Ernie Pyle

Richard Pyle can write a damn fine story and he did so with this one. I read Ernie Pyle in high school and chanced up on two books, one collecting his reporting from World War II, but the other was a collection of his reporting from the 1930s covering America. He'd get in the car with his wife and travel up and down the country writing stories. It is an amazing read particularly one about a ship captain visiting Norfolk, Virginia, who remarked that he'd been there before during World War I. He was a U-Boat commander and -- forgive my memory if this is not totally correct -- rowed ashore to pick up a newspaper and grab a bite to eat.

 

That's a posed body. No doubt about that.

 

Thanks, CSI Simon.

 

As a gift to myself after college, I purchased the two book set called "Reporting World War II." In the second volume, Evan Wylie writes on the death of Ernie Pyle.

Wylie wrote: "Army Signal Corps photographer Cpl. Alexander Roberts of New York City proceeded them and was first to reach the body. Pyle lay on his back in a normal resting position. His unmarked face had the look of a man sleeping peacefully. He had died instantly from a bullet that penetrated the left side of his helmet and entered the left temple. His hands folded across his chest clutched his battered cap, said to be the one he carried through his previous campaigns. The litter-bearers placed the body on the stretcher and worked their way slowly back along the ditch under sniper fire. The battle for Ie Shima still remained to be won."

 

Hands being in contact with each other after a fall is the giveaway

 

Who says he fell?

 

I hadn't accounted for his being executed as he slept.

Good point.

 

The account I read said Pyle was in a jeep with others when they came under fire. The others jumped from the jeep for cover, Pyle lifted his head and was shot. But it was unclear whether he was in or out of the jeep.

 

It's entirely possible the body was move and "staged" that way by other soldiers but the photo was legit, you know.

 

Oh... absolutely.

 

Simon, is there anything of which you're not overly critical?