The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-05-08
With Ernie Pyle
By ERNIE PYLE

BY ERNIE PYLE
LONDON,-(by wireless)-About
the most touching thing that has
ever happened to me, I think, hap
pened in Casablanca.
One afternoon there was a knock
at my hotel door. When opened
it, in walked six soldiers. Two OF
them l had known in Italy. They
were in a predicament.
They we're at a camp outside
Casablanca, on thier way back to
America for specialized training.
They were front-liners, men who
had been through the mill. Most
Of them mad been overseas for
nearly two years. They, were spe-
cially selected men, and carried
in their pockets official orders
sending them home.
But they had got as far as Casa
blanca and then hit one OF those
famous Army dead.end streets
They had been frozen" The de-
tails are too involved to explain
It WASH. Any body's fault in Casa
blanca. 1t was just one Of those
things. But they had become 81
ficially lost.
For weeks they had pleaded, ~.
pealed, explored every approach
imaginable, to try and get them
selves unfrozen ard on the way
they just couldn't find out any.
thing. Trey had exhausted all their
possibilities and were just sitting
there without hope. They were
truly despel ste. Then they heard
l was in town. and with a new
ray of hop. came to see me.
These SIX had been chosen as
presen:atlves of 100 such mer
out at the camp. AS I say, I had
known tHc of them in Italy-Mas
ter sergt. James knight, Of Okla
hona, and Pvt. Ger ard Stillwell
Of Minnesota. I knew they were
swell boys and true veterans.
Now it happened that in Casa
blanca had SOME ole time friends
who were i1etty hign-rAnking Of
ficers. So 1 picked up the phone
and told oae of them the story
He was full Colonel, and wher
he heard the story he was furious
He asked it could bring my sol
6ier friends and meet him al the
Red Cross Club immedia .:y.
So we met. The big Red Cross
lobby was trll of soldiers. readine
or talking or loafing. Officers
aren't supposed to come into ar
enlisted mems club, ou' nobody
seemed to say any attentlo. to IT,
Colonel.
Out Of n! six boys / chose the
two I had known in Ita y to talk
to the Cc,enel. The 70 /: others
sat at distance.
The Co onei is hand Jmc anc
straight, silver.haired out young.
ish anu g very vital kind o; man
He is the kind real soldie 5 trus,
and are proud to say Sir" to
Sergeant knight sat On the edge
OF a deep leather chair facing the
Colonel, and Private Stillweu knel
on the floor in front of him, anc
they told their story. Their great
sincerity and desperation showed
! in every word they said.
The Colonel took some notes as
they talked, and asked some blunt
and pointed questions.
For the first time in six weeks
the boys had found somebody who
gave a damn. The Colonels in
terest was electric. Aaold soldiers
they could instantly sense that
here was an officer who meant
business.
They finished, and then he said:
''1'l get a decision on this.
promise that by tomorrow night
you will know one way or the
other Don't get up too much hope.
You might be sent back to your
outfits instead Of going horne But
at least you'll know right away"
That was all the boys wanted.
They had got to the point where
they didn't much care whether
they got horne or not. AL they
wanted was for somebody to re-
cesnize that they existed.
/ left Africe that night, 50 !
don't know what the decision was.
But I have enough faith in my
friend to feel positive that some
immediate decision was obtained.
The Colonel was busy. and IS