Ernie Pyle

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WORDmeister Note: Tomorrow marks the 70th anniversary of the death of war correspondent Ernie Pyle (1900-1945), “slight, graying newspaper man, chronicler of the average American soldier's daily round, in and out of foxholes in many war theatres.”

War Hero

“GUAM, April, 18 – Ernie Pyle died today on Ie Island, just west of Okinawa, like so many of the doughboys he had written about. The nationally known war correspondent was killed instantly by Japanese machine-gun fire. . . .”

“The commanding general of the troops on the island reported the death to headquarters as follows: ‘I regret to report that War Correspondent Ernie Pyle, who made such a great contribution to the morale of our foot soldier, was killed in the battle of Ie Shima today.’”

—Wireless to THE NEW YORK TIMES, “Ernie Pyle Is Killed on Ie Island; Foe Fired When All Seemed Safe,” The New York Times, April 19, 1945

• Editorial Comment: Yes, there was a time when we loved and respected our journalists.


PeezPix by Ted Pease 

Pewetole Island










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Ted Pease, Professor of Interesting Stuff, Trinidad, California. (Be)Friend The WORD

“Words are sacred. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones, in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.” —Tom Stoppard
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