Summary of Eugene B. Sledge's With the Old Breed

By IRB Media

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.

Book Preview: #1 The 1st Marine Division’s assault on the Central Pacific island of Peleliu was a relatively minor engagement in the overall perspective of World War II, but for the men who were there, it was a bloody, wearying, and painful engagement.

#2 I enlisted in the Marine Corps on 3 December 1942 at Marion, Alabama. I had the month of June at home in Mobile before I had to report to Georgia Tech in Atlanta for training as an officer. Life at Georgia Tech was easy and comfortable, and I didn’t know there was a war going on.

#3 The Dago people – as those who were going to San Diego were called – boarded a train in Atlanta. We were on our way to war at last. The trip was uneventful, but interesting. We had never been west before, and we enjoyed the scenery.

#4 When we arrived in San Diego, we were greeted by a gruff first sergeant who told us which buses to board. We were then taken to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, where we were greeted by our drill instructor, Corporal Doherty.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: Mar 2, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669355069

IRB Media

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Book preview

Insights on Eugene B. Sledge's With the Old Breed

Contents

Insights from Chapter 1

Insights from Chapter 2

Insights from Chapter 3

Insights from Chapter 1

#1

The 1st Marine Division’s assault on the Central Pacific island of Peleliu was a relatively minor engagement in the overall perspective of World War II, but for the men who were there, it was a bloody, wearying, and painful engagement.

#2

I enlisted in the Marine Corps on 3 December 1942 at Marion, Alabama. I had the month of June at home in Mobile before I had to report to Georgia Tech in Atlanta for training as an officer. Life at Georgia Tech was easy and comfortable, and I didn’t know there was a war going on.

#3

The Dago people – as those who were going to San Diego were called – boarded a train in Atlanta. We were on our way to war at last. The trip was uneventful, but interesting. We had never been west before, and we enjoyed the scenery.

#4

When we arrived in San Diego, we were greeted by a gruff first sergeant who told us which buses to board. We were then taken to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, where we were greeted by our drill instructor, Corporal Doherty.

#5

The author recalls how his DI, Corporal Doherty, would march him and his fellow recruits around and make them drill for hours on end. He would also make them clean their rifles several times a day, but they learned quickly and well.

#6

During the first few days of boot camp, the recruits were constantly harassed by their DI. The DI would make them do ridiculous exercises instead of going to lunch, and when they returned, they would have to do even more push-ups.

#7

The training was thorough and effective. We were divided into two-man teams the first week for dry firing, or snapping-in. We concentrated on proper sight setting, trigger squeeze, calling of shots, and use of the leather sling as a shooting aid.

#8

The training was hard, and I was constantly being harassed by the drill instructors, but I was also constantly being praised for my progress. By the end of eight grueling weeks, it had become clear that the DIs had done their jobs well.

#9

On 24 December 1943, the last day of boot camp, we were graduationized as Marines. We were fated to fight the war first hand. We were cannon fodder.

#10

At Camp Elliott, we were given the freedom to explore the area. We spent the first few days there at lectures and demonstrations dealing with the various weapons in a Marine infantry regiment. We were amazed at how free we were.

#11

The 60mm mortar is a muzzle-loaded high-angle-fire weapon that is effective against enemy