Posted on 02/04/2008 2:30:20 PM PST by gate2wire
The figure in the photograph is clad in Army fatigues, boots and helmet, lying on his back in peaceful repose, folded hands holding a military cap. Except for a thin trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth, he could be asleep.
But he is not asleep; he is dead. And this is not just another fallen GI; it is Ernie Pyle, the most celebrated war correspondent of World War II.
As far as can be determined, the photograph has never been published. Sixty-three years after Pyle was killed by the Japanese, it has surfaced — surprising historians, reminding a forgetful world of a humble correspondent who artfully and ardently told the story of a war from the foxholes.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
Wow. Ernie Pyle was the real deal. I have to believe he would have approved of having this picture published.
What about Ernie Hemmorroid..."The Poor Man's Pyle?"
My dad spent a good part of the Battle of Kasserine Pass, in Tunisia, in a fox hole with Ernie Pyle. Dad said you would never know he was there, but every 8th round, when the clip made it’s distinctive ‘ping’ Ernie immediately handed him another clip.
I agree and the article suggested such.
Now one has to log-in to read the article. Sorry about that.
His book, “Brave Men” is the best war journal I have ever read; simple, honest, and true. He lived the life and faced the same real danger the the grunts faced. He puts the current crop of lobby bar ‘reporters’ from CNN to shame. A brave man who died a soldiers death.
Dang. Guess I didn’t search properly. :-)
Great story. I could listen to Ernie Pyle stories all day.
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I have read about this photograph now
im a couple of different news stories.
I have not seen any indication as to an explanation
of where the photo has been kept for 60 plus years
or why it has never been seen before.
It seems rather curious and makes me wonder what
other photos the source may have been hoarding?
At any rate, God Bless Ya’, Ernie.
I’ve never read any of Ernie’s writings but do enjoy “Up Front with Willie and Joe” by writer/cartoonist Bill Mauldin. He also was “one of the guys”. One of my favorite cartoons is: Willie and Joe are sitting behind a machine gun that is still smoking at the barrel and Willie tells Joe, “I could have sworn there was a Kraut behind that cow, Joe, go wake up the cooks”.
I think EP was more celebrated than EH. He was more folksy and reached a much broader audience. He was very influential, a single article by him resulted in changed legislation...
I don’t know if he would want his family to see it. But as a journalist, his job was to capture the truth of the moment, and that photo captures that moment worth far more than the proverbial thousand words.
I can no longer ask Dad to refresh the story, but during a German assault, Ernie dived into the foxhole. Dad asked Ernie if he had a weapon and Ernie told him he wasn’t allowed to, but he was loaded with M-1 clips. (not only smart from a survival standpoint, but a good way to make quick friends with a GI.) I guess I can attribute my very being to God, Dad, Ernie Pyle and the fact that in early 1943 the German Infantry was unfamiliar with the M-1 Garand.
Good read, thanks.
My grandfather was a firefighter on a carrier in the Pacific. He told me stories that still haunt me. I won't go into detail, but let's just say that a shot up plane in flames was not allowed to stay on deck, pilot or no pilot. Different breed of men from a different environment. I couldn't shine his shoes.
You’re welcome.
Did you notice he was 81 when he passed, yet had a 16 yr. old son?
Gotta love that he was still “getting it done” at an advanced age. LOL.
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