As a combat photojournalist for the Vietnam war, David Giffey was not only a soldier for the U.S. Army, but documented the war through photographs and stories, too. Because of guerilla warfare tactics, everybody felt endangered at all times, according to Giffey.“I was terrified in Vietnam,†Giffey says. “It was the most frightening experience … That’s what I remembered — the fear.â€
After the war, Giffey explored ways to heal emotionally and mentally from his experiences in Vietnam. He began to explore activism, artistry and, finally, religious communities as well. For Giffey, beginning a spiritual journey fulfilled a need in his life that helped him reconcile with his memories from the war. Now, 76 years old and a member of the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Madison, he views his life as a journey that has helped him come to terms with what he experienced when he was young.