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Rick Bray with Hasbro's new Ernie Pyle commemorative figure.
Ernie Pyle, the famous Scripps Howard newspaper columnist who hit the shores of Normandy with troops during World War II, now is hitting the shelves at a store near you.
"I was really surprised and pleased when Hasbro called asking about making an Ernie Pyle doll," said Rick Bray, Ernie Pyle State Historic Site manager.
"Ernie will be reaching new audiences. Kids who never heard of Ernie Pyle will be playing with his doll," said Bray. Bray assisted Hasbro designers by providing photographs of Pyle and suggestions for the doll's accessories. Instead of a gun, GI Ernie carries a typewriter, a shovel and a Coleman stove.
Released in April, GI Ernie Pyle is part of the GI Joe Normandy Invasion collection. The doll, which retails for about $20, is available at discount and toy stores nationwide.
A civilian journalist, Pyle was famous for living with and writing about the regular GIs. He was loved by millions of readers and his column was published in more than 800 newspapers by the time he was killed by a Japanese machine gunner near the end of World War II.
Ernie Pyle State Historic Site is in Dana, Ind. Information, 765-665-9312.
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