Aloha,

On April 18, 2025, the Ernie Pyle Legacy Foundation will host the Ernie Pyle 80th Anniversary Memorial in Honolulu at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. This ceremony is to commemorate the death of World War II Scripps-Howard feature columnist and war correspondent Ernie Pyle, who was killed in 1945. 

This tradition was established in 1949, the year Ernie Pyle was interred at the Punchbowl National Cemetery in Honolulu. At the time, a eulogy was written and read by Buck Buchwach, the editor of the Honolulu Advertiser. This carried on every 5 years until the 1990s. In 2015, the Ernie Pyle LegacyFoundation renewed the ceremony, to continue every 5 years. In lieu of a 2020 event due to the pandemic, the VFW and American Legion held a belated ceremony in 2021.

Now in 2025, April 18th, known as Ernie Pyle Remembrance Day, is here. The ceremony to honorErnie will be held at 10am at the National Cemetery of the Pacific. The Memorial Address will be given by Suzanne Vares-Lum, the Director at Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies.Other notable speakers include Jason Seal, the VFW Senior Vice Commander and CR Drumheller, theCommander of the American Legion Post 17. 

Following the ceremony, the Ernie Pyle Legacy Foundation will be hosting a luncheon at 12pm at the Oahu Veterans Center. Members of the community and guests of the ceremony are invited to attend to continue the conversation about Ernie, and his positive impact on our world today.

In honor of Ernie Pyle Remembrance Day, we are also honoring all veterans, whom Ernie respected so dearly. We also want to recognize all journalists following in the footsteps of Ernie Pyle in their human interest storytelling, which is now more prevalent than ever. 

Written by Gerald “Jerry” Maschinogeraldm@erniepylefoundation.org.

Regards/
“CR” Drumheller

Ernie Pyle: The Voice of the American Soldier in World War II

The history of the U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer (CPO) is a story of leadership, tradition, and evolution within the Navy’s structure. Below is an overview of its key milestones:

Establishment of the Rank

• The rank of Chief Petty Officer was officially established on April 1, 1893, marking a pivotal moment in the Navy’s history. This date is celebrated annually as the “Navy Chief’s birthday.”
• The creation of the rank addressed a leadership gap between officers and enlisted sailors, providing a senior enlisted rank to bridge this divide and enhance career advancement opportunities for enlisted personnel.
• Initially, the rank included nine specialties, such as boatswain’s mate, gunner’s mate, and machinist. Over time, it expanded to encompass other roles like electrician and radioman.

Role and Responsibilities

• CPOs were tasked with providing leadership, training junior sailors, and ensuring discipline and operational readiness aboard ships. They became known as the “backbone” of the Navy.
• Chiefs are expected to be technical experts in their fields and uphold Navy traditions while mentoring both junior and senior personnel.

Evolution of the Rank

• In 1958, two additional pay grades were introduced: Senior Chief Petty Officer (E-8) and Master Chief Petty Officer (E-9), further formalizing the enlisted leadership structure.
• The first Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON), Delbert D. Black, was appointed in 1967, serving as a senior enlisted advisor to Navy leadership.

Historical Contributions

• During World Wars I and II, CPOs played critical roles in training recruits, maintaining equipment, and leading combat operations. They were instrumental in submarine campaigns and major invasions like Normandy.
• Roberta L. Hazard became the first female Chief Petty Officer in 1972, breaking barriers for women in the Navy.

Traditions and Legacy

• CPOs are considered “caretakers” of Navy history and traditions. Over the decades, Chiefs have been entrusted with preserving Navy heritage and instilling the core values—Honor, Courage, and Commitment—in generations of Sailors, shaping today’s Navy.
• The Career Compensation Act of 1949 standardized pay for all CPOs and eliminated distinctions between temporary (“acting”) and permanent appointments by 1965.

The rank of Chief Petty Officer remains a cornerstone of U.S. Navy leadership, symbolizing professionalism, expertise, and dedication to service.