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The Soldier's Friend: A Life of Ernie Pyle

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Written by award-winning author and historian Ray E. Boomhower, The Soldier's Friend: A Life of Ernie Pyle is a biography for young adults about Ernie Pyle, columnist who wrote about the rigors of combat endured by ordinary G.I.'s during World War II. For his skillful and accurate reporting of a "worm's-eye view" of the war, Pyle received journalism's highest honor - a Pulitzer Prize - in 1944. Chapters cover Pyle's childhood, personality, friends, and retirement, but the main focus is on his career as a reporter at the front. Vintage black-and-white photographs on almost every page illustrate this absorbing life story of a distinguished newsman, especially recommended for middle and secondary school library collections.

Ray E. Boomhower, The Soldier's Friend: A Life of Ernie Pyle (Indiana Historical Society Press, 2006)

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ernie Pyle reported World War II in a way few other correspondents have done-- he was right there on the front line with the troops. In these days of "embedded journalists", that may not seem like such a big thing, but in the 1940s, it was unheard-of. Pyle was the guy who started the trend, and the soldiers loved him for it-- not to mention the readers back home, who saw a side of warfare that had never been seen before. While a number of biographies of Pyle exist, none that I could find are written for the school-aged crowd, and few others have had access to the thousands of Pyle-related documents held by the Indiana Historical Society. Ray Boomhower addresses both deficiencies in American literature with The Soldier's Friend.

While the book is a bit dry in spots, it does a fine job of depicting Pyle's life both before and during World War II, giving the younger set an idea of why it is Pyle's style of reporting was so groundbreaking back in the day. A good, solid read for students and teachers alike. Published by a small press and thus suffering from some visibility problems; it deserves a great deal more attention than it's gotten. ****

Ernie Pyle (1900-1945) was a nationally syndicated newspaper columnist who wrote for Washington, D.C. and New York City newspapers before the war. But, he became a beloved figure due to his Pulitzer Prize-winning work during World War II, especially in the European Theater. As one of the soldiers quoted in this biography said, "He was...our spokesman. It was not that his column told us things we did not know or feel, but the fact that we knew you folks at home could read it, and get to know and understand."

This book is printed by the Indiana Historical Society Press because Pyle was originally from the small town of Dana, Indiana, near Terre Haute. The Indiana Historical Society has access to literally millions of Indiana-related historical photographs and that library of pictures is put to good use in this biography. Most of the photos aren't just the standard posed shots, but they show Pyle interacting with his favorite soldiers - the G.I. (Infantry). You can see his relaxed style and his curiousity about everything - including looking down the business end of a 155 mm gun, cooking on a Coleman stove in France, walking among the rubble of the hotel that he was in when a German shell hit it, talking with nurses, officers, and even washing his feet in his own helmet.

The book is actually intended to be a biography for advanced middle school students or high school students to read, but it is excellent for any student of World War II history, no matter his or her age. At the end of the text, 3 of his complete, unedited columns are re-printed, including the sparse and moving "The Death of Captain Waskow".

Strongly recommended.

The book was very well received by my father-in-law. He is a WWII veteran of the European Theater, and knew Ernie Pyle personally. When Pyle left Europe for the Pacific Theater, my father-in-law told him about his two brothers serving there. After the war, one of those brothers related that he had met Mr. Pyle as a result of that conversation. At 89, my father-in-law is enjoying the book about his friend.