With the Old Breed
With the Old Breed
E. B. Sledge
Howard Stern
I didn’t understand the full impact of what these guys did at Okinawa fighting the Japanese. That had a big impact on me. - Howard Stern
Paul Graham
Read this book. - Paul Graham
Jocko Willink
Jocko Willink covered this book in "Jocko Podcast" Ep. 10
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With the Old Breed

With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa

E. B. Sledge
By
E. B. Sledge
4.5
2358
ratings on Goodreads

In the heart of the Pacific Theater's maelstrom, E.B. Sledge's "With the Old Breed" emerges as a profound testament to the human spirit's resilience amidst the chaos of World War II. Sledge, a young Marine from Alabama, takes us on a harrowing journey through the blood-soaked sands of Peleliu and the mud-entrenched ridges of Okinawa. With unflinching honesty and raw simplicity, he recounts the unimaginable brutality and relentless struggle for survival that defined his comrades' existence. Through his eyes, we witness the transformation of men, molded by the crucible of combat, who fought not for glory but for each other, in a world far removed from the innocence of their youth. Beyond the visceral recounting of battle, Sledge's narrative is a poignant exploration of camaraderie and the indomitable human spirit in the face of relentless adversity. His memoir, crafted from notes secretly kept on slips of paper during the conflict, stands as a tribute to the valor and sacrifice of the Marines with whom he served. "With the Old Breed" is not merely a tale of warfare; it is a deeply moving chronicle of friendship, endurance, and the quiet heroism of ordinary men called upon to perform extraordinary deeds. This work, hailed by critics as one of the most significant war memoirs ever penned, offers a timeless reflection on the costs of war and the bonds forged in its fiercest moments.

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Released
1981
1 Nov
Length
326
Pages

3

recommendations

recommendation

I didn’t understand the full impact of what these guys did at Okinawa fighting the Japanese. That had a big impact on me. - Howard Stern
Read this book. - Paul Graham
Jocko Willink covered this book in "Jocko Podcast" Ep. 10
The Japanese fought to win - it was a savage, brutal, inhumane, exhausting and dirty business. Our commanders knew that if we were to win and survive, we must be trained realistically for it whether we liked it or not. In the post-war years, the U.S. Marine Corps came in for a great deal of undeserved criticism in my opinion, from well-meaning persons who did not comprehend the magnitude of stress and horror that combat can be. The technology that developed the rifle barrel, the machine gun and high explosive shells has turned war into prolonged, subhuman slaughter. Men must be trained realistically if they are to survive it without breaking, mentally and physically.
— E. B. Sledge, With the Old Breed

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