With all the ballyhoo about what intrepid journalist Bill O'Reilly did or did not say some thirty years ago, our sleuths thought it would be a smart move to search out other historic war zone pictures that reveal Bill-O's heroic past escapades.
Little did we realize what a treasure trove of historical delights we would uncover! Spanning the centuries, Bill's contributions are remarkable and we are delighted to share them with you, our faithful readers.
The earliest of all our "finds", this image of Bill standing at the side of General George Armstrong Custer at Little Big Horn is both thrilling and puzzling. History holds that no white men survived this ferocious battle, but we are pleased to deduce that gallant Bill must have slipped past the victorious natives, surviving to fight another day!
Our next encounter with Bill in the arms of history is in 1916, in WWI-ravaged France, at the Battle of the Somme. The fighting in the trenches was brutal, and Bill can be seen in this image struggling to save one of his stalwart companions, dragging him to safety behind the lines. Way to hustle, Bill!
This next image is one of great historical significance. Bill strides through the surf by the side of General Douglas MacArthur on his returning to the Philippines, Leyte Island, 1944. His resolute stance is well-evident, and it gives us a feeling of immense pride that he was part of this grand moment. Not just a mere reporter - Bill is making history!
Jumping forward some twenty years, the next image depicts a calmer moment, as Bill and his unknown companion pause for a cig somewhere in the wilds of Vietnam. As a true professional, Bill knows to "smoke 'em if ya got 'em" when he gets the chance!
Our next discovery nearly slipped past us. Bill is hard to see, but among the gathered soldiers waiting for their "Angel" transports to lift them to safety, you can pick out his familiar profile. Of course, it's a given that he would wait for the final Huey to make the trip. Our heroic Bill always makes sure his comrades in arms are away before he sees to his own safety.
This last image is one that puzzles us greatly. That it shows Bill smartly outfitted in uniform is very clear, but none of our research team were able to place the date or location of this photo. Neither the large, armoured man nor the slight female in white are familiar to us. Rest assured, however, that O'Reilly stands firmly on the side of the righteousness in every conflict!
We hope you have enjoyed our discoveries and if you find some of your own, you will share them with the world. Help spread the word about Our Man Bill!
(Photos altered with no intent of disrespect to the original subjects and any copyrights on the original images remain solely in the possession of the original photographers)