American Miltary History
With the Old Breed Chapter Summary
Chapter 1-Making of a Marine
E.B. Sledge enlists in Marine Corps. In December, 1942. He is at Marion Military Institute.
Then went to college at George Tech for a year, and deliberately failed out in order to enroll in the army and experience real fighting action.
Got a month off, and then went to training in San Diego, so they would be ready Peleliu.
Boot camp let by Drill Instructor Doherty, they were put in platoon 984.
They drilled on beaches, sand made it tough to move, and would repeat drills that men would inevitably fail at. The recruits could never call their rifles their gun.
Days went from 0400-2200, revilre until taps. However, could be woken at any time for rifle inspection, close-order drill, or a run. Sometimes they were forced to change huts at a moments notice, with all of their stuff.
Got rifles, and received instructions so everyone learned the exact same way. Accuracy was most important and then safety followed closely. The author ended up winning a sharpshooters badge.
They completed their boot camp on Dec. 24 th 1943. Doherty told him that he was in the M1 rifle infantry M1 division. In camp Elliot. Sledge disliked the drill instructor but respected him.
Chapter 2- Preparation for Combat
Spent first few days at camp Elliot in lectures learning about the different guns. 37mm antitank gun, 81mm mortar, 60mm mortar, .50 caliber machine fun, .30 caliber heavy and light machine guns, and the Browning Automatic Rifle BAR.
Everyone talked about what weapons were best, and the most dangerous, and good to be assigned to.
Sledge picked 60mm mortar which was a smoothbore, muzzle loaded, high angle fire weapon.
Weighed 45 lbs, and would be facing the Japanese who had mortars as well.
They then began to drill with each squad and made sure they were fast and precise with loading and assembling the gun.
Received training in hand to hand combat, received the Ka-bar knofe
Mortar school continued for the entire stay at camp Elliot, everyone began to get nervous but talked with officials and felt better.
On feb 28 th 1944, borded the president polk, once a luxury liner, and went to go into the pacific.
On the ship, they stayed in a crowded compartment below the deck, it was extremely hot and disgusting. The life on the ship was very boring, and they had simple drills, but not much to do.
Eventually got off the ship at new Caledonia, at camp saint Louis. This was a tent camp comprised of rows of tents and dirt streets.

Underwent more exercises, and learned the sound of different Japanesse machine guns that were shot over their heads.
After training with guns and bayonettes, they borded the USS general Howe to go to Pavuvu
They spent most of their time doing work parties picking up trash, building sidewalks, and piling coconuts.
They made fun of the seemingly tedious tasks they had to perform, and talked about going
“Asiatic” which was a marine term for spending too much time in the south pacicifc.
However, Pavuvu was like hell between people getting sick and land crabs, they talked as though god had forgeotten where the place was.
Everyone complained and reprimanded by the seargents, their morale was boosted when bob hope came to perform on the island.
They learned how to entry and exit boats on landing, and then Sledge met sergeant Haney, who would be with him in K company, 3 rd battablion, 5 th marines, 1 st division. He was a veteran who served in WWI, was over 50 years, and was the toughest person he had ever seen.
Also met commanding officer of the company captain “ack ack” Haldane. Was known as one of the finest marines for the interest he took in every soldier in the company.
Chapter 3 – On to Peleliu
Completed training in late August and borded LST(Landing, ship, tank). They had to make a
2100 mile voyage.
They were to take Peleliu to secure General Douglas MacArtuhur’s right flank, in order for him invade the Phillipines. It had a good airfield that was needed to support.
They entered the island with 16,,459 officers and men. They would face about 10,000 Japanese troops.
On D-1 day, they prepared to load on to the Amtracs and assault the beach. They got all of their stuff ready,
On Sep 15, 1944, it was D day, at 08300 they would invade the beach at Peleliu.
Chapter 4- Assault into Hell
Everyone in the Amtrac took a swig of whiskey before they embarked on the beach. They were bombarded by a barrage of missiles and firing, Sledge was able to make it up the beach, and get to the defilade safely.
All the divisions were at the edge of the beach, the 7 th marines and 5 th marines, got intertwined and had to be separated.
As they moved up the beach they were met by 81mm and 90mm mortars, and someone was hit with the million dollar wound. This meant it was a non fatal wound that would allow them to go home, and be safe from the war.
When they killed the first Japanese they all got whatever souveniours they could find on the dead. Sledge was amazed by this. They took everyone from glasses to guns.
He also saw the first marine dead, and thought about what a waste the death was, and was disgusted by the entire act of war.

During all of the fighting the battalion’s three divisions got separated and lost contact from each other.
They became stuck where they were with low supplies, ammo and heavy machine gun fire.
It was 110 degrees there was no water, and they found a well but then figured out the water was poisoned either by accident or deliberately.
They moved to bloody nose ridge, the Japanese were on the high ground. Everything became soaked with sweat, and it was almost impossible to walk with boots on.
At night, they layed in foxholes, with two people, one watched while one slept. There was a password that if someone came by and didn’t say they were shot without thought.
They then continued to move north, with Edward Jones (Hillbilly) who was the second most liked officer in company K.
Filth, was one of the worst things of the war, as there were not enough water, to drink and clean oneself. People also started having nightmares, and had to be dealt with by force, so that they would not give away positions with their screaming.
NOTE by reading the italics, you can understand the military movements involved. Then by taking the commentary of sledge you can get additional insight.
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15