A Lasting Influence

Ernie Pyle at work in Normandy

Ernie Pyle was the most famous of all WWII war correspondents.  He wrote of all aspects of the war, ranging from the G.I.s to those who loaded the bombers to the people in charge of transport.  Pyle realized that it takes all types to win a war, and his writings showed this.  He never wanted to leave anyone out.  Many times, a G.I. would ask him to put his name in Pyle's column and he did, along with the G.I.'s address. 

During the war, Pyle got just as dirty, every bit as grungy, just as filthy as those he wrote about, as he traveled with them.  His weapon was his typewriter, and it did a great amount of damage to the Axis powers.  During the war, Pyle also managed to get three books written, one of them, Brave Men, receiving the Pulitzer Prize.  The final chapter of that sums up the entire war.

In it, Pyle states:"We did not win it because destiny created us better than all other peoples  I hope that in victory we are more grateful than we are proud.  I hope we can rejoice in victory-but humbly.  The dead would not want us to gloat."  He went on to say, "Submersion in war does not necessarily qualify a man to be a master of the peace.  All we can do is fumble and try once more-try out of the memory of our anguish-and be as tolerant with each other as we can."

When playwright Arthur Miller was hired to write a screenplay based on Pyle's works, he met with the columnist, who was home from the war for a brief respite.  Miller wanted to know what message Pyle was attempting to get across in his columns.  No message-Pyle simply put down the facts.  The two men didn't see eye to eye, but the film was eventually made by director William Wellman as The Story of G.I. Joe and would make a star out of Robert Mitchum.  The movie's title was also the first time the phrase "G.I. Joe" was used.

Ernie Pyle never saw the picture.  He was killed by a sniper on Okinawa on April 18, 1945. His last book was published posthumously and unfinished.

Yet his influence continues to this day.  Ernie Pyle's books are still in print, and the name G.I. Joe resonates.  A brand of toy continues to make it popular, and would never had done so, had the film based on his works not originated the phrase sixty-five years ago. 

He hasn't been forgotten, nor should he be.