| Ernie Pyle (August 3, 1900 – April 18, 1945) just after he returned from the Sicily Campaign. Pyle arrived in New York from Algiers via clipper on September 7, 1943. Friends from his reporting in North Africa warned him that he would have no idea of the fame that awaited him in New York. But Pyle was acutely suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder from his 428 days overseas. He had led a relatively stressful life, sometimes under fire and eating cold rations. He had seen bodies torn by artillery fire and had been slightly wounded himself. While he was in New York, Roy W. Howard (January 1, 1883 – November 20, 1964) pushed him to interview United States Army General Douglas MacArthur (January 26, 1880 – April 5, 1964) Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA) and possible Republican candidate for President in the upcoming 1944 election. Howard despised United States President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30, 1882 – April 12, 1945) and hoped Pyle’s man-of-the-people writing style would engender popular support for a MacArthur candidacy. However, Pyle convinced Howard that his writing wasn’t finished in the European campaign, and he would return to cover the Normandy invasion. This photograph was extremely popular, especially after Pyle was killed on Okinawa by a Japanese sniper, and was distributed widely. The Knoxville Tennessee News Sentinel explained the photo’s popularity: “Sensitiveness That Made Ernie Pyle Number One War Writer Captured in Photo by Amateur – Story of Picture That Adorns Cover of [the book] Brave Men Told – By Lucille Gould – New York, May 24, 1945. Americans today are reverently pasting in their scrapbooks pictures of their best-loved foxhole reporter, Ernie Pyle.” “And their favorite picture of Ernie is the one that dignifies the cover of his book, ‘Brave Men’ — the one with the haunting, weary eyes and war — the questioning countenance.” “There is a story behind this portrait which Ernie himself styled as his ‘all-time favorite picture’ — the picture which ‘caught something of the anguish’ within him.” “The chap who made it is not a professional photographer. He has never even had a course in photography. His name is Milton J. Pike [(March 14, 1898 – April 11, 1981)], and he is personal secretary, to George B. [“Deac”] Parker [(September 10, 1886 – October 10, 1949)] Editor-in-Chief of the Scripps-Howard Newspapers. Photography is his hobby. He is shy and modest and likes people just as Ernie did.” “Wanted To Take Picture” “Milton Pike had for a long time wanted to take a picture of Ernie Pyle. So on the reporter’s return from the Sicilian campaign, he took his R. B. Graflex in to try his luck. Lighting conditions were poor, and under difficulties he tried four ‘posed’ shots. Dissatisfied and a little desperate, Milton asked if he might try just one more take, and suggested to Ernie that he continue with his conversation. Ernie immediately rejoined, ‘You know, I take the best picture when I’m in conversation with somebody!’” “Caught Pain Within” “In the split second after Ernie’s last syllable, Milton Pike tripped the shutter, and a great picture of Ernie Pyle resulted – one which held that tired, hurt-inside feeling in the correspondent’s expressive and sensitive face. Ernie autographed two prints for Pike, both of which the amateur photographer considers priceless. The first one reads: ‘Milton, you’ve taken here, weary though it is, my all-time favorite picture. Thanks, and all my best, Ernie.’” “With the picture he penned a note, reading: ‘Dear Milton: Thanks a million for the copies. Your picture caught something of the anguish that I guess was in me. At any rate I still think it a great picture, even if I am the subject.’ On the second picture, Ernie wrote: ‘To Milton Pike, whose deft camera makes me so beautiful. Ha Ha. Ernie.’” “Public Clamors for Copies” “The public appreciated Milton Pike’s revealing study of Ernie. They clamored for use of the portrait. Pike was overwhelmed by the sudden stream of telephone calls and written requests begging for the right to reproduce the picture which was to become the most-published likeness of the famed reporter. But Milton could not find it in his heart to make a commercial thing out of the picture of his friend, Ernie Pyle. He released it to the press and it took wings across the nation – with only a credit line as recompense.” “It appeared in posters of the Third War Loan campaign, in LIFE Magazine, on book covers and advertisements, in hundreds of newspapers, school papers, magazines and window displays.” “The Washington Daily News, following Ernie’s death, made up a total of 10,000 lithographed reprints to pass out free to readers. The Cleveland Press had several thousand copies made for distribution. The Army Times, a magazine, lithographed 10,000 copies. A 16×20 enlargement hangs in the entrance of the Daily News building in Washington, where Ernie spent many years of his newspaper life. It is autographed, ‘To my old friends at The Washington Daily News.’” “Milton Pike, who shot the most-used picture of Ernie Pyle, is forty-five years of age. He was born in White Haven, went through Brooklyn Public schools. He started work upon completion of one year of high school. He has been employed with Scripps-Howard Newspapers since 1933 and has engaged in photography as a hobby for about fifteen years.” “Sold First Picture for Five Dollars” “Pike sold his first picture in 1932 for five dollars. Since that time he has had a total of sixty-seven different photographs published. Among the outstanding ones are pictures of the late Raymond Clapper, Roy W. Howard, Joan Langan (in the child custody case), the Empire State Building, and a widely-published, beautifully composed reproduction of the cherry blossoms in Washington, D. C. In the Marshall Photo Oil Colors contest. Pike’s entry, ‘Little Indian Chief,’ won an honorable mention, being named from approximately 4,000 entries. Pike also has authored several articles for camera magazines.” | |
| Image Filename | wwii0494.jpg |
| Image Size | 977.37 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 3000 x 4010 |
| Photographer | Milton J. Pike |
| Photographer Title | |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | September 8, 1943 |
| Location | |
| City | New York |
| State or Province | New York |
| Country | United States |
| Archive | Library of Congress |
| Record Number | LC-USZ62-61128 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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