This month's Iconic Image is...
Homecoming
Intro
This photograph was taken on July 15, 1943, by Earle Bunker of the Omaha World-Herald newspaper. It depicts a very emotional reunion between an American soldier and his family. Although their faces cannot be seen, it is clear that those in the photograph are overjoyed and very lost in the moment. This image would become a beloved symbol of the lives of military families during World War II.
Part I
In the year 1943, the United States was fully immersed in World War II. There were millions of Americans serving in the military both overseas and stateside. One of them was Lieutenant colonel Robert (Bob) Ross Moore. Bob Moore was born and raised in Villisca, Iowa. He enlisted in the US Army when he was 17 and rose to the rank of captain of Company F of the 34th Infantry Division. On February 10, 1934, Moore got married to a woman named Dorothy Goldsberry. Their daughter Nancy, was born two years later on August 23, 1936.
After the Attack on Pearl Harbor, Moore was one of millions of Americans who answered the call of duty for their country. In May 1942, Moore and the 34th Infantry Division were shipped out to Northern Ireland. They were later deployed and saw combat in North Africa. During a landing in the country of Algeria, Moore (now a lieutenant-colonel) led a successful assault on a German machine gun nest, an action for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
While he was deployed, Moore frequently wrote letters home to his wife and daughter. Like all American servicemen, he missed them terribly and longed to be home with them. His opportunity came on April 9, 1943, when a bomb exploded 15 feet from him. He suffered a concussion and loss of eyesight for several days. With American casualties mounting, and more recruits coming to fill the ranks, the Army desperately needed more combat experienced soldiers to return the home front. One of those selected was Bob Moore.
Part II
At noon on Saturday, July 10, 1943, Dorothy Moore received an unexpected phone call. On the other end, was her husband. Bob told her that he was in New York City and was coming home for a visit. He would be arriving in Villisca on July 15 at 9:30 in the morning. Although poor weather delayed his flight, Moore was able to successfully fly to Iowa before boarding the Burlington Train No. 6.
According to Dorothy, Nancy was so excited to see her father that she hadn't eaten or slept all night. Neither she nor her mother had seen Bob for more than a year. They arrived at the platform three hours early. Also with them, were many of Bob's extended family and in-laws. One of them was his 2-year-old nephew, Michael (the son of Dorothy's sister). Michael's father was also serving over seas (in the Pacific). And he too, was also very excited to see his Uncle Bob. It finally happened almost exactly at 9:30.
Moore didn't know it, but the whole town of Villisca had prepared a welcome home celebration for him. Also among his family were a number of photographers and reporters. One of them was Earle Bunker of the Omaha World-Herald. As soon as Moore had stepped off the train, Nancy immediately ran forward and embraced her father. Bunker took the picture as it happened. He managed to capture Nancy, Robert, Dorothy, and Michael all in the same shot. According to Bunker, all on those who witnessed were crying tears of joy. When they got home, the family posed for second photograph on their porch. For Bob, it was one of the happiest days of his life.
Epilogue
Earle Bunker labeled his photograph, "Homecoming". The image almost immediately became one of the most beloved images taken from the American home front during World War II. One commenter was quoted as saying, "The image is so generic as to represent a whole nation. There is no face to identify the subjects. No flag to tug at your patriotism. No identifying mark other than family love. It could be - and it was - the return of many war heroes across the country and across the world". The photograph instantly became a front-runner for that year's Pulitzer Prize for Photography. In a surprising move, it was decided that two photographs would tie for the award for 1944. They were Bunker's "Homecoming" and Frank Filan's "Tarawa Island".
Earle Bunker continued to work for the Omaha World-Herald until his death on January 29, 1975. Bob Moore was eventually promoted Colonel. He spent the remainder of the war at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he trained new recruits. On September 3, 1945 (the day after the Japanese surrender), Bob and Dorothy's son was born. They named him, Robert jr. (who later served in Vietnam). Colonel Moore later served in the National Guard before retiring as a brigadier general. He then began running his family's drug store. In his free time, he coached Little League baseball. He spent the rest of his life in Villesca before dying on April 18, 1991.
The photograph of Robert Moore reuniting with his family was and still is one of the most iconic images taken during World War II. For many, it represents the love a soldier has for the family he left behind and the sacrifice that every military family makes for those who serve. It definitely deserves to be remembered as one of the greatest photographs in history.
https://omaha.com/photos-1943-homecoming-of-lt-col-robert-moore/collection_c379b426-7210-54b5-820e-fc974da6d564.html#7
https://stevebuttry.wordpress.com/2013/11/08/the-homecoming-updated-lessons-from-a-memorable-story/
http://www.bytesdaily.com.au/2012/05/pulitzer-prize-for-photography-1944.html
https://omaha.com/news/local/history/back-in-the-day-july-15-1943-the-world-heralds-earle-bunker-snaps-pulitzer-prize/article_16ebe580-021a-11ed-88fa-332685038da9.html
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