Customer Reviews

Ernie's War: The Best of Ernie Pyle's World War II Dispatches (G K Hall Large Print Book Series)

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It would be difficult to find a better book on the average G.I. It isn't hard to understand why every dog face loved Ernie Pyle; he lived among them, lived like them, and died like them. This is one of the best prime source reads around. I can't recommend it highly enough. The section on the Italian campaign is a must read.

I have yet to find a better book on the experiences of the average "dog face" in WWII. From North Africa to Sicily to Italy to France; Ernie was there and covered it better than anyone.

This is a compilation of Ernie Pyle's best dispatches from the front lines during World War II. His stories were printed in American newspapers throughout the war, and brought home to the people of those years just what our men (and women) on the front lines had to endure, and how brave they were in doing their duty day after day until the job was done. It's moving to read about the hardships our soldiers went through in order to preserve the freedoms we enjoy today.

We owe a great debt to the generation of Americans who struggled through this period of history. So many Americans, regular people like you and me, lived through hell and many paid the ultimate price. Ernie Pyle's stories bring this sacrafice to life in a very emotional way.

The book also includes a brief biography of Pyle. It's a beautiful, if sometimes tragic, time-capsule of the WWII years, and I strongly recommend it.

I'm not a typical reader of WW2 history, I suppose, but that didn't keep me from devouring these dispatches from the front, written by reporter Ernie Pyle. A legendary reporter (whom I hadn't heard of) wrote from the perspective of a civilian observer. He marched, ate, lived with the men of the infantry, air force pilots, and at sea, and learned to endure some of what the armed forces had to go through during those epic times. Pyle's attention to detail makes those people come alive: the boredom of the down times, the terror of artillery volleys, the dirt and mud and cold and heat. Throughout, we sense Pyle's own discomfort at being a bit older, sitting apart from the fighting, and being able to go back stateside when he'd had enough or had to deal with a mentally disabled wife back home. Ultimately, Pyle never returned from the war, like so many of the soldiers he came to know and respect. This is essential reading for anyone interested in their father's, grandfather's, or great greanfather's role in a event that fewer and fewer people remember first hand. Reading Ernie Pyle may prompt younger generations to sit down with old soldiers and other survivors of those turbulent times to capture some first hand memories to pass to their families. It's not too late.

I have just finished reading this, as the third of three Ernie Pyle books I've read over the past couple months. I knew who he was, and saw his grave at Punchbowl cemetery, but had never read his writing. I am astounded at how real it is.

First, I read "Ernie Pyle's War" by James Tobin which is primarily a biography with some of his writings interspersed. Wanting to read more of his own words, I read "Ernie's America" which is a compilation of his Homefront writings from the 1930s and early 1940s. It's a wonderful glimpse into the past, all over the U.S., into people and places that no longer exist. It was a joy to read. Finally, I read "Ernie's War" featuring his combat writings from North Africa, Italy, France and finally the Pacific. It is an incredibly vivid and real account.

I highly recommend Ernie Pyle's writing to anyone who wants to better understand the 1930s and 1940s. He brings it alive unlike any other writer I know. And, for those who lived during that time, Pyle is like an old friend. I shared the books with a Pearl Harbor survivor friend and he loved them. The volumes edited by David Nichols are excellent. They provide a good biographical essay and then for the most part, it's all Ernie's writing, with occasional notes from the editor for context. The five star reviews are more than warranted. Read Ernie, and you'll be adding your own five star review.