Death photo of war reporter Ernie Pyle found

[snopes]

The figure in the photograph is clad in Army fatigues, boots and helmet, lying on his back in peaceful repose, folded hands holding a military cap. Except for a thin trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth, he could be asleep.

But he is not asleep; he is dead. And this is not just another fallen GI; it is Ernie Pyle, the most celebrated war correspondent of World War II.

As far as can be determined, the photograph has never been published. Sixty-three years after Pyle was killed by the Japanese, it has surfaced — surprising historians, reminding a forgetful world of a humble correspondent who artfully and ardently told the story of a war from the foxholes.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080203/...le_death_photo

I've seen this around now thw last few days.
One thing that I don't understand is why he was wearing heavy winter gear?
I know he just arrived from europe, but that didn't happen overnight in 1945, he must have been able to get new gear for that area.
The average Temp ther in April is around 72 degrees.