Some Photos and a Short Tribute to Ernie Pyle

His tour in Okinawa Lasted 18 Days

In the Ryukyu Islands people don't call it World War II.

They don't call it the War of the Pacific, either.

It is simply called the Okinawa Senso.  The Okinawa War.

The battle began April 1, 1945.

The photo above shows the Ernie Pyle Memorial Stone on Ie Jima.

Ernie was respected by the Army, Navy and Marines because he walked with them.

He walked the walk and, talked the talk.  He was a war correspondent.

He traveled and reported the war through Africa, Europe and the Pacific.

Ernie was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for correspondence in 1944.

He died on Ie Jima August 18, 1945.

Yesterday, at Peace Memorial Park, I searched for Ernie Pyle's name on the walls.

Over 240,000 names are inscribed there, from victims of all nations.

We couldn't locate Ernie and almost gave up.

Then Doc Graff got the idea to do a computerized search.  And, it paid off.

Pyle Ernest T, was engraved amongst the American civilians killed in the battle of Okinawa.

Anyone wearing a uniform and going into combat should read his writings.

The leaders of the world's countries, before sending young men to war, should read them, too.

The Indiana University School of Journalism can tell you more about Ernie Pyle than I can.

That's where I found a photo of Ernie on patrol with Marines in Okinawa.

Look at this column Ernie Pyle wrote and let it soak-in.  It's the best tribute I can give him.

The God-Damned Infantry

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Memorial Day Tribute: Ernie Pyle the Writer

Memorial Day brings back memories of beach parties, barbeques, parades, ceremonies, speeches, wreath-laying and flag-waving for our veterans and those who gave their lives in the line of duty.

          A recent visit to Ie Shima Island in Okinawa, Japan reminded me of Ernie Pyle the writer.


There's probably not much I can add to what has already been written about a man who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize as a war correspondent.  I'd say he was a people-person and he could connect with and write about them in a style that has never been duplicated, anywhere, since.

Ernie Pyle followed the foot soldiers, during World War II, all over Europe and Africa. He wrote about the grunts (guys in the trenches) and their daily lives.  Hundreds of newspapers printed his articles and he could have thrown away his typewriter and lived in style after the European Campaign.

But, Ernie went on to cover the Pacific Campaign of the war, too. And he died during the battle of Okinawa.

Memorial Day was designated a National Holiday for remembering those members of the armed forces who died serving their country.  I remember.  I want everyone to remember Ernie Pyle along with them. 

It wasn't just the 77th Infantry Division that lost a buddy 18 April 1945.  Everybody lost a buddy that day.

REFERENCES:

ERNIE PYLE

AMERICA AT WAR


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