A biography for Phan Thi Kim Phuchasn’t been written yet.
“If I ever see those pilots who dropped the bombs on me - or any American pilots - I would say to them, 'The war is over. The past is past.' I would ask those pilots what can they do to bring us all together.”
“I want to have freedom myself, and build my family.”
“I never thought that the child who was a famous symbol of war would one day be invited to become a symbol of peace.”
“I count my blessings and do things to help others.”
“My faith in God is healing my heart so I can have peace.”
“Every movement of mine was under the control of the Vietnamese government, a communist country. I was just a prisoner without walls.”
“In the picture, I am crying from pain. Now, I cry for peace. I don't want to see any more children suffer.”
“Even if I could talk face to face with the pilot who dropped the bombs I would tell him, 'We cannot change history, but we should try to do good things for the present and for the future to promote peace.'”
“No more war. Live with love and peace. That is my message.”
“Dear friends: faith and forgiveness is much more powerful than napalm could ever be.”
“As a child, I loved to climb on the tree, like a monkey.”
“When I felt real forgiveness, my heart was set free.”
“From time to time I look at the picture when I am very sad. I just want to remember my past and that scene made a deep impression on me.”
“I saw the bombs, and, like a kid, I looked back at them. Instantly there was fire everywhere.”
“We should work together to be of peace and happiness for all people in all nations.”
“I have suffered a lot from both physical and emotional pain.”
“I really wanted to escape from that little girl. But it seems to me that the picture didn't let me go.”
“I just wish one day I am free from pain.”
“I was a happy child, just 9 years old, and I knew nothing about war.”
“My own people, the South Vietnamese, had been bombing trade routes used by the Viet Cong rebels. I had not been targeted, of course. I had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time.”