Kenneth Jarecke

Kenneth Jarecke (born 1963) is an American photojournalist. He has covered a number of events but is notable for taking the famous incinerated Iraqi soldier that was published in the The Observer, March 10, 1991.

Biography

Born 1963, in Fairfax, Missouri, Jarecke has been a photojournalist since his days as White House photographer in the Ronald Reagan years. He has covered the demonstrations in Tiananmen Square, the first Gulf War^[1] and nine Olympics Games since 1988.^[2]

Famous picture

In the hours leading up to the ceasefire that would end the first Gulf War Jarecke was traveling along the Iraqi - Kuwait highway when he came upon a truck destroyed by American bombardment. The picture Jarecke took features the charred remains of an Iraqi Soldier with his last expression of pain imprinted on his face, his arms slumped over the window of the truck, attempting to lift himself out; almost staring at the camera^[1] Jarecke was travelling with a military public affair officer who allowed him to take the picture.

Due to the graphic content, deemed "too graphic even for the editors [of AP co-op newspapers] to see it," Jarecke's photo was pulled from the AP wire which effectively prevented the photo from being shown in the United States at the time.^[3] The photo did, however, cause considerable controversy in the United Kingdom after being published in The Observer.^[3] Vincent J. Alabiso, former Associated Press executive photo editor regretted his actions and says that if the image was again transmitted now he would not censor it, "That picture today would go out."^[4]

Published works

• Jarecke, Kenneth; Cervenka, Exene. Just Another War (1st ed.). Bedrock Press. ISBN 978-0-9634784-0-5. - Total pages: 127
• Jarecke, Kenneth. Husker Game Day 2010 - Farewell Big 12 (1st ed.). eyeQ Press. ISBN 978-0-615-55906-3. - Total pages: 256

References