From Appomattox to Afghanistan: Portraits of American GIs

They served in the Civil War, World War II, Vietnam, and Iraq—and they’re together for the first time in American Soldier, a new exhibit at Kansas City’s Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art opening January 23. The show’s 50 photographs—taken by military photographers, artists, photojournalists, and documentary photographers—feature servicemen and -women from the Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force, and explore the psychological impact of war through the years. The images will be on display until June 21.

At left: Tim Hetherington, British (1970–2011). Nevalla, Korengal Valley, Kunar Province, Afghanistan, 2008. Chromogenic print (printed 2012), 30 x 40 inches. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri. Gift of the Hall Family Foundation, 2012.28.4.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri. Gift of the Hall Family Foundation,

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Joe Rosenthal, American (1911–2006). Raising of the Flag on Iwo Jima, February 23, 1945. Gelatin silver print, 9 3/16 x 7 5/8 inches. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri. Gift of Hallmark Cards, Inc., 2005.27.394.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri. Gift of Hallmark Cards, Inc.,

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Judith Joy Ross, American (b. 1946). P.F.C. Maria I. Leon, U.S. Army Reserve, On Red Alert, Gulf War, 1990. Gelatin silver print (printed 2006), 9 11/16 x 7 11/16 inches. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri. Gift of the Hall Family Foundation, 2012.28.5.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri. Gift of the Hall Family Foundation

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Bob Daugherty, American. President Nixon Meets with Troops of The 1st Infantry Division at Di An, Twelve Miles Northeast of Saigon, on his Eighth Visit to South Vietnam and his First as President, July 30, 1969. Gelatin silver print (printed 2013), 12 1/8 x 18 inches.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri

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William Bell, American, b. England (1830–1910). Recovery after Penetrating Gunshot Wound of the Abdomen…, 1865. Albumen print, 7 7/16 x 6 1/16 inches. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri. Gift of Hallmark Cards, Inc., 2005.27.469.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri. Gift of Hallmark Cards, Inc.

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David Douglas Duncan, American (b. 1916). Marine Capt. Ike Fenton, Naktong River Permieter, No-Name Ridge, South Korea, 1950. Gelatin silver print (probably printed 1970s), 9 11/16 x 13 7/16 inches. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri. Gift of Hallmark Cards, Inc.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri. Gift of Hallmark Cards, Inc

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Larry Burrows, English (1926–1971). Reaching Out, First-Aid Center During Operation Prairie, 1966 (printed 1993). Dye transfer print, 15 1/2 x 23 inches. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri. Gift of Hallmark Cards, Inc., 2005.27.4088.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri. Gift of Hallmark Cards, Inc

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Timothy H. O’Sullivan, American (1842–1882). Home of a Rebel Sharp-Shooter at Battle of Gettysburg, 1863. Albumen print, 6 ¾ x 8 13/16 inches. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri. Gift of Hallmark Cards, Inc., 2005.27.222.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri. Gift of Hallmark Cards, Inc.,

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W. Eugene Smith, American (1918–1978). Frontline Soldiers with Canteen, 1944. Gelatin silver print, 13 3/8 x 10 3/8 inches. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri. Gift of the Hall Family Foundation, 2005.37.318.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri. Gift of the Hall Family Foundation

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Larry Burrows, English (1926–1971). Operation Prairie, Vietnam, 1966. Dye transfer print, 13 1/8 x 8 11/16 inches. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri. Gift of the Hall Family Foundation, 2014.31.6

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri. Gift of the Hall Family Foundation

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Eugene Richards, American (born 1944). Good-byes at the airport, Columbus, Ohio, 2006. Gelatin silver print, 20 x 24 inches. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri. Gift of the Hall Family Foundation, 2014.37.2

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri. Gift of the Hall Family FoundatioN

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Claire Beckett, American (born 1978). Private Dan Floyd at Basic Training, Fort Knox, KY, 2007. Inkjet print, 32 x 40 inches. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri. Gift of the Hall Family Foundation, 2014.45.2.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri. Gift of the Hall Family Foundation

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Larry Burrows, English (1926–1971). The mission over, Farley gives way, from Yankee Papa 13, 1965. Gelatin silver print, 10 15/16 x 8 1/8 inches. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri. Gift of the Hall Family Foundation, 2014.31.7

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri. Gift of the Hall Family Foundation

From Appomattox to Afghanistan: Portraits of American GIs

They served in the Civil War, World War II, Vietnam, and Iraq—and now 50 servicemen and –women are together for the first time in American Soldier, a new photo exhibit in Kansas City.

William Boot