Want to make a difference? Donate to Lend a Hand
Clark County REMC’s
Geothermal gives you the freedom to focus on life
WaterFurnace geothermal systems provide reliable operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year—rain or shine, day or night, windy or not. They use the stored solar energy in the ground to provide your family luxurious comfort and incredible savings. In fact, it’s the only HVAC system that’ll pay you back—and with the renewed 30% federal tax credit1, there’s never been a better time to switch to the Reliable Renewable.
Delphi
Blue Fox Htg & Clg (765) 822-2200 bluefoxhvac.com
Farmersburg
Heady Htg & Clg (812) 696-2396
Flora Camflo Htg & Clg (574) 967-4200 camfloheatingandcooling.com
Fort Wayne Masters Htg & Clg, Inc. (866) 824-4328 mastersingeothermal.com
Greensburg
Wallpe Htg & Clg (812) 663-7252 wallpegeothermal.com
Indianapolis Masters Htg & Clg by Van Valer, Inc. (317) 881-9074 mastersingeothermal.com
Jasper Hulsman Refrigeration, Inc. (812) 634-1492 hulsmanrefrigeration.com
Laotto
T&T Plbg, Htg, A/C & Geothermal (260) 200-4003 tt-ph.com
Lebanon
Blue Fox Htg & Clg (765) 859-0880 bluefoxhvac.com
Nappanee Crist Plbg, Htg, Electrical (574) 831-4630 cristnappanee.com
North Vernon Air One Htg & Clg, Inc. (888) 346-1790 aironehvac.com
Ossian Collier’s Comfort Services (260) 622-6622 collierscomfort.com
Warsaw Colliers Htg & Air Conditioning (574) 203-2492 trustcolliers.com
Waterloo
Gibson’s Htg & Plbg, Inc. (888) 754-1668 gibsonsgeothermal.com
Westfield
Precision Comfort Systems, Inc. (317) 867-2665 precisioncomfort.com
West Lafayette
Blue Fox Htg & Clg (765) 252-0051 bluefoxhvac.com
from the editor
In the footsteps of history
The average Hoosier may not have heard of the person showcased in this month’s feature story. Ernie Pyle, whose popularity peaked during the late 30s and early 40s, is not regularly covered in high school history. But during my time at Indiana University’s journalism school, I became familiar with Pyle’s career.
While I was at IU, I was fortunate to be admitted into the “Footsteps of Ernie Pyle” class. Led by Professor Owen Johnson — a Pyle historian and super fan — we studied Pyle’s life and writings all semester and then traveled to London, Normandy, and Paris during spring break. I had never been out of the country before that trip, and it was astounding to experience different cultures and soak up the history of England and France.
The moment that stuck with me most was visiting Ohama Beach in Normandy, the site of the D-Day invasion. As our class stood on the cliffs overlooking the English Channel, our tour guide explained the struggle of the U.S. troops. As they exited the boats and moved through the cold water, dodging underwater obstacles on the way to the beach, they faced enemy soldiers shooting at them from the top of the cliffs. If they were lucky enough to survive the shooting and the land mines buried in the sand, they had to scale the cliffs, knowing that more soldiers were waiting for them at the top. I thought about how terrifying it must have been for these men, many of whom were younger than I was at the time, and how their bravery turned the tide of the war.
Pyle wrote three columns about D-Day. He was in awe of the campaign’s success but also horrified by the loss of life. Pyle’s writings are the true spirit of journalism. His job was to report to his readers what he saw across the ocean, but his personal touch and keen insight made his columns impactful. For a class of aspiring journalists, Pyle’s columns were full of lessons we needed to learn.
Britt Davis
Editor bdavis@indianaec.org
On the menu: July: Have an award-winning recipe? Submit your favorite blue-ribbon recipe, deadline May 1. If we publish your recipe on our food pages, we’ll send you a $10 gift card.
Giveaway: Enter to win two adult admission tickets to the Indiana State Museum Visit indianaconnection.org/talk-to-us/contests or send your contact information to the address below. The deadline to enter is April 30.
Three ways to contact us: To send us recipes, photos, letters and entries for gift drawings, please use the forms on our website indianaconnection.org; email info@indianaconnection.org; or send to Indiana Connection, 11805 Pennsylvania Street, Carmel, IN 46032.
VOLUME 74 • NUMBER 10 ISSN 0745-4651 • USPS 262-340
Published monthly by Indiana Electric Cooperatives
Indiana Connection is for and about members of Indiana’s locally-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives. It helps consumers use electricity safely and efficiently; understand energy issues; connect with their co-op; and celebrate life in Indiana. Over 311,000 residents and businesses receive the magazine as part of their electric co-op membership. The average printed and mailed cost per issue is 54 cents.
CONTACT US: 11805 Pennsylvania Street Carmel, IN 46032 317-487-2220
info@indianaconnection.org IndianaConnection.org
INDIANA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES OFFICERS:
Steve McMichael President
Dr. Richard Leeper Vice President
Jamey Marcum Secretary/Treasurer
John Cassady CEO
EDITORIAL STAFF:
Britt Davis Editor
Holly Huffman Communication Support Specialist
Lauren Carman Communication Manager
Kiley Lipps Graphic Designer
Ashley Curry Production and Design Coordinator
Amber Knight Creative Manager
Mandy Barth Vice President of Communication
ADVERTISING:
American MainStreet Publications
Cheryl Solomon, local ad representative; 512-441-5200; amp.coop
Paid advertisements are not endorsements by any electric cooperative or this publication.
UNSOLICITED MATERIAL:
Indiana Connection does not use unsolicited freelance manuscripts or photographs and assumes no responsibility for the safekeeping or return of unsolicited material.
SUBSCRIPTIONS:
$12 for individuals not subscribing through participating REMCs/RECs.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS:
If you receive Indiana Connection through your electric co-op membership, report address changes to your local co-op.
POSTAGE:
Periodicals postage paid at Indianapolis, Indiana, and at additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER: Send change of address to: Indiana Connection, 11805 Pennsylvania Street, Carmel, IN 46032. Include key number.
No portion of Indiana Connection may be reproduced without permission of the editor.
Aladdin’s Mediterranean & Middle Eastern Cuisine is a family affair
Native wildflowers add a pop of color to any garden (NOT IN ALL EDITIONS)
On the cover
A sculpture of Ernie Pyle at work was added to the front of Franklin Hall on the campus of Indiana University in the fall of 2014. Learn more about the legacy of this prolific Hoosier in this month’s cover feature. (Photo courtesy of Wolterk, Getty Images)
CONTACT US
Office: 812-246-3316 / 800-462-6988
Outages: 866-480-REMC Fax: 812-246-3947
To pay your bill by phone or inquire about your account: 855-949-3475
EMAIL info@clarkremc.coop
WEBSITE ClarkREMC.coop
OFFICE HOURS
7 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday
STREET ADDRESS
7810 State Road 60 Sellersburg, IN 47172
MAILING ADDRESS
P.O. Box 411, Sellersburg, IN 47172
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
John Biesel, President
Jeff Myers, Vice President
Joe Basham, Secretary/Treasurer
Steve Dieterlen
Paul Graf
Greg Hostettler
Mark Huber
UPCOMING BOARD MEETINGS
Wednesday, May 7, at 1 p.m.
Tuesday, June 3, at 6 p.m.
Tuesday, July 1, at 6 p.m.
EASING THE BURDEN OF POSTAL DELAYS co-op news
Many of our members have noticed slower-than-usual postal service deliveries over the past few months. While a delayed electric bill may not be as critical as missing medication, I understand that receiving your statement on time is important. That’s why we’ve taken steps to ease the burden and want to share some ways you can avoid similar issues in the future.
options to offer you a smoother experience.
• SmartHub App and website: View an electronic copy of your bill, track your usage, report outages, and contact our office — all in one place.
Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/ ClarkCountyREMC
Follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter twitter.com/ClarkCountyREMC
Follow us on Instagram instagram.com/ClarkCoREMC
Follow us on LinkedIn linkedin.com/company/clarkcounty-remc
Many members received their bill notifications through email and our SmartHub app, but we took extra steps to protect all members affected by mail delays. Over the past three months, thousands of late fees were waived, and disconnections for nonpayment were delayed for weeks until we confirmed that bills had been delivered. Fortunately, February deliveries have improved, with most statements arriving in less than one week, so we’re optimistic that mail service is returning to normal.
If recent mail delays caused you frustration, please know we’re doing all we can to help our members through this difficult time. While we can’t control how fast the mail gets to your house, we provide several mail-proof notifications and payment
• Auto-pay: Set up automatic payments through your checking account or debit/credit card to ensure your bill is always paid on time.
• Online payments: Use your SmartHub account or the Pay Now option to make secure payments anytime — without needing to log in or create an account.
• In-person drop-off: If you’re in Sellersburg, take advantage of our drive-thru cashier and night drop box for 24/7 payment convenience.
We appreciate your patience and encourage you to explore these options for a hassle-free billing experience.
JASON CLEMMONS CEO
LINEWORKERS ARE WIRED FOR SERVICE
In the quiet hours before dawn breaks, while many of us are still nestled in our beds, lineworkers begin their day, often clad in flame-resistant clothing, safety glasses, rubber gloves, hard hats, and thick, heavy boots.
They are the individuals who epitomize dedication to service in its purest form. As we celebrate Lineworker Appreciation Day on April 14, this is an important moment to reflect on the essential role they play in our daily lives.
Amid towering utility poles and power lines, lineworkers exhibit a strength that goes far beyond the physical. Whether battling inclement weather, troubleshooting technical problems, or navigating treacherous heights, lineworkers demonstrate resilience and a quiet determination to keep our lights on, our homes comfortable, and our communities connected.
Clark County REMC crews travel across our five-county service territory, building, maintaining, and repairing parts of our distribution system. Their extraordinary skills ensure our homes remain connected to the grid, businesses stay operational, and emergency services remain accessible — a lifeline that connects us all.
In moments of crisis, when the lights go out, and we find ourselves in the dark, lineworkers emerge as beacons of hope. Their swift response restores normalcy, offering reassurance in times of uncertainty. Whether repairing storm-ravaged power lines or ensuring continuity during emergencies, their unwavering commitment illuminates life when we need it most.
Clark County REMC lineworkers also answer the call beyond the boundaries of home. Our crews travel to fellow co-ops, near or far, when widespread outages occur and additional support is needed. Cooperation among cooperatives is one of our seven
guiding principles, and no one embodies this core commitment better than lineworkers.
This month, as we celebrate the remarkable men and women who ensure reliable power, let’s recognize their unwavering dedication to the local communities they serve.
The next time you flip a switch, please take a moment to remember those who make it possible — lineworkers, who are wired for service and dedicated to illuminating life.
By Nash Summers, operations manager
We thank electrical lineworkers for their commitment to powering our local communities.
APRIL 14, 2025
Want to make a difference in your community?
Donate to Lend a Hand, and your contribution helps other co-op members who have fallen behind on their electric bills. It’s a simple, powerful way to impact your neighbors. Assistance goes to Clark County REMC members through local agencies.
It’s a hassle-free way to help, and your donation is always safe, secure and anonymous. Each year, we at Clark County REMC help your donations stretch further by matching each contribution dollar for dollar, up to a total of $10,000.
Payment options (Choose one):
REMC will add a one time donation to your next bill
REMC will add the donation amount to your electric bill each month for 12 months
Donation amount:
Member agreement:
I hereby verify that the information provided is true and complete. I understand that by providing my signature and submitting this form, it will be considered authorized by me.
TELL US HOW WE’RE DOING!
YOU MAY BE ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN A SURVEY
In an upcoming sur vey conducted by Cooperative Insights, some members will be randomly selected to provide feedback about your cooperative
The sur vey will: Take 15-20 minutes to complete
• •
•
Help your cooperative understand how it is doing
Ask about customer satisfaction, your cooperative’s strengths, weaknesses and reliability, and opinions on emerging technologies like renewable energy
If you are contacted, we strongly encourage you to par ticipate and provide honest feedback to help us better understand how we can best provide our members with The Cooperative Difference
THE PATH TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Sealing leaks minimizes wasted energy and utility costs Sealing
When it comes to making a home more energy efficient, many people know that adding the correct amount of insulation in attics and over crawl spaces and basements can make a huge difference. However, sealing leaks is crucial to minimizing energy use.
Air can leak through outer walls, windows, doors, and other openings. A well-sealed home and the proper insulation can save you significant money on utility bills. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that homeowners can save an average of 15% on heating and cooling costs alone by air-sealing their homes and adding insulation.
If you added up all the leaks, holes, and gaps in a typical home, it would be the equivalent of having a window open every day of the year.
Here are some ways to prevent that by sealing your home:
Caulk and weatherstrip doors and windows that leak air. While you’re at it, caulk and seal leaks where plumbing, ducting, or electrical wiring comes through walls, floors, and ceilings.
Install foam gaskets behind electrical outlets and switch plates on the walls.
Conduct a proper inspection around your home. Look for dirty spots in any visual insulation, ceilings, and carpets to check for leaks and mold. These spots could indicate a leak at interior wall or ceiling joints and wall or floor joists. Low-expansion spray foam and caulking can solve most of these issues.
Replace single-pane windows with more efficient double-pane, low-emissivity windows or use foam sealant on larger gaps around windows or baseboards where air may leak. Another option is to
use shrink-to-fit plastic wrap over existing windows.
Replace exterior door bottoms and thresholds with ones that have pliable sealing gaskets.
Seal leaks around fireplace chimneys, furnaces, and gas water heater vents with sheet metal or sheetrock and furnace cement caulk.
Keep the fireplace flue damper tightly closed when not in use. Flues can also warp and break, creating a path for air loss. If that’s the case, you could seal the flue when not in use with an inflatable chimney balloon.
Check your dryer vent to be sure it is not blocked, saving energy and preventing a fire.
These changes can make a difference, no matter the time of year or the weather outside.
Contact your co-op for more information on making your home more efficient.
by Jessica Kaufer Member and Energy Solutions Specialist Clark County REMC
county feature
In the early 1800s, Fayette County became a place for settlers after land was purchased from Native Americans through treaties like the 1809 Treaty of Fort Wayne. This cleared the way for new communities to grow and develop in southeastern Indiana, which was once part of the larger Northwest Territory.
Fayette County COUNTY FACTS
SUDOKU’S PUZZLING ORIGIN STORY
Howard Garns, an American architect from Connersville, Indiana, created Number Place — the logic puzzle later known as Sudoku. Garns designed it while working at Daggett architecture firm in Indianapolis. In May 1979, Dell Pencil Puzzles and Word Games published Number Place without crediting him. Will Shortz, a crossword compiler for The New York Times, later identified Garns as its creator by noting his name in the magazine’s contributor list whenever Number Place appeared. The puzzle gained popularity in Japan in the 1980s, where it was renamed Su Doku. Garns died of cancer in 1989 before Sudoku became a global phenomenon when The Times of London printed it in 2004.
FEATHERED FRIENDS IN CONNERSVILLE
The Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary, managed by the Indiana Audubon Society, is a notable birding destination in southeastern Indiana. The sanctuary is named after Mary, the daughter of Finley and Alice Gray. When Mary died of a typhus-related brain infection in 1940, her parents donated 264 acres of their land to the Indiana Audubon Society in her memory. More than 110 bird species have been spotted across the sanctuary’s 700 acres in Connersville. Visitors can hike the sanctuary’s forests and wetlands while observing bird conservation first-hand with Saw-whet owl banding in the fall and hummingbird banding in the summer.
ALL ABOARD INDIANA’S SCENIC RAILWAY
The Whitewater Valley Railroad is a nonprofit museum with a preserved 1950s-era branch line railroad. Known as “Indiana’s Best Scenic Railway,” the railroad traces its roots back to the mid-1800s when it was a vital transportation route connecting towns and industries in southeastern Indiana. Now, the train operates April through December, departing from Connersville’s Grand Central Station and journeying to Metamora, a historic canal town offering a glimpse into 19th-century life. Visitors can explore nearly 40 unique shops and restaurants, stroll along the canal, or discover the only operational wooden aqueduct in the United States.
FOUNDED: 1819
NAMED FOR: Marquis de la Fayette, a French military officer in the American Revolutionary War
POPULATION: 23,398
COUNTY SEAT: Connersville
INDIANA COUNTY NUMBER: 21
Connersville
Nicole Thomas is a freelance writer from Indianapolis.
Photo courtesy of Kameron Perensovich
Photo courtesy of Whitewater Valley Railroad
HELP US IMPROVE THE MAGAZINE
The staff of Indiana Connection is continually working to make the magazine the best it can be. Every three years, Indiana Connection works with an independent research firm to survey our readers on various aspects of their lives and interests and their relationship to the magazine.
This year, the survey will be sent in print and digital forms to randomly selected readers. If you receive this survey, please take a few minutes to fill it out and send it back. The research firm will receive your answers, so the responses are anonymous.
Thank you for helping to guide the direction of Indiana Connection!
Indy’s backyard
Retreat from the hustle or revel in wonder in this unique pocket of downtown Indianapolis
Downtown Indianapolis’s easy-totraverse grid system harbors a generous reward for those venturing toward its west end: White River State Park. The urban escape is home to miles of trails, pockets of wonder, and world-class attractions, making it a must-visit for your 2025 calendar.
Natural wonders
Whether you’re escaping from your cubicle or destined to explore downtown, White River State Park provides a breath of fresh air. Stroll the Canal Walk, making an already easy 3-mile loop even more fun. Pause to peruse the season’s flora, cruise the Canal on a gondola, or rent a bike to cover more ground. Don’t miss the Old Washington Street Bridge, formerly part of the Historic National Road, now a pedestrian bridge connecting the Indianapolis Zoo and White River Gardens to the park, featuring stunning artwork to admire and interact with along the way.
Awaken history
If you want to learn about Indiana, you’re in the right place. Take the free 92 County Walk outside of the Indiana
State Museum, and inside, go from the Ice Age to the unknown, celebrating Indiana through the ages. The Eiteljorg Museum boasts the Midwest’s best Native American and Western art collections. The museum tells the story of Indiana’s indigenous peoples through art, artifacts, and historic photos. At the NCAA Hall of Champions, get in the game with hands-on displays and sports simulators that help you feel a part of the action. You could also relive your glory days with one last free throw at the museum’s retro gym.
Rock on
There’s no replacement for live music, and there’s nothing better than hearing your favorite band at The Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park. The completely reimagined and updated venue reopened in 2021, featuring a permanent facility with lawn and reserved seats, state-of-theart amenities, and a welcoming guest experience. See your favorite artists on the venue’s summer concert lineup or go all-in with a season ticket for a summer you will never forget.
White River State Park is open daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Find events, attractions, and a park map at whiteriverstatepark.org.
Natalie Derrickson is a writer based in Indianapolis.
Photos courtesy of White River State Park
The Everwise Amphitheater
Indianapolis Zoo
BE MINDFUL WHEN DRIVING THROUGH WORK ZONES
According to the Indiana Department of Transportation, 269 people have been killed in work zones accidents over the past decade. Victims include motorists and workers. In 2023, according to work zone crash data, 33 people were killed, and more than 1,750 were injured in INDOT work zones.
National Work Zone Awareness Week (April 21-25) aims to remind motorists to be careful around those whose jobs put them along the roadways. Work zones also include utility crews who work along the roadsides to build, repair, and maintain the network of electric power lines. Sometimes, crews can be around the next corner or just over the hill — day or night.
“All motorists need to keep in mind that our crews can be working at any hour, so they need to be careful when they see signs and flaggers,” said Jon Elkins, vice president of safety, training, and compliance at Indiana Electric Cooperatives.
When motorists see the orange diamondshaped work zone warning signs and vehicles with flashing lights, they should slow down and prepare for the zone ahead.
Indiana law requires motorists to approach cautiously and change lanes away from emergency vehicles if they can do so safely. If not, they should reduce their speed to 10 mph under the posted speed limit and proceed with caution. Motorists should not stop in the roadway; this could cause a rear-end collision with other vehicles.
Violating the law can result in a fine and a suspended license. Steeper penalties, including jail time, are enforced for infractions within work zones.
Though move-over laws are only for emergency vehicles, drivers
should always be courteous to those parked on the shoulder. Give them room to safely repair their vehicles and help prevent tragedies.
“Our workers already face dangers on the jobs,” added Elkins. “We ask motorists to please not add to that danger by speeding or driving recklessly so closely by them.”
Rear-end crashes are the most common type of accident in work zones. Nationally, four out of five people killed in work zones are drivers and passengers. Here’s something else to remember: It takes just one more minute to travel through a two-mile work zone at 45 mph than 65 mph.
Chris Adam is a freelance writer from Lafayette. Source: nwzaw.org, in.gov/ indot/safety/work-zone-safety
Dessert FOR one
These small-scale desserts will satisfy your sweet tooth, no sharing required
3 Tbsp flour
3 Tbsp brown sugar
3 Tbsp cocoa powder
3 Tbsp canola oil
3 Tbsp water
1 tsp vanilla
Pinch of salt
In a microwave-safe coffee mug, combine all of the ingredients. Microwave on high for 60 to 75 seconds, depending on the type of microwave. When fully cooked, a wooden toothpick should come out mostly clean. Cool slightly before eating. Top with ice cream or cool whip, if desired.
MINI PUMPKIN DUMP CAKE
Patricia Piekarski, Harvey, Illinois
CAKE
½ cup pumpkin puree
¼ cup milk
¼ cup granulated sugar
½ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp nutmeg
1 egg
TOPPING 1 ⁄ 3 cup flour 1 ⁄ 3 cup granulated sugar ¼ tsp baking powder
2 Tbsp butter, room temperature
2 Tbsp chopped nuts (optional)
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease a 5x5 baking dish. Stir together the pumpkin, milk, sugar, and spices, then stir in the egg. Pour the batter into the baking dish. For the topping, whisk together the flour, sugar, and baking powder. Sprinkle it over the pumpkin mixture. Top with the butter and nuts. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes.
MICROWAVE BROWNIES Donna Dettmer, Columbus, Indiana
APPLE COBBLER
Alicia Unger, North Manchester, Indiana
FILLING
1 medium apple — peeled, cored, and diced
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp all-purpose flour
1 ⁄ 8 tsp or a pinch of ground cinnamon
½ tsp lemon juice
Butter to grease the baking dish
COBBLER TOPPING
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1½ Tbsp granulated sugar
¼ tsp baking powder
2 Tbsp milk
CINNAMON SUGAR TOPPING (optional)
½ tsp granulated sugar
1 ⁄ 8 tsp or a pinch of ground cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a 10-ounce ramekin or other equivalently sized baking dish with butter.
To make the filling, combine the diced apple, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and lemon juice. Stir until the apple pieces are well coated. Transfer the apple mixture to the prepared dish and carefully spread the apples evenly.
To make the cobbler topping, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and milk in a separate bowl until smooth. Carefully pour this mixture over the apple mixture and spread it evenly. Mix the cinnamon and sugar and lightly sprinkle evenly over the cobbler topping.
Place the filled dish on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any drippings during baking. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the topping turns a light golden brown. When baking is complete, remove the dish from the rimmed baking sheet and place it on a cooling rack. Let it set for 5 to 10 minutes, then enjoy.
America’s STORYTELLER
War correspondent Ernie Pyle’s legacy lives on 80 years after his death
BY BRIAN D. SMITH
Pyle works on an article in March 1944 while visiting the Anzio Beachhead in Italy. (Photo courtesy of National Archives, SC 191705)
Ernie Pyle was an embedded reporter more than a half-century before anyone ever heard the term, sending regular dispatches from the European, North African, and Pacific battlefronts of World War II. The Dana, Indiana, native witnessed the firebombing of London, wandered Omaha Beach at Normandy on the morning after D-Day, and shared in the revelry of a liberated Paris. He ate, drank, smoked, slept, and dug ditches with the U.S. Army, rode aboard a Navy aircraft carrier, and accompanied Marines on an island landing.
Pyle’s columns mentioned big battles, Allied victories, and even the occasional setback. But what endeared the native Hoosier to his readers — all 13 million of them — was his homespun way of chronicling the lives of everyday soldiers down to their hometowns. As he wrote in 1943, “I love the infantry because they are the underdogs. They are the mudrain-frost-and-wind boys. They have no comforts, and they even learn to live without the necessities. And in the end, they are the guys that wars can’t be won without.”
World War II ended on Sept. 2, 1945, but Ernie Pyle didn’t get to write about it. While riding in a jeep on the Japanese island of Ie Shima, he came under fire from an enemy sniper and was shot to death on April 18, 1945 — just six days after the passing of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and 80 years ago this month.
Memorial tributes were issued from all corners of the nation, starting from the top. Newly sworn-in President Harry S Truman said, “No man in this war has so well told the story of the American fighting man as American fighting men wanted it told.” Other dignitaries joined the chorus, including Generals Omar Bradley and Dwight D. Eisenhower, who would succeed Truman as
president, and widowed First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.
American newspapers gave Pyle a hero’s farewell with expansive frontpage coverage and stirring editorials. The Tampa Times hailed him as the “chief spokesman for the fighting GIs” and asserted that “he will rest well — in a glory that will not be forgotten for decades.”
A DWINDLING COLLECTIVE MEMORY
Eight decades later, however, it’s not so much a question of how many
Americans remember Ernie Pyle’s glory, but rather, how many knew about it in the first place. “If you have no memories of World War II, you may not recognize the Pyle name,” wrote a New York Times reporter in 2011, two years after the State of Indiana closed Ernie Pyle’s birthplace. The rationale for withdrawing state funding was that the home — now owned and operated by the nonprofit Friends of Ernie Pyle — had drawn only 1,000 to 1,500 visitors annually.
continued on page 22
Pyle visits Indiana University to receive an honorary degree in November 1944. He is pictured with John Stempel, who led the journalism department from 1938 to 1968. (Photo courtesy of Indiana University Archives)
continued from page 21
But the reporter’s point is well taken, for the same reason that life insurance companies keep actuarial tables. Of the 16.4 million U.S. veterans of World War II, fewer than 1 percent (about 66,000) were alive in 2024, with a median age of about 98 years old, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. As the National WWII Museum website reminds us: “Every day, memories of World War II … disappear.”
That is unless they’re shared with subsequent generations. Author David Chrisinger did his part with his 2023 book, “The Soldier’s Truth: The Story of Ernie Pyle and World War II,” in which he retraced Pyle’s steps through the old battlefields where the Hoosier war correspondent once plied his craft.
But as Chrisinger sheepishly admitted, he didn’t recognize Ernie Pyle’s name the first time he heard it from a tour guide on Okinawa, where he was researching a story about his grandfather’s military service. Worse yet, he mistakenly associated Pyle with a very different kind of military operation. “Is this the guy that they based Gomer Pyle upon?” asked Chrisinger, recalling the cheerful bumpkin played by Jim Nabors in the popular 1960s sitcom “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.” and “The Andy Griffith Show.” Dumbfounded, the tour guide said, “If you want to understand what your grandfather went through, you’ve got to read Ernie Pyle.”
Then again, it’s a safe bet that many of those reading this story would also have drawn a blank if asked to identify Ernie Pyle. Yet the war correspondent was so famous in the 1940s that anyone asking, “Who’s Ernie Pyle?” would have sounded as clueless as a current Hoosier asking, “Who’s Dave Letterman?”
At the pinnacle of his success, his syndicated column appeared in 400 daily and 300 weekly newspapers and was often the best-read item in the paper. The power of his popularity was evident in the dizzying array of career highlights that Pyle experienced in 1944, including a Pulitzer Prize for “distinguished war correspondence”; the publication of “Brave Men” — the third of his four books featuring some of his best wartime columns; making the cover of TIME magazine, which also wrote a profile about him; and the selection of Burgess Meredith, then an Army captain on active duty, to play him in a Hollywood film, “The Story of G.I. Joe.” Meredith’s physical attributes helped him secure the part — the slightly built journalist, who was in his 40s during World War II, stood only 5-foot-8 and weighed 115 pounds.
Pyle was so well known that he even appeared in a 1944 magazine advertisement for Chesterfield cigarettes above the caption: “On every front I’ve covered … with our boys and our allies, Chesterfield is always a favorite.”
It was all heady stuff for the former farm boy whose yen to see the world resembled that of George Bailey, the Jimmy Stewart character in “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
“But Ernie was George Bailey who got out,” said Ray Boomhower, senior editor of Indiana Historical Society Press. That hadn’t surprised Pyle’s family. “He always said the world was too big for him to be doing confining work here on the farm,” his father told TIME magazine. Even so, Pyle spent nearly all of his first 23 years on Hoosier soil.
SATISFYING HIS WANDERLUST
Ernest Taylor Pyle — the only child of tenant farmers William C. and Martha Taylor Pyle — was born in 1900 on an 80-acre grain farm southwest of
Pyle as a student at Indiana University in 1922. (Photo courtesy of Indiana University Archives)
Pyle poses with his wife, Geraldine Elizabeth “Jerry” Siebolds, in the backyard of their apartment building in Washington, D.C., in 1925. (Photo courtesy of Indiana University Archives)
Dana in rural Vermillion County, not far from the Illinois state line. The family moved to a white farmhouse when he was 18 months old, and Ernest, as his relatives called him, resided there until his 1918 graduation from tiny Helt Township High School. In an era before the yellow school bus, Pyle often rode his favorite mare, Cricket, to the school building 3 miles south.
After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve Force. But World War I ended before he could complete his training, so he enrolled at Indiana University in 1919.
Pyle didn’t major in journalism. He couldn’t — IU didn’t offer a journalism degree until 1932. He majored in economics and started signing up for journalism classes as a sophomore. Pyle later said, “I took journalism at Indiana University because it was a cinch course and offered an escape from a farm life and farm animals.” Yet he would serve as editor-in-chief of the IU student newspaper, join the journalism fraternity — Sigma Delta Chi, and become a $25-a-week reporter for the La Porte Daily Herald — leaving IU in early 1923 with just one semester to go.
Four months later, the young reporter was on the move again, this time to the Washington Daily News in the nation’s capital. In 1925, he married Geraldine Elizabeth “Jerry” Siebolds, whom he’d met at a Halloween party, and the following year, the restless Pyle quit his job, bought a new Model-T Ford roadster, took his new bride on a tour around the country, and as he recalled, “wound up six weeks later in New York, broke. Had to sell the new Ford for $150 to get money for the next meal.” After brief stints with two New York City newspapers, he made a momentous decision to rejoin the Daily News in 1927.
His interest in the burgeoning field of aviation prompted him to launch the first-ever daily column devoted to the subject, which wound up in syndication with Pyle as aviation editor for the entire Scripps-Howard newspaper chain. Flying more than 100,000 miles, he tackled topics ranging from airmail pilots to whether passenger flights would ever be profitable and gained no less a fan than Amelia Earhart — who once remarked, “Not to know Ernie Pyle is to admit that you yourself are unknown in aviation.”
A promotion to managing editor in 1932 marked the end of the column, but after three years of office work, Pyle contracted influenza and found his way back to column writing. During a recuperative leave of absence, he hit the road with Jerry and returned to write 11 stories about his experiences. An editor sensed “a sort of Mark Twain quality,” and Pyle soon traded his desk job for a gig that catered to his wanderlust. “I am a roving reporter,” he once explained. “Go where I
please, write what I please, and keep no office hours.”
His syndicated column ran six days a week under several titles, including “Roving Reporter,” “Hoosier Vagabond,” and “Vagabond from Indiana,” and frequently mentioned wife Jerry — variously identified as “the Girl Who Rides With Me,” “That Girl Who Travels With Me,” or simply “That Girl.”
They spent five years on the road, crisscrossing the country 35 times in an era before interstates, roadside McDonald’s, and other amenities that modern-day travelers take for granted. “This was Depression-era America,” Chrisinger said. “He was driving on dirt roads most of the time.”
For Americans struggling to put food on the table, Pyle provided a daily escape with reports from such far-flung localities as Alaska, Hawaii, South America, and the Panama Canal.
continued on page 24
Pyle (center) visits with a tank crew of the 91st Tank Battalion in the Anzio Beachhead in Italy, circa March 1944. (Photo courtesy of National Archives, SC 191704)
continued from page 23
Readers appreciated his folksy writing style, his attention to unsung people and places, and his self-effacing persona — a “prose Charlie Chaplin,” as TIME magazine put it.
REPORTS FROM THE FRONT LINES
But the onset of World War II took Pyle to more distant destinations with life-and-death dramas. Yearning to write more consequential columns, he journeyed to England in 1940 to cover the Battle of Britain. He vividly described a German bombing that left “London stabbed with great fires, shaken by explosions, its dark regions along the Thames sparkling with the pinpoints of white-hot bombs.”
When American forces entered the war in 1941, Pyle went with them. He toted a manual typewriter and submitted several stories at a time by military mail or by having them read over a shortwave radio. His Hoosier roots inspired occasional analogies, as when he compared a group of tanks preparing for battle to “the cars lined up at Indianapolis just before the race starts” and likened Okinawa to “Indiana in late summer when things have started to turn dry and brown, except that the fields were much smaller.” But his most memorable columns detailed the plight and sacrifice of the average GI.
In Pyle’s most acclaimed effort, “The Death of Captain Waskow,” he painted a haunting picture of soldiers mourning the loss of a beloved young officer who perished in Italy: “He reached down and took the dead hand, and he sat there for a full five minutes, holding the dead hand in his own and looking intently into the dead face, and he never uttered a sound all the time he sat there. And finally he put the hand down, and then reached up and gently straightened the points
of the captain’s shirt collar, and then he sort of rearranged the tattered edges of his uniform around the wound. And then he got up and walked away down the road in the moonlight, all alone.”
A LASTING LEGACY
In 2011, the National Society of Newspaper Columnists voted “Captain Waskow” the top American column in history. If nothing else, the honor attested to the staying power of Ernie Pyle in the 21st century, at least among fellow journalists.
Whether that applies to the public at large on the 80th anniversary of his passing is less certain. It wasn’t always so — Pyle’s death in 1945 prompted an outpouring of buildings, roads, schools, and even military equipment named in his honor, including a troopship and a B-29 Superfortress.
Nowadays, Pyle lends his name to streets in Galax, Virginia; Fort Meade, Maryland; and Fort Riley, Kansas, along with a middle school and a public library in Albuquerque that occupies the only house Pyle and his wife ever owned. Two elementary schools in California and one in Indianapolis bear his name, but two others in Indiana have closed since 2010 — the first in Gary and the second, ironically, in Vermillion County, where he was born and raised.
Fortunately, Vermillion County still boasts Pyle’s birthplace and museum
This sign was built by Corporal Landon Seidler to mark the spot of Pyle’s death on Ie Shima. (Photo courtesy of Indiana University Archives)
in Dana. It’s planning an adjoining Ernie Pyle and Veterans Memorial Park — not to be confused with Ernie Pyle Rest Park, which just happens to be located near a stretch of U.S. 36 known as the Ernie Pyle Memorial Highway. Pyle’s name also adorns a travel plaza on the Indiana Toll Road and an island in Cagles Mill Lake. Even Captain Waskow has a high school named after him in Texas, a testament to Pyle’s influence.
Perhaps it falls to current residents of Pyle’s home state to serve as keepers of the flame. In addition to his birthplace in Dana, the Indiana State Museum periodically displays some Pyle possessions, including one of his typewriters.
And nowhere is his legacy stronger than at Indiana University, home of Ernie Pyle Hall, the former journalism school building, and a Pyle statue outside Franklin Hall, where tomorrow’s reporters — some known as Ernie Pyle Scholars — hone their
talents at the Media School. Students can also take an Ernie Pyle class that travels to Europe on spring break to follow his path. “If you ever go to IU [for journalism],” said Boomhower, “it’s hard not to be influenced by Ernie Pyle.”
True Ernie Pyle fans can collect a 16-cent Ernie Pyle stamp issued in 1971 and an Ernie Pyle G.I. Joe, complete with a typewriter, created for Hasbro’s D-Day Collection in 2001. And the 1945 Ernie Pyle movie, “The Story of G.I. Joe,” can still be seen occasionally on cable movie channels — and free anytime on YouTube. Pyle, an advisor on the film, never lived to see it, nor did the movie include his death.
Ernie Pyle will also be remembered this month in a place far from Indiana.
The American Legion post in Okinawa has held a memorial ceremony in his honor each year since 1952. Though Pyle is buried in Hawaii, participants gather at the Ernie Pyle Monument on the island of Iejima, its current name.
The Tampa Times predicted in 1945 that Pyle’s glory would not be forgotten for decades. Although Ernie Pyle deserves greater historical prominence, it’s heartening to know that he won’t be forgotten in this decade. Author Chrisinger discovered as much in 2019 when his online New York Times story about Pyle received more than a million views by the second day.
Apparently, the legacy of the farm boy from Dana still resonates. A 2020 documentary by WTIU, “Ernie Pyle: Life in the Trenches,” summed it
up: “From an accomplished Indiana University alumnus to a celebrated national newspaper columnist to the world’s most widely read war correspondent, Ernie Pyle was truly America’s storyteller.”
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Want to read some of Ernie Pyle’s work? Visit our website, indianaconnection.org, to read the entire column, “The Death of Captain Waskow”. You can also visit erniepyle.iu.edu to read more of his wartime columns and see a photo gallery of Pyle throughout the years. From a small
Adorable reader pets
In the January issue, we asked Indiana Connection readers to send in cute photos of their pets, and they delivered. After receiving almost 450 submissions of pets of all shapes and sizes, our team chose their top 10 favorites. Congratulations to our winner, Cheddar Bay Biscuit! Read on to learn more about our finalists.
Submissions edited for clarity.
Lila
SUBMITTED BY AUDREY MCDANIEL
“Lila is a 3-year-old Ragdoll and loves snuggling, stroller rides, and bird watching. She is obsessed with her 'big brother,’ our male Ragdoll cat, Grayson, and follows us around like a puppy. She is also very playful and chatty.”
Cheddar Bay Biscuit
SUBMITTED BY KRISTIN RIESENBECK
“Cheddar Bay Biscuit is a Feline Infectious Peritonitis survivor. She loves to play fetch and chase ribbons. She enjoys tablet games like smacking swimming fish. Her favorite treat is Churu. You can follow her on Instagram at @cheddarbaybiscuit.kitty.”
Benny
SUBMITTED BY JAMIE BRIDGES
“Benny is a 2-year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi with quite the personality! He loves rolling in the snow and cuddling on the couch. He is rambunctious and uses his voice when waking up in the morning with a rolled growl that sounds like Chewbacca.”
Butterball
SUBMITTED BY ANDREA BATTISTA
“Butterball is the king of our property and will be turning 10 years old this year, which is quite old for a turkey. He is truly a lovable guy. He likes all baked goods and will not turn down any type of pasta, preferring mac-n-cheese. Although he isn’t a traditional pet, he has quite a following of people who have met and adored him.”
Hank, Rosie, and Mr. T
SUBMITTED BY KENDRA STOLL
“Hank in the back is an English Springer Spaniel. The Miniature Dachshund in the front is Rosie. Mr. T is a tan, mixed breed. They are completely spoiled rotten and living their best lives. I had a Springer before Hank and just love the breed, so I had to get another one. Rosie and Mr. T are rescues and had rough beginnings in life, but now they receive unconditional love from us.”
Carlos
SUBMITTED BY EMILY STENGER
“Carlos is a Nigerian Dwarf Wether and my first 4-H goat. I’ve had him since he was a baby. In this photo, he is 8 years old.”
Daisy and HeiHei
SUBMITTED BY KATHLEEN BOOK
“We first got our rooster, HeiHei, and then our dog, Daisy, shortly after. We wanted Daisy to be raised with chickens so she would protect and be friends with them. They quickly became great friends and love to play together. HeiHei loves to run under Daisy, while she loves to roll on top of HeiHei. After playing, they are content to sit side by side. Daisy always looks for him in the chicken coop first thing in the morning so they can be together.”
Leo and Liam
SUBMITTED BY ERIC AND SUSAN NEWMAN
“The yellow cat is Liam, and Leo is the grey cat. Liam was found in a barn a week after Leo was born, and Leo’s mother let Liam join their family. He was super small, and we thought he would be a runt. Well, that didn’t happen. Liam weighs 18 pounds, and Leo is 8.5 pounds. They are super spoiled.”
Ellie
SUBMITTED BY HALEY WHITTINGTON
“My pup's full name is Eleanor Elephant Whittington, but we call her Ellie. She is almost 2 years old and loves fetch, sunbathing, and her baby brother. Although she can shred a toy in a matter of minutes, she has the sweetest and gentlest personality.”
Irwin
SUBMITTED BY MARTHA MARTIN
“Irwin was adopted as a puppy from the Dubois County Humane Society in January 2021. His mom is a blue heeler, and a DNA test showed he is half Great Pyrenees. Irwin enjoys traveling with his human mom, Gillian Martin of Roanoke, Indiana, and has dipped his paws in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in the same year! Irwin's hobbies include catching frisbees, watching birds, and meeting new friends at the dog park.”
MENTORS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Mann and Wilson receive W. Eugene Roberts and Daniel L. Schuckman Memorial Scholarships
Mentors certainly made a difference for the first two 2025 recipients of Hoosier Energy’s W. Eugene Roberts and Daniel L. Schuckman Memorial Scholarships. This year, the scholarship total is being expanded with Hoosier Energy anticipating awarding two scholarships each semester to attendees at the North American Lineman Training Center in McEwen, Tennessee.
Blayden Mann and Brett Wilson, who graduated from NALTC in December, are the first two honorees. Both cited the influence of others in their decision to pursue a career as a lineman.
For Mann, one of those influences was close to home. His brother, Dillon, is a lineman at RushShelby Energy and a 2019 graduate of NALTC, which resulted in several conversations about attending line school. Mann was also influenced by his former baseball coach, Jason Connell, a lineman at Johnson County REMC. Now, Mann and Connell are co-workers at JCREMC. The Indian Creek graduate, who was not only on the baseball team but also the fishing team for the Braves, found a job close to his hometown of Trafalgar at the beginning of January.
Wilson’s story is similar. The Sellersburg native and graduate of Silver Creek, where he played football, moved houses in high school and met a new neighbor in retired Clark County REMC Lineman Dave Casey. With Casey providing instruction and guidance, Wilson studied outside of high school for electrician work and did multiple internships at Gaylor Electric before deciding to go to line school. Wilson now works at ElectriCom, where he started in late January.
Blayden Mann
Brett Wilson
Indiana eats
A rich culinary heritage
Aladdin’s Mediterranean & Middle Eastern Cuisine showcases the Sajaja family’s passion for flavor
Aladdin’s Mediterranean & Middle Eastern Cuisine, near the Ohio River in New Albany, has proven a testament to family passion and culinary excellence. This eclectic and satisfying restaurant has been a beloved dining destination since its founding in 2013.
What started as a small Mediterranean coffee shop quickly transformed into a full-service restaurant, driven by the community’s appetite for authentic Middle Eastern flavors.
Aladdin’s — led by owner Majid (Mike) Sajaja and supported by his wife, Zein, daughters Ala and Nancy, and professionally trained chef son Mohammad — has perfected a dining experience that celebrates a rich culinary heritage.
“We started in 2013 as a small Mediterranean coffee shop,” Mike explained, “but soon after, when we saw the demand for our food had grown by a hundredfold, we changed our business model to full-service catering and restaurant, and it’s been going really well ever since.”
Aladdin’s menu balances traditional Mediterranean recipes with evolving customer tastes, featuring a curated selection of dishes perfected over the restaurant’s decade-long journey.
Their most noteworthy offerings — juicy chicken kabobs, tender lamb chops, and the wildly popular chicken and steak curry bowls — showcase the Sajaja family’s commitment to flavor.
The restaurant also offers favorites like pita bread, falafel, gyros, tzatziki, and imported pickles and olives.
The Sajaja’s take pride in their beautiful homemade desserts, which Ala crafts in-house. Her baklava and baklava cheesecake have become restaurant staples and best sellers. Traditional sides like hummus, baba ghanoush, and tabbouleh — with recipes perfected by Zein and Nancy — complement the main courses.
While Aladdin’s provides a welcoming dine-in atmosphere, the restaurant has found significant success in takeout and delivery, with 40% of
ALADDIN’S MEDITERRANEAN & MIDDLE EASTERN CUISINE
37 Bank Street New Albany, IN 47150
Find them on Facebook to learn more.
revenue coming from customers enjoying meals at home. This restaurant’s substantial takeout business speaks to the family’s adaptability and commitment to serving their community.
As a Jordanian family-owned business, Aladdin’s does more than serve food — it shares a time-honored story, bringing the warmth and flavors of the Mediterranean basin to New Albany. Each dish represents a blend of tradition and genuine passion for sharing memorable flavors.
Stephanie Bernaba is a freelancer with national reach who thrives on topics like food and entertainment.
A spring show
NATIVE WILDFLOWERS ADD A POP OF COLOR TO ANY GARDEN
Take a walk with me as we explore native spring wildflowers that are perfect for most of our gardens, small or large. Here are three ready to present their spring show.
Wild geraniums
Virginia bluebells
Talk about magic plants. Virginia bluebells are my favorite spring ephemeral. They appear, hang around for a while, and then disappear without you doing anything.
Hardy wild geraniums can be found in the wild and are named to differentiate them from hybrid geraniums. The flower varies with shades of white, pink, or blue. It blooms in spring and early summer for about a month and grows well in shade. Wild geranium attracts bees, butterflies, and flies.
Cut back wild geraniums when they are done blooming or if they get too scraggly. The plant’s leaves stay green all summer and change to a beautiful red, purple, or orange in the fall. If the winter is mild, the plant is evergreen or semi-evergreen.
This native perennial easily doubles as a flowering ground cover. It creates a long-lasting mat with multiple seasons of interest and little maintenance. It’s also a good companion for spring-blooming bulbs and adds a different texture to hosta.
Virginia bluebells have stalks of blue, bell-shaped flowers. The oval leaves have purple hues when they break ground in early spring and turn a medium green as the plant grows. There are white and pink variations. Virginia bluebells are slightly fragrant and can be cut for a vase with other spring flowers.
Grow Virginia bluebells in shade to part shade and moist soil. Once established, the plants can tolerate drier conditions. These native ephemerals self-sow, but not in a pesky way.
At 12 inches tall, Virginia bluebells are another good companion plant for spring bulbs, especially yellow daffodils. For a lovely color combo, they can also be planted under forsythia or Japanese kerria.
These plants can be hard to find in garden centers because they look like a pot of dirt once they go dormant. Some retailers carry and ship Virginia bluebells already growing in pots, ready to go in the ground for the spring show.
Hepatica
An Eastern U.S. native perennial, hepatica sports blue, white, or pink flowers for about a month in spring among liver-shaped leaves. It’s a favorite of butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.
Hepatica is a diminutive plant that does best in an area where it can flourish for years without disturbance. Plant it in clusters of uneven numbers in part sun to shade. The low-growing leaves are glossy green, turning a rust color in fall and remaining on the plant through winter.
Hepatica’s texture and form make it a good companion plant with shadetolerant ferns. As a spring bloomer, it also provides an early-season companion with spring bulbs. Hosta, the shade-go-to plant, also does well with hepatica.
Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp blogs at hoosiergrdener.com. She’s been writing and speaking about gardening for more than 30 years.
