Posted on Apr 10, 2015

Who are your favorite war correspondents or embedded reporters from ancient times until today?

LTC Stephen F.

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Ernie Pyle

When I was a teenager I was introduced to the writings of Ernie Pyle beginning with Brave Men which was a journal of life among soldiers in the Italian campaign. He would have been called an embedded reporter in todays language. I have read memoirs of warriors who fought in the Napoleonic Wars, US Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. I understand there were chroniclers during the Crusades and among the ancients. I do not know if Josephus, Taciturn, Seneca or any of the other "historians" actually fought or if they limited their work to learning from those who did and survived.

In modern times some of the people who covered the battles with the soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen were killed in battle.

Ernest "Ernie" Taylor Pyle was killed on April 18, 1945, Iejima, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. He was working on what would be his last book that was posthumously titled Last Chapter which was focused on the lives of soldiers and marines in the Pacific battles and on board the ships in preparation for those battles.

Images: 1945-04-18 Ernie Pyle's body; Brave Men by Ernie Pyle; Last Chapter by Ernie Pyle

Ernie Pyle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXdWpgc5A68

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MAJ (Join to see)

Edited >1 y ago

Posted >1 y ago

Xenophon,
~400BC Joined as a mercenary Cadet, left as a General.

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LTC Stephen F.

>1 y

Thanks for mentioning Xenophon MAJ (Join to see). I have not read any of his works yet. The website below seems to present an unbiased summary of his life and works.
http://www.ancient.eu/xenophon/

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MAJ (Join to see)

>1 y

His original commander was killed in battle, then all the officers met with the enemy to discuss peace, when they were all massacred following that the Army had a debate amongst themselves and xenophon convinced enough of the Soldiers that they elected him their new leader (one of them). Ended up leading a successful return to Greece.

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SPC Charles Brown

Posted >1 y ago

I have to go with Ernie Pyle.

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LTC Stephen F.

>1 y

SPC Charles Brown I concur, Brave Men was the first WWII book I remember reading as a preteen.

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CH (MAJ) William Beaver

Posted >1 y ago

Josephus

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LTC Stephen F.

>1 y

Yes, CH (MAJ) William Beaver, many modern atheists have tried to discredit Josephus Histories; but, they are generally accepted as a non-believers recording of events as being investigated by Josephus.

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SSG Roger Ayscue

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Ernie Pyle

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PO3 Steven Sherrill

Posted >1 y ago

I am going with Wolf Blitzer because of the name alone.

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LTC Stephen F.

>1 y

He was interesting to watch during the Gulf War -Operation Desert Storm before he became famous. His reporting from Israel was also well done. After he became famous and moved toward shaping the news versus merely reporting it accurately, I lost interest in watching him except for occasional amusement late at night in the Pentagon.

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