First to the Front

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This authoritative biography chronicles the life of pioneering photojournalist Dickey Chapelle, one of the first female war correspondents, who captured stories from World War II through the early days of Vietnam. Known for her radical reporting style, Chapelle focused on the humanity of the oppressed, often taking on dangerous assignments that her male counterparts avoided. She documented post-war conditions in Eastern Europe, marched with the South Vietnamese Army along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and traversed the Sierra Maestra Mountains with Castro. As the first reporter accredited by the Algerian National Liberation Front, she endured torture in a Hungarian prison and took extraordinary risks, including jumping from planes and faking her own kidnapping. Despite facing discrimination and mockery from male colleagues, she continued her groundbreaking work until her tragic death in Vietnam in 1965, making her the first American female journalist killed in combat. Much of her remarkable work remained hidden until now. In this biography, Lorissa Rinehart reveals Chapelle's incredible life and her significant contributions to journalism, highlighting the indelible mark she left on history.