Typhoon Of Steel: The Battle Of Okinawa And Ernie Pyles's Last Assignment

Written By Jacob Mata

The Battle of Okinawa was one of the showdowns before the United States would find itself on the Japanese mainland. The 82-day battle on Okinawa itself lasted from April 1, 1945, until June 22, 1945. On April 1st, 1945, more than 60,000 soldiers and marines landed ashore on the beaches of Okinawa. The landings that morning went relatively unopposed as the Japanese refused to fight on the beaches. The Japanese wanted to make the U.S casualties as high as possible, so they withdrew into caves and rocky hills to force this battle of attrition.

This Japanese strategy worked well as the U.S suffered heavily not only on the islands, but also with the extensive Japanese kamikaze attacks that caused significant damage to the U.S fleets, 26 ships were ultimately sunk and over 168 boats were severely damaged, 40% of all U.S dead at this battle were sailors lost to these attacks. The overall battle for the island was a series of battles that included one such as the battle for Hacksaw Ridge. Though it was a decisive battle for the U.S, the Japanese plan had worked and led to 12,000 Americans killed. This came at an even higher cost for the Japanese as 100,000 Soldiers and civilians were killed.

One of those brave men who lost their lives was Ernrie Pyle, who was a newspaper columnist during World War II. Ernie was well known as a war correspondent who wrote columns about what it was like to be an ordinary soldier and the struggles that they faced every day. In honor of the many who lost their lives at Okinawa, we will look into one man who tried to find understanding for those soldiers and send it back home with his writing.

Ernie was born on August 3, 1900, and was raised on a farm in Dana, Indiana. Though he was born and raised on a farm, he ended up hating it, so shortly after graduating high school, he decided to enroll in the Naval Reserve. In 1919, he enrolled in Indiana University, but before he could finish his degree, he was hired at the LaPorte Herald. He then joined the Washington (D.C.) Daily News, part of the Scripps-Howard newspaper.

In 1925, he then met his wife Geraldine Jerry from Minnesota. After they married and quit their jobs, they both traveled over 9,000 miles over ten weeks, and by 1927, they had traveled across the country 35 times. During his travels, Ernie still wrote columns for the Scripps-Howard newspaper. After their many miles of travel, they decided to stop and build a home in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

"I love the infantry because they are the underdogs. They are the mud-rain-frost-and-wind boys. They have no comforts, and they even learn to live without the necessities. And in the end, they are the guys that wars can't be won without." — Ernie Pyle, "The God-Damned Infantry," 1943

Erie goes into the military as a reporter and becomes well known for writing about the common foot soldier and doing things such as suggesting extra pay for combat soldiers. Throughout his career overseas, he was in many different countries and at the different fronts of the war, such as England, France, Italy, and North Africa.

After returning from the Liberation of Paris, Ernie accepted his next and last assignment, which would be to cover the Pacific War with the Navy and Marines. Though not long into the operation on April 18th, 1945, while trying to duck away in a ditch, he was killed by a Japanese machine gunner. Though his time in the war had ended, his legacy did not because at the time of his death, he had 400 daily and 300 weekly newspapers. The soldiers of the 77th infantry division, of which Ernie was with, paid tribute by putting up a sign that read “At this spot, the 77th Infantry Division lost a Buddy, Ernie Pyle, 18 April 1945." Upon his death on April 18th, it was announced by Navy Secretary James V Forrestal and President Truman in which he said "The nation is quickly saddened again, by the death of Ernie Pyle, 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."

Ernie Pyle lived a full life reporting on many fronts and delivering real-life stories and updates to millions back in the United States. Over those many years of service, he distinguished himself with many awards and had just as many memorials built. Some of his accolades included a Pulitzer Prize, being featured on the cover of Time magazine, honorary doctorates from the University of New Mexico and Indiana University, a medal of merit, a Purple Heart that is rarely given to civilians, and a distinguished service medal. As we continue to look back on his legacy, we thank him and others for their sacrifices on this day 80 years ago.