John Everingham
Encyclopedia
John Everingham is an Australian journalist residing in Thailand.
Born in Australia in 1949, Everingham was in high school in 1966 when the urge to travel overcame the desire to study. He dropped out of school and left home at 16 years old, and left Australia on the traditional journey to London, but by motorcycle. Everingham began his career in photojournalism in the mid-1960s, as a teenager trekking through Indochina and learning languages. He originally worked as a translator for TV crews covering the Vietnam War
.
During the Vietnam War he received acclaim from the mainstream media, and disdain from the American
military, for his reporting on the effects of B-52 dumping runs on their way back to bases in Udon Thani, Thailand
— when bombers didn't drop all their payload over Hanoi
, they dumped their bombs in Laos to cut the risk of accidents on landing, which led to innocent rural Lao and Hmong being killed.
Everingham gained international fame when he sought asylum for his Laotian wife, Keo Sirisomphone, by swimming her out of Laos
under the Mekong River near Vientiane
using scuba equipment. The story was turned into a TV movie by Michael Landon
, called Love is Forever, based on an article Everingham had written for Reader's Digest
. Everingham has a cameo role in the movie.
In 1983, Everingham was the contact to Cork Graham
for Capt. Kidd Treasure Hunter Richard Knight.
John Everingham is the managing director of ArtAsia Press.
.
Born in Australia in 1949, Everingham was in high school in 1966 when the urge to travel overcame the desire to study. He dropped out of school and left home at 16 years old, and left Australia on the traditional journey to London, but by motorcycle. Everingham began his career in photojournalism in the mid-1960s, as a teenager trekking through Indochina and learning languages. He originally worked as a translator for TV crews covering the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
During the Vietnam War he received acclaim from the mainstream media, and disdain from the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
military, for his reporting on the effects of B-52 dumping runs on their way back to bases in Udon Thani, Thailand
Udon Thani
Udon Thani is a city in Isan, north-east Thailand, and the capital of Udon Thani Province.-Location:The province of Udon Thani has a population of 1,467.200, the city alone 500.000. Geographical location and is approximately 560 km from Bangkok...
— when bombers didn't drop all their payload over Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
, they dumped their bombs in Laos to cut the risk of accidents on landing, which led to innocent rural Lao and Hmong being killed.
Everingham gained international fame when he sought asylum for his Laotian wife, Keo Sirisomphone, by swimming her out of Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
under the Mekong River near Vientiane
Vientiane
-Geography:Vientiane is situated on a bend of the Mekong river, which forms the border with Thailand at this point.-Climate:Vientiane features a tropical wet and dry climate with a distinct monsoon season and a dry season. Vientiane’s dry season spans from November through March. April marks the...
using scuba equipment. The story was turned into a TV movie by Michael Landon
Michael Landon
Michael Landon was an American actor, writer, director, and producer. He is widely known for his roles as Little Joe Cartwright in Bonanza , Charles Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie , and Jonathan Smith in Highway to Heaven...
, called Love is Forever, based on an article Everingham had written for Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest is a general interest family magazine, published ten times annually. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, its headquarters is now in New York City. It was founded in 1922, by DeWitt Wallace and Lila Bell Wallace...
. Everingham has a cameo role in the movie.
In 1983, Everingham was the contact to Cork Graham
Cork Graham
Frederick Graham , who writes under the name Cork Graham, is a best-selling American author of political thriller novels and true adventure memoirs...
for Capt. Kidd Treasure Hunter Richard Knight.
John Everingham is the managing director of ArtAsia Press.
Family
John and Keosiri Everingham have two children: Chester Everingham, and Lao–Australian actor Ananda EveringhamAnanda Everingham
Ananda Everingham is a Laotian-Australian film actor who was born in Thailand. Working primarily in Thai films, he is best known for his lead role in the 2004 horror film, Shutter.-Biography:...
.