Check out these amazing uncovered photos of the great Ernie Pyle
SUMMARY
On April 18th, 1945, war correspondent Ernie Pyle was killed by enemy fire on Iejima* during the Battle of Okinawa. At the time of his death, Pyle, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, was well-known for his intimate and personal storytelling that highlighted the experiences of the "average" soldier. Pyle was able to tell the stories of enlisted men because he embedded himself in their day-to-day lives; he didn't just observe their work, he lived, traveled, ate, and shared foxholes with them.
In remembrance of Ernie Pyle, the Unwritten Record presents photographs and motion pictures that highlight his work as a roving war correspondent during WWII.
Marines
Navy
Army
Jack Lieb Collection
The records presented above were found in the following series:
- 80-G: General Photographic File of the Department of Navy, 1943 – 1958
- 111-SC: Photographs of American Military Activities, ca. 1918 – ca. 1981
- 127-GW: Photographs of World War II and Post World War II Marine Corps Activities, ca. 1939 – ca. 1958
- 127-N: General Photograph File of the U.S. Marine Corps, 1927 – 1981
- Jack Lieb Collection: Motion Picture Films Relating to the Invasion of Normandy (D-Day) and Commemorative Visits After the War, 1944 – 1969
- MCA/Universal Pictures Collection: Motion Picture Releases of the Universal Newsreel Library, 1929 – 1967
*Iejima is often referred to as Ie Shima. Additionally, at the time of Pyle's death, some news outlets referred to Iejima as Ie Island.
Special thanks to Audrey Amidon, who provided links and context to the films included in this blog post.
