Eyewitness to War

With today's news broadcast on networks and on cable from sleek studios; stories reported by glossy talking heads; most of us aren't aware of the genesis of the war correspondent. When the newspapers and radios were filled with the words of men and women from far-flung locales, and everyone was out in the field. Edward R. Murrow reported nightly from London during the Blitz. He was the most well-known journalist in the world and he was not in a studio comfortably smoking, but was in the thick of things, along with numerous other journalists.

One of them went on to become an international news legend. His image, and his words, were familiar to millions.

His name was Walter Cronkite.

I had the extreme pleasure of meeting Mr. Cronkite, albeit briefly, while waiting for an elevator at my office. He was a tremendous gentleman.

Walter Cronkite joined the dozens of intrepid news folk who spent World War II at the forefront of the struggle. A former radio man, he was recruited by Murrow, who gathered around him a cadre of the best and brightest among reporters. Cronkite went on to cover the war as a UP correspondent from planes and on the ground, including the Battle of the Bulge. Cronkite was also one of the journalists covering the Nuremburg trials following Germany's defeat.

His career encompassed many decades beyond that war. He grew sage and respected and his reporting of what is arguably one of the country's darkest moments is iconic.