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Brave Men by Ernie Pyle - 5* - My Review

Ernie Pyle was a war correspondent during WWII, traveling with the American invasion forces. This book is a collection of his news columns dating from June 1943 to September 1944. It provides a vivid sense of what life was like for the troops, covering such events as the naval crossing to Sicily, fighting at Anzio, the Italian campaign, a stint in England waiting for D-Day, the invasion at Normandy, and the liberation of Paris.

While there are descriptions heroic acts, this account focuses on the everyday life of regular soldiers. It puts the reader in their shoes. They wanted to do what had to be done in the most efficient and effective way possible – the mantra was “get it done and get home.” It is filled with intense, memorable, and powerful scenes. His writing is direct and animated. This was a time before television coverage of wars and Pyle’s syndicated columns provided people on the American home front a portrait of what it was like to be there. He reports on medical processes, demolition projects, ordnance, shelling and shrapnel, food and water supplies, and, truly, almost every aspect of the war – on the front lines and behind the scenes.

Some of the most moving accounts involve sketches of individuals and what they went through. As was done back then, he often mentions people by name, civilian occupation, and residence. He records the perspectives of soldiers, sailors, airmen, combat engineers, artillerymen, nurses, Red Cross workers, various civilians, and a few officers. There are also elements of humor and lighter segments when the pressure was less intense, so it feels particularly authentic, covering the gamut of emotions.

Sadly, Ernie Pyle was killed by enemy fire near Okinawa in 1945. How wonderful that we have his writings, which document his contributions to the wartime efforts. Brave Men serves as an eyewitness account. If you are a history buff, this book needs to be on your list.

“Our troops were living in almost inconceivable misery. The fertile black valleys were knee-deep in mud. Thousands of the men had not been dry for weeks. Other thousands lay at night in the high mountains with the temperature below freezing and the thin snow sifting over them. They dug into the stones and slept in little chasms and behind rocks and in half-caves. They lived like men of prehistoric times, and a club would have become them more than a machine gun.”

This is on my shelf and I always am looking for a copy of it. His books are hard to get a hold of. Great review

Joanne wrote: "This is on my shelf and I always am looking for a copy of it. His books are hard to get a hold of. Great review"
Thanks, JoAnne. Fortunately, my library had a copy.