• Peter Arnett, renowned war correspondent, died at 91 after a battle with prostate cancer.
• He won the Pulitzer Prize for his Vietnam War coverage in 1966 while working for the Associated Press.
• Arnett became a household name during the first Gulf War for his on-the-ground reporting from Baghdad.
• He is remembered for his fearless journalism and impactful storytelling throughout decades of conflict.
• Arnett's legacy will inspire future generations of journalists, according to colleagues.

Peter Arnett, the Pulitzer Prize-winning war correspondent known for his fearless reporting, has passed away at the age of 91. He died on Wednesday in Newport Beach, California, surrounded by family and friends. His son, Andrew Arnett, indicated that Peter had been receiving hospice care for prostate cancer, marking the end of a remarkable career that began in the midst of the Vietnam War and continued through others, including the Gulf Wars, Iraq, and El Salvador, according to CBS News, NPR, and BBC.

Arnett first gained recognition for his Vietnam War coverage, earning the 1966 Pulitzer Prize for international reporting while working with the Associated Press (AP). His impactful storytelling at the AP from 1962 until the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 framed him as a significant voice in war journalism. Fellow AP correspondent Edith Lederer praised him as "one of the greatest war correspondents of his generation," highlighting his legacy that will inspire future journalists and historians, according to CBS News and NPR.

Arnett's career reached a new height during the first Gulf War in 1991, when he was one of the few Western journalists to remain in Baghdad as the bombing began. Amid the chaos, he delivered live reports showing the realities of war, famously stating, "There was an explosion right near me," even as sirens sounded in the background. His eye for detail and commitment to reporting in the face of danger became trademarks of his career, according to NPR and BBC.

Throughout his career, Arnett had numerous close brushes with danger. In 1966, he witnessed a soldier being shot while reading a map, a harrowing experience he recounted to the American Library Association in 2013. He described the incident in detail, reflecting on the unpredictability and perils of war reporting. His firsthand experiences in Vietnam not only contributed to his reporting but also highlighted the bravery of the soldiers and journalists alike in dangerous situations, according to CBS News, NPR, and BBC.

After leaving AP in 1981, Arnett joined CNN and became known for exclusive interviews, including with Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden, which further solidified his reputation as a leading war correspondent. His reporting style often merged tenacity with a commitment to uncovering the truth about the conflicts he covered. He continued to challenge the status quo even after being fired from NBC for critical comments on U.S. military strategy, which attested to his steadfast dedication to truthful reporting, as noted in his reflections in various interviews, according to CBS News and BBC.

Born on November 13, 1934, in Riverton, New Zealand, Arnett eventually became a U.S. citizen and made Southern California his home. His contributions to journalism, particularly in conflict reporting, remain influential as many remember him not only for his professional achievements but also his personal warmth. Colleagues like retired photographer Nick Ut, who worked alongside him in Vietnam, expressed profound personal loss, stating, "His death will leave a big hole in my life," echoing the sentiments of many who admired Arnett as both a journalist and a friend, according to CBS News and BBC.