Reviews

The Press of Battle

"I can't think of a 'greater' book by a 'greater' guy than Jack Pulwers' recent writing on World War II. The two "greats" go together like bread and butter. The book tells the complete story of the top reporters of World War II and their efforts to bring the troops and the home front the facts about the war.

"The Press of Battle: The GI Reporter and the American People" is about real people and real human beings who stood through four years in a lot of flak and took it all very well. Somehow, despite every obstacle they got their stories back to the folks at home no matter how great the odds were against them. The "Press of Battle" captures the very essence of this greatest of all adventures, reporting the bloodiest war in history.

Jack Pulwers' newsline in "The Press of Battle" is the top of the stack when it comes to telling of that elusive search for truth and reality in a war we thought would never end.

In a word, Jack achieves in this book what I have so often told my viewers" the reporter who will 'tell it like it is' will be read, respected and re-read a hundred times over.' This book about the newsmen and women of World War II is one that deserves just that. After picking this book up and reading it, I found there is only one thing to say,''It's terrific".

Howard Cosell

"It's about time that someone came up with a book about the bravery and heroics of GI reporters, photographers, and artists covering the news in World War II. Jack Pulwers in his 'Press of Battle' has hit the nail on the head. My hat's off to this great journalist and his book praising these enlisted men for the hard work and sacrifice they made."

Bill Mauldin, world-renowned GI cartoonist

"The Press of Battle, an excellent one-of-a-kind book, written by Jack Pulwers, and one of the best accounts of WWII journalism. Pulwers' book is the result of more than four hundred interviews and years of searching through military archives to prepare a history of World War II military newspapers like the Stars and Stripes, Yank, All Hands, and The Leatherneck. A must read."

Richard Bradee, Milwaukee Sentinel

"At a time of great controversy between the military and the media, there is a crying need for a book that addresses an especially prickly problem: getting the news to the people who need it the most-the troops. Dr. Pulwers's book fills that need."

James Canan, Sr., former Editor, Air Force Magazine

"The Press of Battle is remarkable because it explains the brilliant journalistic heritage of World War II and at the same time up-dates it into future situations. For communications and World War II buffs alike, this is just what the doctor ordered."

Sarah McClendon, the late first lady of the Washington Press and former White House Correspondent

"The pulse, the beat, the action of combat reporters is here in its most adventurous and dramatic form. Men and women from every branch of service will appreciate this book because it describes their history as well as the news they read about themselves in the war."

Ron Duchin, U.S.A. Colonel (ret.), former Director of Public Relations, Veterans of Foreign Wars

Leatherneck

"The Press of Battle," by Dr. Jack E. Pulwers, is a highly detailed

chronology by a World War II Army infantryman-turned-journalist. It is an

in-depth book brimming with names, dates and events within and surrounding

WW II, which fostered the greatest military print information explosion in

history.

Referring to a time when both seasoned and "green" civilian reporters

rushed to enlist in the services with hopes to make their mark in wartime

journalism, Dr. Pulwers sets the stage for the accomplishments of

journalists such as Ernie Pyle, Milt Lehman, Joe Rosenthal and hundreds of

others. The book describes the challenges of journalists who chased battles

on motorcycles and filed their stories via carrier pigeons. Additionally,

the author addresses the concerns of commanders who had to balance the

security of battle plans and the mutual need for journalists'

self-censorship while providing battlefield information to the American

public. Those same concerns exist today.

Dr. Pulwers details how President Woodrow Wilson paved the way to WW

II by creating the Committee of Public Information to promote the war

domestically while publicizing American war aims abroad. Additionally, the

President established the Trading with the Enemy Act in 1917 authorizing

censorship.

Further enforcing the need for public relations to foster support for

the war and morale on the home front as well as the battlefields, senior

commanders are identified by Dr. Pulwers as genuine advocates of public

relations. General Dwight D. "Ike" Eisenhower is quoted as saying, "Among

all the skills with which a soldier these days must concern himself, not the

least important is public relations."

Dr. Pulwers also focuses on how the "horrible side of the war" in the

midst of WW II was brought home to Americans as the Office of War

Information moved to reduce its association with propaganda. This brought

about graphic battlefield images and actual casualty figures to hometown

newspapers as well as publications like The Stars and Stripes, which, as

with many other military publications, blossomed during the war.

There is a chapter devoted to each military service's public relations

and information efforts with descriptions on how the journalists fed

information to military personnel on battlefields, bases and stations around

the world. The Army's Yank, Navy's All Hands, Coast Guard's Valiant Press,

and the Marine Corps' Gazette and Leatherneck all receive deserved

attention.

The author provides a fascinating description of the achievements and

contributions of journalists, editors, illustrators, photographers and

cinematographers on the battlefields and the future successes of those who

returned home.

Dr. Pulwers' product is clearly the result of his personal interest

and commitment through extensive archive research, detailed first-person

accounts and the collection of hundreds of photographs, sketches and

illustrations, which successfully hallmark the military correspondents of

all services during the information explosion of WW II.

This review was written by the following combat correspondents of the Camp Lejeune Consolidated Public Affairs Office: Capt Teresa L. Ovalle, Capt Kelly Frushour, GySgt Donald E. Preston, SSgt Amy S. Contreras, Sgt Gregory S. Thomas, Sgt Jerad W. Alexander, LCpl John E. Lawson Jr., LCpl Terrell A. Turner and LCpl Cody J. Yard.