South Bend Tribune
Renowned Hoosier journalist Ernie Pyle is receiving some well-deserved attention more than 70 years after his death.
A resolution in the U.S. Senate would honor the war correspondent, columnist and Pulitzer Prize winner by designating Aug. 3, 2018 — which would be his 118th birthday — as National Ernie Pyle Day.
Pyle was born in Dana, Indiana, and studied journalism at Indiana University before going off to the battlefield during World War II. He traveled with infantries, bringing the real story of the war to the people back home. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1944 for distinguished reporting. Less than a year later, he was killed by enemy fire on an island in the Pacific.
In a written statement, U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly noted that Pyle “forever influenced American journalism.” “His reporting from the battlefield in World War II captured the daily sacrifice and heroism of our service members fighting in the war.”
“By designating National Ernie Payle Day, his important contributions to our state and nation will be honored,” U.S. Todd Young said in a written statement.
Pyle, whose column was carried in more than 700 newspapers, became a household name for his dispatches. A national day in his honor could bring the stories of his courage, dedication and unflinching view of war to future generations.
