MAX JONES: Ernie Pyle never ceases bringing pride to Indiana
Rob Robbins
MAX JONES: Ernie Pyle never ceases bringing pride to Indiana
Max Jones The Tribune-Star
“AT THE FRONT LINES IN
ITALY, January 10, 1944 — In this war I have known a lot of officers who were
loved and respected by the soldiers under them. But never have I crossed the
trail of any man as beloved as Capt. Henry T. Waskow of Belton,
Texas.”
— The opening words of “The Death of Captain Waskow”
by Ernie Pyle
Once again, Ernie Pyle has made me proud
to be a journalist.
Recently, friend and colleague Jim Brown of
Indianapolis (former dean of the journalism department at IUPUI) sent me two
emails that grabbed my attention. The first contained a link to the Wall Street
Journal’s Speakeasy media blog. The second was a link to Jim’s own blog
site.
I clicked to the Journal blog first and was greeted by the
headline, “What’s the best newspaper column of all time?” My interest was
piqued, especially when the first paragraph indicated that, no, the famous “Yes,
Virginia” column by Francis Church in 1897 had not been named to the top spot.
(It was chosen No. 2.)
As I read on, I saw embedded in the text a photo
of Pyle, the Dana native revered as among the best and most respected war
correspondents in U.S. history. Could it be …?
Indeed, it was. The
National Society of Newspaper Columnists had chosen Pyle’s World War II column,
“The Death of Captain Waskow,” as the best column ever.
According to the
blog, the poll of columnists was organized by John Avlon and Jesse Angelo,
editors of an upcoming book, “Deadline Artists: America’s Greatest Newspaper
Columns.” They narrowed the poll of best columns to 15 before presenting it to
the columnists. Avlon told the Journal blogger he was not surprised the “Waskow”
column was selected as the best. “I think the participants did get it right,” he
was quoted as saying.
My friend, Jim, knew this item would interest me
not only because of my profession, but also because I’m a board member of the
Friends of Ernie Pyle, a nonprofit organization that operates the Ernie Pyle
Museum in Dana. Jim is currently under contract to create a website for the
museum.
The link to Jim’s blog took me to his reflections on the
selection of Pyle’s column.
“The first time I encountered this column was
in a special display at the Ernie Pyle Museum in Dana, Indiana. I heard the
column read and it brought tears to my eyes,” Jim wrote in his blog. “I later
read the column. There is a rhythm to his words and the honor accorded to
Captain Waskow by his men is memorialized by Pyle’s words.”
Indeed, the
“Waskow” column holds a special place at the Dana museum. It is an exhibit all
its own. Visitors to the museum actually encounter the “Waskow Theater,” where
they are treated to a multimedia presentation as the column’s words are read by
legendary stage and screen actor William Windom. It is perhaps the museum’s most
powerful presentation.
If you’ve never been to the Ernie Pyle Museum, or
even if you have, spending time in the “Waskow Theater” is worth a trip all by
itself. Knowing that the Pyle column now has been judged the best newspaper
column of all time will certainly add to that experience.
The museum,
located just off U.S. 36 in downtown Dana (you can’t miss it), is open Fridays
and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. There is a
modest admission charge.
Max Jones can be reached at
(812) 231-4336, or by e-mail at max....@tribstar.com.
~Catherine Pulsifer~
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