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.
UPDATE:
The author of the article has now been made aware of the outcome of WWII.
No word yet on whether anyone's broken the news to the Chronicle's copy editor.
UPDATE II:
The retraction.
(Via Lucianne.)
Posted by floridacracker at May 29, 2005 07:21 PMI 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.
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.