Ira Wolfert
Encyclopedia
Ira Wolfert was an American Pulitzer Prize
-winning war correspondent and writer.
He was born and grew up in New York City
. In 1930, he graduated from the Columbia University School of Journalism with a bachelors degree.
He then went to work for the North American Newspaper Alliance
from the 1930s through World War II
. His series of articles about the November 1942 Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
won him the Pulitzer Prize for Telegraphic Reporting (International)
. His first novel, Tucker's People about a vicious New York gangster, published in 1943, was well received by both critics and the general public. Wolfert co-wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation, Force of Evil
, released in 1948. That same year, he had another success with the novel An Act of Love. He also wrote non-fiction, including the 1943 bestselling eyewitness account Battle for the Solomons and the 1948 American Guerrilla in the Philippines, which recounts the exploits of Navy officer Iliff David Richardson
and was made into a 1950 film of the same name
, starring Tyrone Power
as Richardson. After the war, he continued to write, mainly articles for Readers Digest.
The House Un-American Activities Committee
considered the leftist Wolfert a communist by association.
Wolfert married poet Helen Herschdorfer in 1928. Their marriage lasted 57 years, until her death in 1985.
He died in Margaretville, New York
at the age of 89. He was survived by daughter Ruth, son Michael, and four grandchildren.
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
-winning war correspondent and writer.
He was born and grew up in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. In 1930, he graduated from the Columbia University School of Journalism with a bachelors degree.
He then went to work for the North American Newspaper Alliance
North American Newspaper Alliance
The North American Newspaper Alliance was a large newspaper syndicate that flourished between 1922 and 1980.Founded by John Neville Wheeler, NANA employed some of the most noted writing talents of its time, including Grantland Rice, Joseph Alsop, Michael Stern, Lothrop Stoddard, Dorothy Thompson,...
from the 1930s through World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. His series of articles about the November 1942 Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, sometimes referred to as the Third and Fourth Battles of Savo Island, the Battle of the Solomons, The Battle of Friday the 13th, or, in Japanese sources, as the , took place from 12–15 November 1942, and was the decisive engagement in a series of naval battles...
won him the Pulitzer Prize for Telegraphic Reporting (International)
Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting
This Pulitzer Prize has been awarded since 1942 for a distinguished example of reporting on international affairs, including United Nations correspondence. In its first six years , it was called the Pulitzer Prize for Telegraphic Reporting - International...
. His first novel, Tucker's People about a vicious New York gangster, published in 1943, was well received by both critics and the general public. Wolfert co-wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation, Force of Evil
Force of Evil
Force of Evil is a 1948 film noir directed by Abraham Polonsky who had already achieved a name for himself as a scriptwriter, most notably for the gritty boxing film Body and Soul . Like Body and Soul, the film starred John Garfield...
, released in 1948. That same year, he had another success with the novel An Act of Love. He also wrote non-fiction, including the 1943 bestselling eyewitness account Battle for the Solomons and the 1948 American Guerrilla in the Philippines, which recounts the exploits of Navy officer Iliff David Richardson
Iliff David Richardson
Iliff David "Rich" Richardson was simultaneously a US Navy Ensign and a US Army Major whilst fighting with the Philippine resistance during World War II. He recounted his exploits to author Ira Wolfert, who published them in the book American Guerrilla in the Philippines in 1945...
and was made into a 1950 film of the same name
American Guerrilla in the Philippines
American Guerrilla in the Philippines is a 1950 war film starring Tyrone Power as a U.S. Navy ensign stranded by the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II...
, starring Tyrone Power
Tyrone Power
Tyrone Edmund Power, Jr. , usually credited as Tyrone Power and known sometimes as Ty Power, was an American film and stage actor who appeared in dozens of films from the 1930s to the 1950s, often in swashbuckler roles or romantic leads such as in The Mark of Zorro, Blood and Sand, The Black Swan,...
as Richardson. After the war, he continued to write, mainly articles for Readers Digest.
The House Un-American Activities Committee
House Un-American Activities Committee
The House Committee on Un-American Activities or House Un-American Activities Committee was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives. In 1969, the House changed the committee's name to "House Committee on Internal Security"...
considered the leftist Wolfert a communist by association.
Wolfert married poet Helen Herschdorfer in 1928. Their marriage lasted 57 years, until her death in 1985.
He died in Margaretville, New York
Margaretville, New York
Margaretville is a village in Delaware County, New York, United States. The population was 643 at the 2000 census.The Village of Margaretville is in the Town of Middletown. The village is on the border of the Catskill Park...
at the age of 89. He was survived by daughter Ruth, son Michael, and four grandchildren.