1 Would Mr. Pyle have co-opted himself out to the Nazis to get a story the way today's journalists would?

2 One wonders why we have had no Ernie Pyles since WWII?

3

4 Has the post been pulled?

5

One wonders why we have had no Ernie Pyles since WWII?

How bout Michael Yon?

6

http://tiny.cc/tmz3r

This song is going out to all our fighting men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice, and for the sacrifices of those left behind to pick up the pieces. God Bless You All on this Memorial Day!

 

 

7 Relax. Obama has decided that America has one of the finest military's in the whole world.

8 Today, the New York times would fire Ernie Pyle for being in the tank for America.

9 8 Relax. Obama has decided that America has one of the finest military's in the whole world.

One of the finest?  Whose military does he deem better than ours, Indonesia's?  The PLO?  The PLA? 

10
One wonders why we have had no Ernie Pyles since WWII?

Posted by: Vic at May 30, 2011 01:11 PM (M9Ie6)

Untrue. I proudly served in Vietnam in the image of Ernie Pyle.

11 Can we spare a thought for the Nisei Brigades of WWII?

On November 9th, the 442d was finally ordered back.   The soldiers had been in the field since October 15th with only the 1-2 day respite afforded them at Belmont on October 24-25 prior to the mission to rescue the Lost Battalion.  When the Go For Broke Regiment had been attached to the 36th Infantry on October 13, 1944, the unit had been at full strength with 2,943 riflemen and officers.   From the beginning of the first battles for Breyeres until the unit was relieved near La Houissiere 24 days later, 140 brave soldiers were killed in action, more than 1800 wounded, and 43 were missing in action.  Two days later, Veterans Day, General Dahlquist ordered the men of the 442d RCT to stand formation, during which he intended to recognize the men for their accomplishments.  Afterwards the Chaplains would conduct a memorial service to honor those who had fallen in battle.  As the general approached the small formation he was at first upset to see such a small gathering.  "I want ALL your soldiers to stand for this formation," he told Lieutenant Colonel Miller of the 442d.   The response:

"This is all there is!"

12 Not killed by a sniper, killed by machine gun fire.

13 10 8 Relax. Obama has decided that America has one of the finest military's in the whole world. One of the finest? Whose military does he deem better than ours, Indonesia's? The PLO? The PLA? Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at May 30, 2011 02:03 PM (9hSKh) I believe our military is one of the best the same way a Greek might believe their military is one of the best!

14 Did that piece of shit really say one of the ????

15 15 Did that piece of shit really say one of the ???? Posted by: USS Diversity at May 30, 2011 02:40 PM (RPYjQ)L Nuance, USS Diversity, nuance! He's not a "piece of shit." He's a 6 foot tall walking Turd.

16 Well, if that doesn't bring a tear to your eye, what will?

17 Watch The Story of G.I.Joe sometime, if you have not.  It is the story of Henry Waskow and the men he led.  It is an outstanding movie.

18 Can't read this stuff any more.  Okay, I read it, then tell myself I can't read another one.  On it goes....

All these young men dead; better men than me; dead before they had a life to look back on.

At least they died for an obviously good cause, and in a victory whose consequences and good results lasted for decades.  Vietnam, not so much....

19 Suggestions for lawn signs!

20 I read Pyle's dispatches a number of years ago. The death of Cptain Waskow was one of the most memorable passages in the book, which was a great read.

21 19:

Dad always took comfort in the fact that we killed a shit-ton of communist fanatics and he got to help a great deal.

While the Vietnam domino did eventually fall, the United States military made pushing it over hurt so fuckin bad that the Russians, Chinese, and the rest of the godless commie scum around the world lost the love of playing dominoes. They were much more careful where they decided to play from then on.

22 Beautiful post. Thank you sir. Gives one pause to remember the price of our freedoms...

23

Had an English prof decades ago who thought Hemingway was The Man and Pyle had no flavor, no color.

Pyle got out of the way of the story.  My father had a friend who had limited duty due to injuries.  Ended up censoring correspondents' pieces. Said Hemingway's discovery that he was Hemingway ruined him.

Pyle will be around for the rest of us when Hemingway is read by English majors who think it makes them brave and worldly.

I had thought of challenging the prof to let me read the story of Cpt. Waskow aloud in class, but I figured I couldn't get through it.  Still couldn't.

24 Thanks, Dave. I saw this and was moved to comment and recommend as well. Even though Haskow's name was changed in the movie, this particular moving account was dramatized two years later as "The Story of G.I. Joe", starring Burgess Meredith as Pyle and Robert Mitchum and the fictionalized Haskow. "Bill Walker. I highly recommend it, the ending being quite moving. In fact it just aired on TCM yesterday and is on frequently. In any case check it out because it does it true justice.

                               Kevin A Ward 

25 Well done Dave - thanks for the link - I actually DVRd last night documentary about Mr Pyle - The original GI Joe - which i am planning to watch shortly. 

26 Sounds like one hell of a fine man. I say this as his opposite in every important respect.

27 Carentan O Carentan by Louis Simpson Trees in the old days used to stand And shape a shady lane Where lovers wandered hand in hand Who came from Carentan. This was the shining green canal Where we came two by two Walking at combat-interval. Such trees we never knew. The day was early June, the ground Was soft and bright with dew. Far away the guns did sound, But here the sky was blue. The sky was blue, but there a smoke Hung still above the sea Where the ships together spoke To towns we could not see. Could you have seen us through a glass You would have said a walk Of farmers out to turn the grass, Each with his own hay-fork. The watchers in their leopard suits Waited till it was time, And aimed between the belt and boot And let the barrel climb. I must lie down at once, there is A hammer at my knee. And call it death or cowardice, DonÂ’t count again on me. EverythingÂ’s all right, Mother, Everyone gets the same At one time or another. ItÂ’s all in the game. I never strolled, nor ever shall, Down such a leafy lane. I never drank in a canal, Nor ever shall again. There is a whistling in the leaves And it is not the wind, The twigs are falling from the knives That cut men to the ground. Tell me, Master-Sergeant, The way to turn and shoot. But the SergeantÂ’s silent That taught me how to do it. O Captain, show us quickly Our place upon the map. But the CaptainÂ’s sickly And taking a long nap. Lieutenant, whatÂ’s my duty, My place in the platoon? He tooÂ’s a sleeping beauty, Charmed by that strange tune. Carentan O Carentan Before we met with you We never yet had lost a man Or known what death could do. In memory of PFC Harry A. Goldenberg K Company, 105th Inf. Reg., 27th Inf. Div. Killed in action on Saipan, July 1st 1944

28 I am told,  by the relative of an American soldier who was killed near Carentan, that the locals have a ceremony each year, on the date of their liberation.  The names of the dead are read out and schoolchildren reply in unison, "Died for France".

29 I had the same thought as #6. Michael Yon.

30 Heck, I'd be satisfied if we had a Gomer Pyle.
Instead, we get a Bradley Manning.

31 While the Vietnam domino did eventually fall, the United States military made pushing it over hurt so fuckin bad that the Russians, Chinese, and the rest of the godless commie scum around the world lost the love of playing dominoes. They were much more careful where they decided to play from then on.

Posted by: sifty

Lee Kwan of Singapore has a similar opinion.  The fact that the US slowed or stopped the fall of dominoes had a big effect on millions of people, from the Philipines to Malaysia, Indonesia  and Thailand.

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