With the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa

Synopsis

'Of all the books about the ground war in the Pacific, (With the Old Breed) is the closest to a masterpiece.' - The New York Review of Books 'One of the most arresting documents in war literature.' - John Keegan, in The Second World War E.B. Sledge's memoir of his experience fighting in the South Pacific during World War II is powerful because of its honesty and compassion. With the Old Breed presents a stirring, personal account of the bravery of the Marines in the battles at Peleliu and Okinawa. Eugene Bondurant Sledge 'Sledgehammer' joined the Marines the year after the bombing of Pearl Harbour and from 1943 to 1946 endured the events recorded in this book. Sledge enlisted out of patriotism and youthful courage but once he landed on the beach at Peleliu, it was purely a struggle for survival. Based on the notes he kept on slips of paper tucked secretly away in his New Testament, he simply and directly recalls those long months, mincing no words and sparing no pain. The reality of battle meant unbearable heat, deafening gunfire, unimaginable brutality and, above all, constant fear. Sledge still has nightmares about 'the bloody, muddy month of May on Okinawa.' He also tellingly reveals the bonds of friendship formed that will never be severed. Sledge's account of other marines, even complete strangers, sets him apart as a memoirist of war. Read as sobering history or as high adventure, this is a moving chronicle of action and courage. About the Author E. B. Sledge was born and grew up in Mobile, Alabama. His father, a physician, taught him to hunt and to describe his surroundings. Sledge enlisted in the US Marine Corps and was sent to the Pacific Theatre. He fought at Peleliu and Okinawa where some of the fiercest battles of WWII took place. Although he survived it took him years to recover from the psychological wounds from that experience. He has since pursued his studies in all manner of subjects, earning a PhD in Zoology at the University of Florida.

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Summary

Chapter 1: The Island

* E Company of the 5th Marine Regiment arrives on Peleliu, a nightmarish island with towering coral ridges and deep ravines.
* The Marines face intense Japanese fire as they land on the beach, but they manage to secure a foothold.
* Example: Private First Class Eugene Sledge describes the landing as "like a scene from hell, with the roar of artillery, the screams of the wounded, and the smell of gunpowder."

Chapter 2: The Ridge

* The Marines fight their way up the treacherous slopes, facing fierce resistance from Japanese soldiers hidden in bunkers and caves.
* The battle is a bloody stalemate, with the Marines taking heavy casualties and the Japanese refusing to surrender.
* Example: Sergeant John Basilone, a Medal of Honor recipient, leads his men in a desperate charge that captures a key hilltop.

Chapter 3: The Valley

* The Marines finally break through the Japanese defenses and reach the valley, where they face even more intense fighting.
* The battle rages for days, with the Marines suffering heavy casualties from enemy snipers and machine guns.
* Example: Corporal Robert Leckie is wounded in the valley and witnesses the horrific aftermath of battle.

Chapter 4: The Aftermath

* The Marines eventually secure Peleliu, but the victory comes at a heavy price.
* The battle has left the island devastated, with thousands of American and Japanese soldiers dead or wounded.
* Example: Private First Class Robert Conroy recounts the horrors of cleaning up the battlefield and burying the dead.

Chapter 5: Okinawa

* The Marines are deployed to Okinawa, the last major battle of the Pacific War.
* The island is heavily fortified by the Japanese, and the fighting is intense and bloody.
* Example: Corporal Eugene Sledge witnesses the horrors of suicide charges by Japanese soldiers.

Chapter 6: The Sugar Loaf

* The Marines face a particularly challenging battle at Sugar Loaf Hill, a heavily fortified Japanese stronghold.
* After days of intense fighting, the Marines finally capture Sugar Loaf, but not without suffering heavy losses.
* Example: Private First Class George Wilson is killed in the battle, becoming one of the last Marines to die in World War II.

Chapter 7: The Beachhead

* The Marines establish a beachhead on Okinawa and fight their way inland, facing fierce Japanese resistance.
* The battle continues for months, with the Marines slowly but surely pushing the Japanese back.
* Example: Private First Class Jim Moffett is wounded in the head and blinded in one eye.

Chapter 8: The Last Days

* The Japanese eventually surrender, ending the war in the Pacific.
* The Marines celebrate their victory, but they also mourn the loss of their comrades.
* Example: Private First Class Eugene Sledge reflects on the horrors of war and the sacrifices made by his fellow Marines.