Support local journalism this Ernie Pyle Day | Columnists

The desk he used when he served as editor in chief of the Indiana Daily Student still sits inside the IDS newsroom as a reminder of the greatest journalist ever to grace the publication’s staff.

Pyle didn’t graduate from IU, opting to start his journalism career early, but in 1944 he became the first person to receive an honorary doctorate from the university.

He is best known for his coverage of World War II, where he spent years in North Africa, Italy and the Pacific Theater. He was unique in his ability to capture the experiences of average everyday soldiers fighting overseas.

American families who were worried about their sons and brothers used Pyle’s columns to get a glimpse into what life was like for the warring soldier.

Rarely would you find Pyle interviewing high-ranking military officials. Instead, he preferred to spend time in the foxholes with American soldiers as artillery fire rained down close by.

Pyle was present for the invasion of Italy in September 1943, the D-Day landings, and the Battle of Okinawa.

His commitment to covering the war eventually led to his death in Okinawa. A bullet struck him in the head below his helmet, likely killing him instantly. At the site of his death, a memorial reads, “At this spot the 77th Infantry Division lost a buddy, Ernie Pyle, 18 April 1945.”

US President Harry Truman, having just taken over for Franklin Roosevelt, remarked at the time, “No man in this war has so well told the story of the American fighting man as American fighting men wanted it told. “He deserves the gratitude of all his countrymen.”

Pyle was 44 when he died. He never got to witness the full allied victory. One can only imagine how his writing would have captured the thoughts and feelings of soldiers as they returned home from the war.

It’s too easy for today’s journalists to get caught up in solely focusing on high-level information from top officials, instead of the people affected by that information.

At the News-Miner, we pride ourselves on providing coverage that puts people at the center of almost every story, just like Ernie Pyle.

If you live in Fairbanks long enough — whether you are taking part in a community event at Pioneer Park or voicing your opinion on an important local issue — there’s a good chance you will eventually find yourself quoted or pictured in our local newspaper.

There’s a reason our motto is “The Voice of the Interior.” We put people first every chance we get.

If you’re reading this, you may already be a subscriber. Whether you are or aren’t, please consider supporting the work of the News-Miner through a donation. We are a nonprofit newspaper that will continue to provide quality reporting to the residents of Interior Alaska.

Unlike blogs and social media posts, journalism isn’t free. Your support helps us to equip readers with the information they need to be productive citizens and to share the stories of some truly amazing people, as Pyle did.