With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa

Written by E. B. Sledge

Narrated by George Wilson

This modern classic of military history has been called "one of the most important personal accounts of war that I have ever read" by distinguished historian John Keegan. Author E.B. Sledge served with the First Marine Division during WWII, and his first-hand narrative is unsurpassed in its sincerity. Sledge's experience shows in this fascinating account of two of the most harrowing and pivotal island battles of the Pacific theater. On Peleliu and Okinawa the action was extremely fierce. Amidst oppressive heat and over land obliterated by artillery shells, the combat raged ferociously. Casualties were extreme on both sides, and by the time the Americans had broken through at Okinawa, more than 62,000 Japanese soldiers were dead. Against military policy, Sledge scribbled notes and jammed them into his copy of the New Testament. Those notes form the backbone of what Navy Times said "has been called the best World War II memoir of an enlisted man." The rich tones of narrator George Wilson enhance the drama of this frank and astonishing chronicle.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 23, 2010
• ISBN: 9781449833466

Reviews for With the Old Breed

[Tony Brooks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My personal patriotism has grown stronger than i ever could have imagine. with the deepest gratitude towards the men who served. I would recommend this book to all men , especially young , to allow them to fully open there eyes.

[Christian Schneider · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the best war/military books I have ever read/listened to. Sledge is incredibly descriptive and insightful into both his feelings and the events he experienced in the Pacific war. He is honest and blunt; Sledge does not skirt around the cold hard truth. A must read for anyone interested in military history in general and most certainly those interested in WWII.

[r · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is an incredible book. Beautifully written and sincere. It is the best book I can recommend with regard to the war in the Pacific, which has been sadly neglected, as a topic of coverage by the media, for decades. These men may have suffered the most, as the brutality of the war with Japan, was horrific, as were the living conditions, the many tropical diseases and parasites, that any man who was lucky enough to survive, can attest.

[Schober Family · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Gripping. You’ll want to cry at the end. A must listen.

[kamakirinoko · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is by far the finest war history I have ever read; and I have read it about twenty times, because it never gets old. In case you weren't aware, HBO used primarily this book as the main story for their series "The Pacific," which is possibly the finest war portrayal ever made (along with "Band of Brothers."

Thanks, Sledge! And salute.

[One-Eye Jawa · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very good book and well written. I found Sledge’s personal account to be very good and he vividly describes the horrors of war and what the men went through. Some parts are very gruesome. I recommend to anyone who wants to know what the greatest generation went through in the pacific.

[kslade-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Outstanding memoir of a marine fighting the Japanese in Peleliu and Okinawa. Horrific at times. Makes you appreciate their sacrifice.

[Daniel Bradshaw · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fantastic book. A very unique perspective of our greatest generation.

[John Stringer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

After reading this book, I was left with such an impression of the immense tragedy that Sledge was witness to. I’m not a soldier nor do I understand combat, but I feel as though Sledge described his combat experiences as best as words can convey. He speaks plainly, bluntly, and directly on the nose. War is a waste, no bones about it. If you are seeking a soldier’s honest opinion of war, then look no further.
10/10

[tom arney · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

True accounting of the physical-emotional-spiritual utter horror of war. Yet, mankind repeats it, over and over. American veterans need/deserve immediate support, as they move back into civilian life and vocation. Thank you, Sledgehammer

[kcshankd · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Unforgettable. That anyone survived such brutality to live a full life and die an old man is extraordinary. Eventually watched 'The Pacific' with R, very tough.Also part of a new Library of America 'Pacific Memoirs' collection.

[santhony_35 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is essentially a diary, compiled by a Marine that participated in the World War II, Pacific theater battles at Peleliu and Okinawa, two of the most savage campaigns of the war. Private E. B. Sledge was a mortar man with K Company of the 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. Sledge was no writer and perhaps would have profited by use of some professional editing help, but perhaps not. His “everyman” vocabulary and writing style lends a genuineness to the account, which is harrowing, as you might imagine.I recognized some of the events on Okinawa as portrayed in Band of Brothers. Those of us fortunate enough to have avoided armed conflict, and especially the kind related in this memoir, should be educated in the sacrifices made by those who fought and died.

[whiskey3pa · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A truly remarkable account of 2 of the most savage battles of the Pacific campaign. Written by a mortar man from Alabama. The writing was done beginning immediately after the first battle and ended in the late 1970’s, it was originally published in the early 80’s. If you were to only read one account of the Marine Corps in the Pacific, this would be the best choice.

[nakeeya-787167 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Non-fiction novels aren't big on my reading list despite war history being a major interest of mine in recent years.This is certainly a stand out. Sledge's voice is honest and down to earth, as if you're right there with him as he tells it.

[paul9the9well9read · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

E. B Sledge deftly handles two huge challenges in writing the first hand narrative of America’s two most costly battles.
First, he faces the challenge of conveying a vivid picture of combat, death and inhumanity while not present so grisly a picture that readers could not “stomach” the book.
Second, he faces the bigger challenge of honoring those who fought, especially those who sacrificed their lives, while not dwelling on how totally and completely unnecessary and even criminal the invasion of Peliliu really was.
There really are no words, no description and not even any cinematic presentations that can truly show the horrors of any war, and the war in the Pacific was far more brutal than most. Sledge rises to the challenge by describing in detail sufficient images to give the reader a feel for the total horror. The graphic descriptions of the few situations allows the readers to understand that things are even worse than what he is reading, yet allow him to continue reading the book.
Those who fought and even died on Peliliu did what their country asked them to do. Their willingness to face unimaginable, grueling and unrelenting horrors testifies to the courage, loyalty and dedication they had.
The planners of this engagement, those who ordered nearly 4000 young ment to die failed and perhaps even betrayed them. Peliliu was unnecessary bloodletting. It’s participants did the right thing for the wrong reason, yet they themselves were innocent of the blunder until years later.
The invasion of Peliliu was undertaken to protect the left flank of MacArthur when he invaded the Philippines. On that basis, perhaps the Peliliu action was important.
But the larger issue has been settled by military experts and historians for years. The very invasion of the Philippines was both unnecessary and unproductive. America spilled the blood of thousands of its own and those of other nations solely to satisfy the ego of the narcissistic MacArther who had proclaimed, “I shall return.” And return he did, but for no strategic or logistic gain.
Sledge dodges this issue well and focuses the reader on those who did their duty, who displayed unbelievable heroism and to whom the world owes its gratitude.
Too bad MacArthur himself didn’t have to land with the Marines.

[brannonsg · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

With the Old Breed is a frank, honest, brutal description on the life of a rifleman in the U.S. Marine Corps fighting in the Pacific during two fierce battles of World War II. The author, called Sledgehammer by those he served with, describes the experience as he lived it, and his descriptions smack you in the face with the harsh realities of military life, war, and the physical and psychological challenges faced by those involved.Not to be missed.

[mitchell_bergeson_jr · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is an immensely sombering tale of one Marine's experiences on Peleliu and Okinawa during WW2. In my view, it stands as a testament to the sacrifice, courage and heroism performed by our combat troops in WW2. It also serves as high tribute to those who have fallen for our freedom.

Eugene Sledge recorded his daily experiences on anything he could get his hands on. Against regulation, Sledge secertly tucked away his memories in a copy of The New Testament. He was caught so often with this New Testament that his fellow Marines thought he was more devout than he actually was. After the war, Mr. Sledge wrote his experiences down as a way to share his story with his immediate family members. Later, his wife pushed him to share it with the masses.

For one who hasn't served in war time it would be quite difficult to imagine the sheer hell and emotional toll exerted on the soldiers in the thick of it. Eugene Sledge's memoir of war takes the reader there. He had to endure the interminable shelling of heavy artillery, relentless snipering, unending rain, unforgiving terrain and dark sleepless nights full of the terror of enemy infiltration.

Mr Sledge often remarks in this book about the senselessness waste of human life in war and the brutality of it all. He wonders how an young neurological student could go from such promising beginnings and a bright future to being killed on a remote island in the Pacific. He opines on the audacity and ignorance of politicans who are so eager to send young, often poor, kids to war. There is a unique sensitivity and awareness to this book that is very profound. It's not quite anti-war, but it's definitely introspective about the cost and wisdom of war.

Recommended.

[jespercfs2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Much praise has - rightfully - been given to this book. And I can't add more to what has already been said and written about it.

What I can say is that it is one of those books that leaves me with a lasting impression

I can only recommend it as a 'must read' to any who study the Pacific War - any war, for that matter - as a reminder that 'War is brutish, inglorious, and a terrible waste' (Page 317) and to carry out most of the overall land war strategy was the 'boots on the ground', the rifleman.

[mielniczuk · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Loyalty to each other and to country in the face of certain death, miserable conditions, constant adjustment to miscues from command and control - the true heroes are on the front lines.

[seabear_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sledge is a US Marine from a well-off background who was originally in training to become a Marine officer but chose to go instead as a private. The book covers his training, both in the USA and on Pavuvu awaiting his first campaign, and then the two campaigns he fought make up the bulk of the text: first Peleliu in late 1944 and then Okinawa in mid 1945. There is no detail on anything else: it ends shortly after the surrender and "mop-up" on Okinawa.It's the first war memoir I've read, so I'm not sure how it fits into the genre. He talks openly about his (and other Marines') interactions with the Japanese, and what it was like to live on the battlefield. There is memorable discussion of the heat, thirst, mud, rain, and the smell. I read it shortly after watching the HBO series "The Pacific" and found that the show had elaborated or changed several scenes, which I was disappointed in! But that merely serves as an endorsement for this book.

[luftwaffe_flak · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent account of a WWII indiviuals experience in the Marines in boot camp and in the hellish campaigns of Peleliu and Okinawa. Provides an excellent insight into the fears, the anger, the desperation, and the unusual events and feelings that occur to a man under combat stress. Sledge writes with such neutrality and ease of access it makes it simple to follow yet makes one understand his feelings and the surroundings. One comes away feeling a taste of what he felt, and feeling for he and his mens plight at some of the strategic decisions made along with the anger and the futility of war.

[pencilstubs-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Intense. Heartbreaking. Horrifying. Mind-boggling. This book was quite a read.Sledge’s descriptions of his experiences on Peleliu and Okinawa are incredibly honest and straightforward—there’s no sugarcoating or glorifying war. He puts emphasis on how miserable, ghastly and appalling the fighting and living conditions were, and how wasteful and tragic the immense loss of young lives was. His book is a striking demonstration of how “war is hell.” Despite all the atrocious things he wrote about, he did have some warm, humorous and inspiring stories to share that were a good reminder that he and the other marines were all just young guys, and many of them were quite admirable and heroic. I'm glad he was willing to share his (and the other marines') story so that what happened, what they accomplished and what they sacrificed will never be forgotten.

[lamour_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As other reviewers have noted, this is one of the best descriptions of a battle field I have ever read. The picture Sledge paints of the mud and decaying bodies he dug foxholes in Okinawa will always stay with me when I think of the war in the Pacific. If you are looking for a ode to the absurdity of war, here it is.The HBO series, The Pacific, used material adapted from this memoir. R. V. Burgin whose book Islands of the Damned was also used to make the series was a Corporal in Sledge's mortar squad and is mentioned several times in this work.

[marshapetry · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent. One of my favorite war history books ever. Quite gruesome in parts but, hey, it's about war! One of my favorite things: this book answers all those daily life questions about being in fighting action in a matter-of-fact manner. Really, you want to know what WWII was like for a fighting man? Read it.

[chriskrycho · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A haunting memoir from the Pacific front. Well written, appropriately horrifying, and powerful.

[stbalbach_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

With the Old Breed (1981) is one of the most popular American WWII memoirs, in particular of the US Marines. It contains many of the same themes found in WWII fiction: the path from innocence through experiences never imagined, from boy to man, survival where others perish, an involvement in some bigger event which couldn't be fully fathomed at the time, the horror and alienation of modern war, paying homage to the previous generation (the "Old Breed"). Essentially an allegory of America's emergence from provincial innocence (boyhood) to world power (manhood) through a hardening violence. Thus, it's a "classic" as an archetype of a genre, appropriately for a US Marine named "Sledgehammer". Sledge didn't publish it until 1981 which provided plenty of time for the tropes of the genre to solidify and thus for his diary to adopt the expected form. Then Hollywood did its thing and it became a pop-culture phenomenon. Not to say it's false or bad faith, but neither is it challenging or breaking with (old) conventions, mainly interesting for incidental scenes and anecdote (and thus well suited for the screen). Is there anything in the memoir I didn't already didn't know from 1940s and 1950s WWII movies? As Walt Whitman said "I was the man, I suffered, I was there." War is hell, as the Red Badge of Courage taught us, there are no heroes and glory, just the obscenity of the banal made grotesque.

[ronrose1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It is not often I have to put down a book momentarily because I am overcome with emotion. This story of our Marines giving their all for each other and their country, told with openness, honesty, and without bombast, has affected me in that way not once but a number of times. E. B. Sledge came through the fierce fighting against the Japanese on the Pacific islands of Peleliu and Okinawa, without being wounded although not without the deeper scars only troops who have been in combat can attest to. The book is more a tribute to his comrades and the Marine Corps than it is a history of the war. Sledge tells us that "war is brutish, inglorious, and a horrible waste". This book is the basis of the HBO miniseries, The Pacific.

[haroldtitus · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A broad chasm separates those of us who have not served in the armed forces or served in times of peace from the combat veteran. We can only intellectualize what he has experienced: the fear of immediate death; the horror of obliteration of flesh, bones, and sinew; the dehumanization of conscience; the numbing constancy of endless combat; the inevitable realization that the longer a combat soldier survives the greater are the odds that he will perish. E. B. Sledge's narration of his World War II marine experiences on Peleliu and Okinawa communicate all of this vividly.There are those in public office that refuse to stand at the edge of this separation of experience, that view Americans in uniform as expendable instruments of ideological, unilateralist policy. Standing with them too often are the malevolent, the deluded, and the disinterested. Apart from them are the rest of us. We must heed our veterans' experiences and makes our voices heard.

[robert4huprich · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An incredible first hand account from a true American hero. The way he describes the emotions on the battlefield will give you a new respect for the greatest generation. Just a fantastic book!

[rapikk_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

We recently watched the HBO mini-series The Pacific. It was a fascinating and horrifying look at the American Marines who served in the Pacific theater during World War II. One of the featured Marines was a private named E. B. Sledge. Sledge's journey from his country home in Alabama to the war-torn islands in the Pacific, and his transformation from boy to Marine were powerful stories. As we completed the series, we discovered that Sledge had written a book about his service with the Marine Corp. Eager to find out more about his story, I immediately checked out the book from our library.Sledge's book is a straightforward account of his beginnings as a Marine, and of the battles that he fought. Some of the movements of the troops were confusing to me, as were the references to various Marine regiments and divisions. I'm sure that readers who know more about the military wouldn't be confused at all. But Sledge's account isn't just a retelling of troop movements. Rather, it's his personal story of the sights, sounds, horrors, defeats and triumphs of war. It's graphic at time, but matter-of-fact. As I ended the book, I was overwhelmed with admiration and respect for the thousands and thousands of troops who have served so faithfully in combat for our country.Many of the things that Sledge experienced were documented in the mini-series. If you haven't yet watched the mini-series, I would highly recommend reading With the Old Breed first.