Emmy-winning CBS newsman Bob Schieffer shook hands, shared stories, signed autographs and posed for pictures at UT Arlington’s Central Library on Monday evening as the public got its first look at an exhibition of Schieffer’s photos, notes and letters from his time covering the Vietnam War.
The exhibit, which is part of UT Arlington’s Special Collections, runs through April 4. Admission is free.
The public views photographs taken by Bob Schieffer while covering the Vietnam War for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram during the opening of the exhibit at UT Arlington on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at UT Arlington. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
Schieffer, a Fort Worth native, took the photographs while reporting on the war for the Star-Telegram in late 1965 and early 1966. His job was to tell the stories of average servicemen, and Schieffer undeniably captured the humanity of those who served in Vietnam, as well as the humanity of the Vietnamese people whom they encountered.
One of the photographs shows a young infantry private feeding a puppy from a ration container, one of many vivid reminders that many of the soldiers were not much older than boys.
“I was 28 years old by this time, and sometimes these kids would be 17, 18, 19 years old,” Schieffer told the Star-Telegram last fall. “It was their first time away from home, and they were just lonely.”
The public views the work of Bob Schieffer, who photographed the Vietnam War for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, during the opening of the exhibit at UT Arlington on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at UT Arlington. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
Among the letters on display is one from Schieffer’s high school baseball coach, one from Amon Carter, Jr., the former publisher of the Star-Telegram, and some from the mothers who read the newspaper and asked Schieffer to locate their sons while he was in country.
“I have a son some where over there from whom I’ve had no news of any in several months,” wrote one mother. “Please if his outfit is near where you are, would you please contact him. Tell him I love him and to let me hear from him.”
Ray Bush of Grand Prairie was at the exhibition Monday night. He served as part of an Army security group in Vietnam from March 1969 to November 1970 that intercepted North Vietnamese communications in order to pinpoint the location of enemy soldiers.
Vietnam War veteran Ray Bush looks at the photographs taken by Bob Schieffer at the public opening of the special collection of his work on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at UT Arlington. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
“Seeing these things were just one guy’s glimpse of Vietnam, but he captured those glimpses very well,” said Bush, who is the president of the Vietnam Veterans of America chapter in Grand Prairie.
Bob Schieffer signs autographs for fans while attending the public opening of the special collection of his photographs taken for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram during the Vietnam War, called “Our Man In Vietnam,” on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at UT Arlington. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
Recent UT Arlington graduate Alyssa Tomancik and UT Arlington senior Alex Helm were part of a number of younger exhibit attendees. Tomancik majored in history and minored in military history, and Helm is an anthropology major.
“I have a huge amount of respect for journalists who go into active war zones to expose the truth of what is actually happening,” said Helm.
Tomancik said she learned much about the Vietnam War as a student from UT Arlington military history professor James Sandy. Tomancik was drawn to the Schieffer exhibit partly because of that and partly because of her interest in photography.
“I collect antique photos,” she said. “I have a few from the Vietnam War, so it was really cool to see the photos from here and compare it to my collection.”
“I really enjoyed the exhibit because I liked seeing the way that he was showing pictures of the Vietnamese and the American soldiers,” added Helm. “And you get this really intimate, close-up portrait of what it was actually like to be out there.”
Bob Schieffer talks with attendees of the public opening of the special collection of his photographs taken for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram during the Vietnam War, called “Our Man In Vietnam,” on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at UT Arlington. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com Schieffer’s family members share their perspectives
Joining Schieffer on Monday were his wife, Patricia, his brother, former U.S. ambassador to Australia Tom Schieffer, and his sister, Sharon Mayes.
Mayes was a young teacher at Forest Oaks Middle School in Fort Worth when her older brother took off for Vietnam. She said she faithfully followed Schieffer’s reports for the Star-Telegram, and she recalled how the war dominated the thoughts of so many back home, especially those who had a family member overseas.
“I think you didn’t think about that,” said Mayes when asked if she ever feared for her brother’s safety. “There was a period of time that, I think it was during the Saigon riots, and that was when they didn’t know where he was, and that was very anxious. But I think we were just very proud of him.”
Patricia met Schieffer not long after he returned from Vietnam in 1966, and they have been together since.
“I was not there, I didn’t know Bob when he went to Vietnam, so it’s been a revelation for me,” Patricia said of seeing the photos her husband took, most of which neither had seen before because they were stored as negatives at their home for decades.
“It’s really been heartwarming,” Patricia said when asked how the public reception had been at UT Arlington. “It’s always nice to come home.”
Bob Schieffer gives an interview during the opening of the special collection of his photographs taken for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram during the Vietnam War called “Our Man In Vietnam” on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at UT Arlington. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
After walking through the exhibit with visitors and sharing his memories of the photos on display, Schieffer expressed gratitude for how the UT Arlington Special Collections curators, led by archivist Sara Pezzoni, had displayed his work.
“I think it’s come across in the way I wanted,” said Schieffer. “I wanted this to be about these people, not about me. I’m the guy that took pictures of the people who really matter, and that’s what I want this to be about.”
This story was originally published February 9, 2026 at 10:27 PM.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Matt Adams is a news reporter covering Fort Worth, Tarrant County and surrounding areas. He previously wrote about aviation and travel and enjoys a good weekend road trip. Matt joined the Star-Telegram in January 2025.