Collection of United States Marine Corps war photographs, 1945-1968

Gift of John Fabian (accession #: 1971.0376).

No known copyright restrictions. Credit photographer.

Collection of United States Marine Corps war photographs, 1945-1968 (Chicago History Museum) plus ID-number and box/folder number of a specific item.

Black and white photographic prints of United States Marines related to World War II and the war in Vietnam. WWII images, photographed by Theo Hios, show wounded or deceased soldiers, as well as the destruction of Japanese military facilities, terrain, and equipment, including ships, airfield equipment, and heavy artillery used during the battle of Iwo Jima. Images related to the war in Vietnam, most photographed by civilian John Fabian, depict Marines in action in Vietnam, combat artillery, Vietnamese terrain, and Vietnamese civilians. Other Vietnam photographs are credited to various photographers affiliated with the United States Marine Corps.

Theo Hios (1908-1999), a painter by training, enlisted in the Marine Corps during WWII and became a combat photographer. John Fabian was a civilian artist sent to Vietnam to document the war effort.

• Names
  • United States. Marine Corps--Photographs
  • United States. Marine Corps--Military life--Photographs
  • Fabian, John, photographer
  • Hios, Theo, 1908-1999, photographer
  • United States. Marine Corps
• Subject
  • Arms & armament
  • Iwo Jima, Battle of, Japan, 1945--Photographs
  • Marines--American--Japan--Iwo Jima--1940-1949
  • Marines--American--Vietnam (Republic)--1960-1969
  • Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Photographs
  • Vietnamese--Photographs
  • World War, 1939-1945--Japan--Iwo Jima--Photographs
• Geographic Coverage
  • Japan--Iwo Jima
  • Vietnam

The collection is arranged physically into two series by subject.

Series 1. Iwo Jima photographs

Photographs document the bombing of Iwo Jima; Iwo Jima terrain, including Mount Suribachi and the coastline; U.S. Marines and military equipment during combat; destruction of equipment and terrain; and deceased soldiers and civilians.

Series 2. Vietnam photographs

Photographs document the daily life and activities of Marines in combat, military equipment, Vietnamese terrain, and civilians. The first folder consists of images photographed by John Fabian; other folders in the series contain photographs credited to Ackerman, Don Bar, F.A. Barrett, J. L. Blick, Bob Bowen, P. J. Brush, H. C. Casselli, L. Choate, Cummins, C. Durie, Fleetwood, K. Henderson, S. N. Leighty, F. Lowe, McClory, B. L. Owens, Randy Nelson, Pagni, W. A. Parks, A. C. Prentiss, Pat Schackmann, J. R. Scobolic, T. A. Taison, and Wolfe.