'A Striking and Painful Image...'

By Richard Pyle, Associated Press

[Note: Richard Pyle is no relation to Ernie Pyle]

NEW YORK—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 [American] war corres- pondent 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....

READ ON at comcast.net

This photo provided by Richard Strasser, perhaps never before published, shows famed World War II war correspondent Ernie Pyle shortly after he was killed by a Japanese machine gun bullet on the island of Ie Shima on April 18, 1945. Pyle, 44, had just arrived in the Pacific after four years of writing his popular column from European battlefronts. The Army photographer who crawled forward under fire to make this picture later said it was withheld by military officials. An AP survey of history museums and archives found only a few copies in existence, and no trace of the original negative. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Richard Strasser)

_______________________

Mike (Thanks to many tipsters)

Comments

[Ken White]

I'm a few years too young to have experienced the writings of Ernie Pyle in context. I did live in Albuquerque NM for a number of years where Mr. Pyle grew up and maintained a home.

His house was drawing visitors all the way into the 1980's and may still be doing so. I drove by the house many times but without the personal connection with his war correspondence I never understood why anyone would visit there. Now that I'm somewhat older maybe I can understand this a little better.

[Bill Mitchell]

An interesting piece was on TV's "History Detectives" this week about Ernie Pyle's portable typewriter. It includes data about his death. I'm sure it will be replayed and is worth watching for it.

[Barb Smith]

I read one of his books while in high school. He had a grand view of the everyday GI and I can understand why they loved him. He told their story and lived it with them. If you can find a copy in an old book store, get it. Its a quick but special read.

[Nick]

How strange, he looks really peaceful. I have read somewhere that he didn't really want to go to the Pacific Theatre, having had quite enough of war in Europe. Maybe he had some kind of premonition that it wouldn't end well for him there.

[Bron Janulis]

Here's a column from South Bend, a talk with the gentleman who has the picture of Mr. Pyle.

http://www2.southbendtribune.com/stories/2008/02/05/nation.20080205-sbt-MICH-A1-Not_a_picture_you__h.sto

[John Hicks]

Kudos on publishing that photo, painful as it may be.

Although it was perfectly reasonable to withhold it at the time, now it's a historical document, an endpoint to and a comment about the career of a guy who simply did what he believed he was supposed to do.

-jbh-