With The Old Breed Research Paper

Lakedra J. Rodgers
November 8, 2011
With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa by E. B. Sledge
Eugene Bondurant (E.B.) Sledge, born November 3, 1923, was a war veteran of World War II who was born and raised in Alabama. In May of 1942, he graduated from Murphy High School in Mobile, Alabama. He then entered the Marion Military Institute the following fall semester. Sledge wanted to participate in the war and was afraid the war would end before his graduation; he proceeded to purposefully flunk out of the Institute. He was then placed into training to become an officer for the Marine Corps. On Christmas Eve of 1943, Sledge, serial number 534559, officially became a U. S. marine. His first tour of combat took place at Peleliu and Negesebus
Corporal T. J. Doherty, Drill Instructor of Platoon 984, was a great example of the importance of preparedness. For eight weeks of boot camp Corporal Doherty required the men to march on the beach in the sand, making it harder and more strenuous for them. Unlike other corporals and generals, Doherty does not engage in negative mental and psychological abuse. Corporal Doherty the highest level of performance from the men at the weakest times, for example, during their sleep schedules he would awaken them and demand unplanned hikes and exercise rituals. He made sure to train the men while they were sleep deprived and utterly exhausted. He also showed great attention to safety and weapons training. Sledge then went on to train for a few more months in infantry training school. Although this training not as stressful, it was equally demanding and intense. After this training was complete, Sledge was deployed to Pavuvu and received additional training that seemed pointless. All of this training was called upon when the United States invaded Peleliu. Other soldiers who had not completed this training or were pulled out of training early for battle were soon regretful. They did not last and were not as well equipped with skills to survive in battle. Some were even killed before their paperwork was processed. Sledge and others who had plentiful and adequate training held steadfast and fought an honorable
This novel is a Sledge’s personal recount of his strenuous training and time spent in battle, including people he felt were important to his story. He begins his story with his enlistment into the marines. He then takes us on a journey through his career as a marine. He greatly details of his laborious, energy-consuming boot camp training, where they were greatly rest deprived, physically and mentally exhausted. He then continues with his infantry training, where he received even more training to prepare him, mind and body, for combat. His focus and emphasis placed on the training he received in the end was a grand part of the development of his story. Once the troops were sent in, Sledge and other soldiers of equal training endured, fought and strategized longer and stronger than their counterparts of lesser training. He went on to document and detail his time spent in Pavuvu, Peleliu and Negesebus. After surviving combat in Peleliu and Negesebus against the Japanese, Sledge was sent to Pavuvu for rest and work camp. His final combat zone was Okinawa; this was his second tour of combat. Needless to say, he survived here as well, thus the end of his war