Lawrence W Youngman: War Correspondent for the Omaha World-Herald

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Full Citation: Douglas R Hartman, “Lawrence W Youngman: War Corresondent for the Omaha World-Herald,” Nebraska History 76 (1995): 100-105 Notes: Lawrence Youngman was, essentially, an embedded reporter with the 134th Infantry Regiment in Europe. As a reporter for the Omaha World-Herald, his photographs and stories concentrated on the daily lives of every day soldiers. His work, now held by the Nebraska State Historical Society, continues to be a valuable resource for the men and activities of the 134th. URL of Article: http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/publicat/history/full-text/1995_War_06_Youngman.pdf Photos: Youngman leaving for Europe; Youngman and his driver Pvt John Robidoux; group pictures that appeared in December 3, 10, and 19, 1944 editions of the Omaha World-Herald; promotion of Joseph F Peitz, Thomas Higley and Cecil D Foster; a training exercise in England with Eisenhower and Miltonberger; French mud; circulation ad featuring Youngman in Europe for the OmahaWorld-Nerald By Doug/as R. Hartman One of the newest acquisitions at the Immediately following the United Nebraska State Historical Society is a States's entry into World War II, the collection of more than 700 photo thirty-five-year-old assignment reporter graphs of the 134th Infantry Regiment applied for a commission in the army. (Nebraska National Guard) taken in Eu The military rejected Youngman's appli rope during World War II by Lawrence cation when a physical revealed he had W. Youngman, the Omaha World a slight curvature of the spine. Disap Herald's war correspondent. Youngman pointed at not being able to serve, originally donated his correspondent's Youngman focused his energy on home uniform, 35mm Kodak camera, press front projects. He helped organize the identification booklet, and photographs World-Herald's scrap metal drive, wrote to the Nebraska National Guard Histori most of the paper's lead articles promot cal Society's Museum in 1990. Although ing the project (for which the World most of Youngman's artifacts and ar Herald won a Pulitzer Prize), and as ticles remain on display at the National sisted in the formation of the Nebraska Guard Museum as part of a traveling ex Civil Air Patrol, becoming its wing intel hibit, his photographic negatives have ligence officer. been transferred to the Historical Soci-. Youngman, determined to playa ety to provide researchers with better more significant role in the war, ap access to the collection. proached the managing editor of the Youngman was born on June 21, World-Herald, Fred J. Ware, in early 1905, in Harveyville, Kansas, where his 1944. Youngman proposed going to Eu father practiced medicine for over sev rope to cover the local angle in the enty years. He entered Kansas State. Uni pending invasion of France. Ware versity in 1923 and graduated in 1927 thought it was a good idea and dis with a B.S. in journalism. After college cussed it with publisher Henry Doorly he went to work for the now defunct and editor-in--chief H. E. Newbranch. Manhattan Morning Chronicle. Following The World-Herald management was short stints at the Morning Chronicle and somewhat leery about sending a re Aviation Magazine in New York, porter to Europe, but eventually agreed Youngman accepted a position with the to the idea. The paper's executives World-Herald in 1929. For the next sev warned Youngman before he left enteen years he served as an assign Omaha that he had better produce once ment reporter and the aviation editor. he arrived in England or he would be re He covered such events as the 1935 Re called quickly. pUblican River flood, the 134th in World Youngman spent ten days in Wash War II, and the 1946 World's Fair of ington, D.C., in late May 1944 being ac Aviation. credited by the Joint Army and Navy Board on War Correspondents' Creden tials. U Accreditation was a long process Douglas R. Hartman is command historian {or the Nebraska National Guard. Youngman leaving for Europe. that included an interview with the FBI," NSHS-PCl720 explained Youngman. The joint board 100 Lawrence Youngman . ~;:~~-">~>~>;. (~."'"~~ , ... lawrence Youngman (left) and his driver, Pvt. John Robidoux of Falls City. The words "Ye Omaha Bugle" are partially obscured by the "Press" sign. NSHS-PCl720 accredited 1,646 American correspon war who was part of Field Marshal strategic aspects of the war. dents between February 1942 and Bernard L. Montgomery's press corps, The 134th's commander, Col. Butler September 1945. 1 Once a reporter had had spotted Youngman's name on a list B. Miltonberger, placed a jeep and a arrived in a particular theater of opera of incoming correspondents. Oldfield driver (Pvt. John Robidoux from Falls tions, the senior Allied commander explained the requirements for receiv City) at Youngman's disposal, giving decided whether or not to certify the ing press credentials in the ETO (Euro Youngman a freedom of movement not correspondent's accreditation and issue pean Theater of Operations) and told all reporters enjoyed. As a result he was press credentials. These identification Youngman where he could locate the able to write about and photograph al cards, which contained the reporter's vi 134th Infantry Regiment. According to most every aspect of the Nebraskans' tal statistics, photograph, and finger Youngman, "This was a great relief to service. Typically, he would go to hospi prints, could be revoked by the senior me because I had no lead on the 134th tals, the front line, sUPR0rt units, award Allied commander at any time and for when I left Omaha." ceremonies, and anywnere else he any reason. "Once you were accred Youngman began covering the could find Nebraskans. He would then ited," said Youngman, "it entitled you to regiment's activities while it trained in gather them together for a group.photo a certain amount of cooperation and re southern England. "My instructions from graph. The 700 negatives in the spect.n All civilian reporters received the World-Herald were to write and pho Youngman collection show many activi the assimilated rank of captain. They tograph the Nebraska Gis and not to ties: church services in the field, firing also wore a standard U.S. Army uniform worry about the grand sweep of the howitzers, card playing, bathing in riv that included distinctive green felt war," explained Youngman. He detailed ers, captured equipment and prisoners, patches with yellow lettering that clearly the 134th's preparation in England for award presentations, football games, identified them as war correspondents. combat, followed the unit to France in ~ training exercises, wounded men in hos Youngman arrived in England by July 1944, and wrote about the pitals, and field inspections by Generals plane on July 5 (the night before the D regiment's battles at St. Lo, Nancy, and Dwight D. Eisenhower, George S. Patton, Day invasion), checked into the Savoy Morhange. National papers such as and Paul W. Baade, Thirty-fifth Division Hotel in London, and received an unex the Chicago Tribune, New York Times, commander. Youngman "used any ex pected telephone call. Col. Barney and Los Angeles Times, combined with cuse to get a man's name and photo Oldfield, a Lincoln reporter prior to the the wire services, covered the broader graph in the paper. n , 101 Nebraska History - SummerjFall1995 Left: The Omaha World-Herald published group pictures taken by Youngman In lis December 3, 1D, and 19, 1944, editions. NSHS-PCl720 Below: The November 25, 1944, World-Herald Included Youngman's photo of Cpl. Herman Poppe, West Point, Nebraska, distributing mail to Nebraskans: Sgt. Carl Gustafson (left), Omaha; Sgt. Westley Anderson, Chickle [Shickley?); Maj. Frederick A. Reed, Uncoln; Sgt. Arthur R. Beck, West Point; Sgt. Frank Boyle, Omaha; Cpl. Poppe; and Sgt. William Kiebel, Lexington. NSHS-PCl720 Opposite page, above: The October 19,1944, Omaha World-Herald carried Youngman's photo of Col. Butler B. Miltonberger pinning bars on Joseph F. Peitz of Hartington, Nebraska. Also receiving promotions were Thomas Higley (left), Omaha, and Cecil D. Foster, Falls City. NSHS-PCl720 Lower right: Col. Butler B. Miltonberger (right) and Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower (center) observe a training exer cise in England. NSHS-PCl720 Lower left: French Mud. NSHS-PCl72D 102 Lawrence Youngman 103 Nebraska History - Summer/Fall 1995 Youngman operated from his hotel while in England and from the 134th's World-Herald Staff Reporter regimental command post while in France. Customarily he would set out early each morning to gather informa tion and take photographs. Youngman's only "weapons" were his portable type F-L-I-E-S TO EUROPE writer and his camera, which he took with him wherever he went. He re turned to the 134th's dimly lit command post each night to write his articles, eat, TO MEET YOUR BOY! and sleep. Youngman typically worked between fourteen and sixteen hours a The World-Herald has sent its ace reporter It's a big assignment, but just leave it to day while remaining as close to the and feature writer, Lawrence Youngman, to Lawrence ..• he'll get the kiod of storiea we're Europe for the express purpose of reporting all thirstiog for.

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