Posted on Apr 10, 2015
Who are your favorite war correspondents or embedded reporters from ancient times until today?
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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
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Orlando Illi Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. "Bill" Price CPT Jack Durish Capt Tom Brown CMSgt (Join to see) MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SGT (Join to see) Sgt Albert Castro SSG David Andrews Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Charles H. Hawes SGT Mark Halmrast SPC Margaret Higgins PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
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
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Orlando Illi Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. "Bill" Price CPT Jack Durish Capt Tom Brown CMSgt (Join to see) MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SGT (Join to see) Sgt Albert Castro SSG David Andrews Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Charles H. Hawes SGT Mark Halmrast SPC Margaret Higgins PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
Military History
American History
World History
Writing
Journalism
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 38
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LTC Stephen F. I like Walter Cronkite, one of the best to ever do it in my opinion.
http://www.biography.com/people/walter-cronkite-9262057
Walter Cronkite helped launch the CBS Evening News in 1962 and served as its news anchor until his retirement in 1981. The hallmarks of his style were honesty, impartiality and level-headedness, and “And that's the way it is” was his jaunty nightly sign-off. Identified in public opinion polls as the man Americans most trusted, he provided a voice of reason during the Vietnam and Watergate eras
http://www.biography.com/people/walter-cronkite-9262057
Walter Cronkite helped launch the CBS Evening News in 1962 and served as its news anchor until his retirement in 1981. The hallmarks of his style were honesty, impartiality and level-headedness, and “And that's the way it is” was his jaunty nightly sign-off. Identified in public opinion polls as the man Americans most trusted, he provided a voice of reason during the Vietnam and Watergate eras
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Ernie Pyle is my guy for WWII, LTC Stephen F.. Here's a photo of my father, LTJG Jack Curlee (at right), taken at the Ernie Pyle Memorial on the island of Ie Shima (Iejima) northwest of Okinawa Island. The inscription reads simply: "AT THIS SPOT THE 77th INFANTRY DIVISION LOST A BUDDY ERNIE PYLE 18 APRIL 1945." Photo was taken between 7AUG45 and 16AUG45.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thanks for sharing a picture of your father by Ernie's memorial LTC Stephen C.. I first read Brave Men as a young teen and then Here is Your War. I have hardback copies of each of his three books which I have held onto for over 40 years.
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SPC Edward Tapper
What a great picture and awesome memory of your father, Sir. I'm certain that he was as proud of you as you are of him. Ernie Pyle was an outstanding writer.
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Although he wasn't a war correspondent . He was a cartoonist who conveyed his messages through his character's. I know Stars and Stripes loved his work. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Mauldin. LTC Stephen F. .
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LTC Stephen C.
SGT John " Mac " McConnell, Bill Mauldin was at odds with General George Patton, who disliked him for depicting soldiers the way he did. He threatened to throw Mauldin in jail if he entered the Third Army (Patton's) area. In their famous 1945 meeting, Patton stated, "I don't know what you think you're trying to do, but the krauts ought to pin a medal on you for helping them mess up discipline for us."
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For Vietnam I have a tougher time choosing a favorite war correspondent. Walter Cronkite was know for generally unbiased news reporting but he tended to be remote. It seems that some of the more famous war correspondents like David Halberstam received much of their information from individuals who turned out to be North Vietnamese agents. Not surprising to me, as somebody who lived through the period and saw how the media generally supported the antiwar movement and in rare cases North Vietnam.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thanks SPC Pastor Edward Tapper, for voting for Joseph "Joe" Lee Galloway. "He was a photo-journalist and pretty much a conscientious objector. Did not want any weapons, but ended up fighting for his life and survival. Served with Col Hal Moore and 1SGT Plumly in the Ia Drang Valley of Vietnam. Co-author of "We Were Soldiers, Once ... and Young: Ia Drang. He didn't just report it, he lived it!"
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SMSgt Dan Powell
I can't agree with your view of Walter Cronkite. I think he did a lot to harm to our efforts in Viet Nam. I am a Viet Nam Vet and it is more of an impression I had at the time, so I really can't give you specifics.
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LTC Stephen F.
Dan, thank you for sharing your on-the-ground assessment. I was young when the war started and lived in an anti-war home. My desire to become a soldier was not well received [learned later that was based on WWI and WWII experiences in England]. I will take your assessment at face value.
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For WWI, I would vote for Floyd Phillips Gibbons from the Chicago Tribune as the best War correspondent from the US. I would be interested in learning about British or German war correspondents from that time.
FYI Maj Robert Thornton CPT Scott SharonSFC Greg Bruorton SFC Michael Young 1stSgt Eugene Harless MSgt Ken "Airsoldier" Collins-Hardy 1SG Carl McAndrews SPC Douglas Bolton SSG David Andrews Sgt John H. SGT Mark Halmrast Cynthia Croft Sgt Vance Bonds PO1 H Gene Lawrence SGT Brent Scott PO3 Steven Sherrill LTC (Join to see)
FYI Maj Robert Thornton CPT Scott SharonSFC Greg Bruorton SFC Michael Young 1stSgt Eugene Harless MSgt Ken "Airsoldier" Collins-Hardy 1SG Carl McAndrews SPC Douglas Bolton SSG David Andrews Sgt John H. SGT Mark Halmrast Cynthia Croft Sgt Vance Bonds PO1 H Gene Lawrence SGT Brent Scott PO3 Steven Sherrill LTC (Join to see)
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For the Spanish Civil War my favorite war correspondent is Ernest Hemmingway. I was interested to learn that Kim Philby was a British war correspondent in the Spanish civil war - he was a double agent of Britain and the Soviet Union who died in Russia after being "outed."
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From the ones I met, I would have to say Lara Logan hands down. Brave, beautiful, courageous, smart lady.
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LTC Stephen F.
Juan, I hope you and every other serving military member get the opportunity to have kind words spoken and written about you on a regular basis.
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SSG (Join to see)
I do too for all those who can't do that anymore sir. But I have, humbly earned the respect of my fellow soldiers, and that is the best commodity I could ask. I still keep in touch, with all, seniors, peers, subordinates. This is a great family.
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MAJ (Join to see)
I agree. Lara Logan embedded with us many times in Iraq. Never shied away from real missions, and what smart enough to provide the context as well.
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Walter Cronkite: HANDS DOWN! Also, Steve, is/was Peter Jennings a War Correspondent? LTC Stephen F.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend SPC Margaret Higgins for letting us know that Walter Cronkite was your favorite newscaster anchorman and that Peter Jennings was your favorite war correspondent in the Vietnam War.
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Orlando Illi Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. "Bill" Price CPT Jack Durish Capt Tom Brown CMSgt (Join to see) MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SGT (Join to see) Sgt Albert Castro SSG David Andrews Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Charles H. Hawes SGT Mark Halmrast PO1 William "Chip" Nagel CPT Gabe SnellLTC Greg Henning
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Orlando Illi Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. "Bill" Price CPT Jack Durish Capt Tom Brown CMSgt (Join to see) MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SGT (Join to see) Sgt Albert Castro SSG David Andrews Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Charles H. Hawes SGT Mark Halmrast PO1 William "Chip" Nagel CPT Gabe SnellLTC Greg Henning
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SSgt Boyd Herrst
Us kids would have fun out back at my Uncle’s farm up in the hay mow..
We’d be picking on Walter Cronkite.. “On the news this evening ; .. 50 or so scrungy hippies were dragged off to the hoosegow and incarcerated in the tombs at the county corrections house in Stockdale, Calif. after a good hosing down with dial gold and a water cannon..
And that’s the way it was on ——-1968... Good night and...
One of my cousins thought she had to correct her male cousin; She resaid it using all the correct words.. “ yeah-yeah-yeah..” I said.. it’s not a hotel I said...
she was quite eloquent ..
We’d be picking on Walter Cronkite.. “On the news this evening ; .. 50 or so scrungy hippies were dragged off to the hoosegow and incarcerated in the tombs at the county corrections house in Stockdale, Calif. after a good hosing down with dial gold and a water cannon..
And that’s the way it was on ——-1968... Good night and...
One of my cousins thought she had to correct her male cousin; She resaid it using all the correct words.. “ yeah-yeah-yeah..” I said.. it’s not a hotel I said...
she was quite eloquent ..
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Can't honestly say I've ever thought about that. Guess I'd say Ernie Pyle and Bob Woodruff.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thank you my friend Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen for letting us know that your favorite war correspondents are WWII war correspondent Ernie Pyle and Robert Warren "Bob" Woodruff who was wounded in Iraq in 2006 while covering OIF.
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Orlando Illi Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. "Bill" Price CPT Jack Durish Capt Tom Brown CMSgt (Join to see) MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SGT (Join to see) Sgt Albert Castro SSG David Andrews Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Charles H. Hawes SGT Mark Halmrast PO1 William "Chip" Nagel CPT Gabe SnellLTC Greg Henning
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Orlando Illi Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. "Bill" Price CPT Jack Durish Capt Tom Brown CMSgt (Join to see) MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SGT (Join to see) Sgt Albert Castro SSG David Andrews Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Charles H. Hawes SGT Mark Halmrast PO1 William "Chip" Nagel CPT Gabe SnellLTC Greg Henning
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