The Death of Captain Waskow

Ernie Pyle was a masterful writer who had honed his craft for decades across North and South America when he was drawn into WWII as a traveling columnist. Read his column on Henry Waskow and ask yourself this (feel free to respond to one or more of these--they fit together and should make for a lively conversation if we are all flexible and go with where the conversation leads):

1. How does Pyle start his story? What mood does he set, and what techniques does he use to do it?

2. How does he introduce Captain Waskow? How does he slowly reveal Waskow's character and what does that what Pyle believes Americans are fighting for?

3. What does the story tell us about the emotional bonds soldiers form in combat, and about how they deal with the loss of someone they care about?

4. What specifically did the soldiers admire about Captain Waskow? What does that tell us about what it means to be an American, and what America stands for? (Remember, these soldiers liked an OFFICER! Something had to be going on!)

5. Ultimately, what did Captain Waskow value, and how did he want himself and others to live their lives? What does that tell us about what it means to be an American, and what America stands for?