[Colonel_Flagg]

Interesting find, Sam. But Pyle would never have written like this, even though he saw enough of the war first-hand to be able to. His loyalty to the common soldier would never have allowed it. Allow me to elaborate in his own words:

"We have won because we have had magnificent top leadership, at home and in our Allies and in ourselves overseas. Surely America made its two perfect choices in General Eisenhower and General Bradley. They are great men - to me doubly great because they are direct and kind.

"We won because we were audacious. One could not help but be moved by the colossus of our invasion. It was a bold and mighty thing, one of the epics of all history. In the emergency of war our nation's powers are unbelievable. The strength we have spread around the world is appalling even to those who make up the individual cells of that strength. I am sure that in the past two years I have heard soldiers say a thousand times, 'If only we could have created all this energy for something good.' But we rise above our normal powers only in times of destruction.

"We have won this war because our men are brave, and because of many other things - because of Russia, and England, and the passage of time, and the gift of nature's materials. We did not win it because destiny created us better than all other peoples. I hope that in victory we are more grateful than we are proud. I hope we can rejoice in victory - but humbly. The dead men would not want us to gloat."

- Ernie Pyle, August 1944

Of course, Pyle himself did not survive the war.

[SAMWolf]

I know Pyle would have never written like that, Edward R Morrow wouldn't report like that either. Pyle used words like Mauldin used his pictures. The world is a poorer place with their loss.