Hmm, what to make of this?

May 29th, 2005

A Story That Won’t Fly This Holiday

The Houston Chronicle has a would-be moving story about a Texas unit taking the Nazi flag from over the Reichstag on May 28, 1945. Trouble is, it’s common knowledge that the Russians took Berlin. They hoisted their own flag over the Reichstag on April 30, 1945. You’ll find this article right next to the one on high self-esteem being no substitute for study. (Via Lucianne.)

Posted by floridacracker at May 29, 2005 07:21 PM

Comments

I sent the reporter an email asking about this. I also commented on his complete lack of attribution in this story. I assume he got it from the family of Bobby Woods, but he doesn’t say so. I also asked if he bothered to contact any of the other people who signed the flag for collaboration. All of this stuff is standard journalism, but we seem to not practice our craft anymore. I’ll let you know if he responds.

Posted by: Juan Paxety at May 31, 2005 07:40 AM

I kept checking to be sure this was really the Houston Chronicle. I’ll be interested in hearing what you find out from the author.

Posted by: Donnah at May 31, 2005 08:17 AM

LST readers, feel free to help them follow this up– and thanks, Florida Cracker– we need all the help we can get watching the Chronicle, even from folks out of state!

UPDATED 12:08– I just got off the phone with a woman in the Eudy household– she knew why I was contacting her ("People are upset, the Russians got there first") and claimed that Mr. Eudy had written the article "with the best of intentions" but had been "misled". Mr. Eudy was out of the house but given my contact info and encouraged to reply in person and get his side of the story out ASAP; I will keep you informed of any further developments. Let me be clear– LST is not accussing Mr. Eudy or anyone else involved in this matter of any wrongdoing, only trying to find out how this happened.