Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Software, E-Resource Audio Recording Ralph Reeves Pyle, Jr. Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945; Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 834th Anti-aircraft Artillery (AAA) Battalion, 516th AAA Battery
- Location of Service: Korea; Pacific Theater; Camp Haan, California; Camp Irwin, California; Hawaii
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/414
A veteran of two wars, Ralph Pyle's talent for photography was nurtured during World War II. Off-duty weekends would find him snapping celebrities at the Hollywood Canteen. Called back to duty for the Korean War, Pyle was assigned to the Signal Corps as Chief Photographer and soon found himself dodging enemy fire while taking aerial photographs of Chinese positions. He still kept an eye out for VIPs, both in uniform (General Matthew Ridgway) and in celebrity sunglasses (Jack Benny), but also took time to document war's toll on the children of the Korean peninsula. After taking pictures of the first round of peace talks to end the war, Pyle was released from his duties and allowed to return home to his new bride.
Ralph Reeves Pyle, Jr. Collection
Interview / Recording
Transcript
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PlayHis hobby of building airplane models equipped him to teach enemy plane recognition. 00:00:32.7 - 00:01:51.7
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PlayDeveloping his photography skills in the Army, snapping the stars on their visits to the Hollywood Canteen. 00:03:06.8 - 00:04:35.5
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PlayDuring the Korean War, Pyle, now a staff sergeant, chose photography over aircraft recognition, which he thought would have placed him with the infantry. 00:08:37.8 - 00:11:13.3
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PlayUnable to document the retreat from the Chinese, since he had not been issued a camera. 00:13:22.1 - 00:15:42.6
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PlayAs a licensed pilot, he was a perfect choice for aerial photography. 00:21:31.3 - 00:23:21.0
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PlayReceived the Bronze Star for his efforts as an aerial combat photographer. 00:23:54.5 - 00:27:09.6
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PlayIn addition to documenting aerial combat and USO tours, he photographed the first round of peace talks; though not credited, Pyle can compare published images to his originals. 00:28:23.3 - 00:29:51.9
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PlayHis photography skills came in handy when it came to bartering. 00:34:32.4 - 00:35:45.9
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About this Item
Title
- Ralph Reeves Pyle, Jr. Collection
Names
- Lugar, Richard
- U.S. Senate/Richard Lugar
- McClain, Patricia H.
- Pyle Jr., Ralph Reeves
Home State
- Indiana
Headings
- - Pyle Jr., Ralph Reeves
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
- - Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
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World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 834th Anti-aircraft Artillery (AAA) Battalion, 516th AAA Battery
- Location of Service: Pacific Theater; Camp Haan, California; Camp Irwin, California; Hawaii
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1943-1946
- Military Status: veteran
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Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Army
- Location of Service: Korea
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1951-1952
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran was a photographer in Korea in 1951.
Materials
- Computer File: Floppy Disk [1 item] -- Electronic file of manuscript (collected 2005-08-31)
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of audio recording (collected unknown)
- Audio: Audio Cassette [2 items] -- Reference copy (collected unknown)
- Manuscript: Clippings [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2000-06-25)
- Photograph: Original photographic print [22 items] -- Photograph (collected unknown)
- Photograph: Mixed (Multiple types of photographs) [40 items] -- Photograph (collected 1951)
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected unknown)
- Video: VHS [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected unknown)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/414
Cite as
- Ralph Reeves Pyle, Jr. Collection (AFC/2001/001/414), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- audio
- image
- online text