A BIG LOSS FOR G.I.’S

Indiana native, Ernie Pyle, became known for his stories about ordinary American soldiers during WWII. Both G.I.’s and those on the homefront helped to make Pyle an American folk hero. Pyle, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his article Captain Waskow, covered the war in Africa, Italy, England, France, and the Pacific Islands. He was shot and killed by a Japanese sniper on le Shima Island April 18, 1945. The island is located a few miles off the coast of Okinawa, Japan.  

 OVERVIEW: 

   World War II veteran Ted Estridge fought in the Battle of Okinawa where he was wounded. The tragic news of war was covered by thousands of WWII correspondents, but Ernie Pyle, killed in Okinawa, seemed to be the American G.I.’s favorite storyteller.  

 MATERIALS & DOCUMENTS:

 Okinawa Battle Map (Doc A) Ted Estridge Video Understanding Okinawa (Doc B) Ernie Pyle Video Clip Pyle Analysis Handout (Doc C) Pyle Article Handout (Doc D) Military Responds to Pyle’s Death (Doc E) Tribute Assignment (Doc F)