With the old breed
Overview
With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa is a World War II
memoir by Eugene Sledge
, a United States Marine
. Since its first publication in 1981, With the Old Breed has been recognized as one of the best first-hand accounts of combat in the Pacific
during World War II. The memoir is based on notes Sledge kept tucked away in a pocket-sized Bible he carried with him during battles.
By his own account, Sledge began writing the memoir in 1944, "immediately after Peleliu
while we were in rest camp on Pavuvu Island
", and continued working on it "as soon as I returned to civilian life" in 1946.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
memoir by Eugene Sledge
Eugene Sledge
Eugene Bondurant Sledge was a United States Marine, university professor, and author. His 1981 memoir With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa chronicled his combat experiences during World War II and was subsequently used as source material for Ken Burns's PBS documentary, The War, as well as...
, a United States Marine
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
. Since its first publication in 1981, With the Old Breed has been recognized as one of the best first-hand accounts of combat in the Pacific
Pacific Theater of Operations
The Pacific Theater of Operations was the World War II area of military activity in the Pacific Ocean and the countries bordering it, a geographic scope that reflected the operational and administrative command structures of the American forces during that period...
during World War II. The memoir is based on notes Sledge kept tucked away in a pocket-sized Bible he carried with him during battles.
By his own account, Sledge began writing the memoir in 1944, "immediately after Peleliu
Peleliu
Peleliu is an island in the island nation of Palau. Peleliu forms, along with two small islands to its northeast, one of the sixteen states of Palau. It is located northeast of Angaur and southwest of Koror....
while we were in rest camp on Pavuvu Island
Pavuvu
Pavuvu is the largest of the Russell Islands in Central Province, Solomon Islands. It is located Northwest of Guadalcanal. The area is 120 km²....
", and continued working on it "as soon as I returned to civilian life" in 1946.
