where
she was treated for third-degree burns.
She said she was hospitalized for 14 months and underwent 17
