Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 353
 Straightforward account two of WWII's brutal battles September 6, 2010
G. Berger (Bellerose, NY USA)
I've read enough histories and analysis of WWII and wanted to get a view of what it was like to actually be in battle. I got more than I bargained for in this book. In a very well written, simple and straightforward style the author conveys exactly what is was like to live through the terror and carnage of these two battles. I highly recommend this book for anyone curious about what being in battle is like. Some other books I sampled were so poorly written I couldn't get through even a few pages. They were bad amateur authors trying to be poetic and just sounding silly or injecting some half-baked philosophy. Thankfully, E.B. Sledge stays away from all that and sticks to the subject, a good exposition of the effectiveness of simple and clear language. But be prepared - he pulls no punches and the subject matter is not pleasant.
Grippingly told story of war from the point of view of a Marine infantryman September 6, 2010
Karl
Just finished this book and was mesmerized by the story. Sledge was there for some of the worst fighting of the war in the Pacific. His understated way of writing about some of the most hellish and miserable experiences a human can be subjected to, made the stories all that much more gripping. The Marine was expendable, Sledge learned. "Secure your gear and move out," was the order and usually meant moving from one hot fight to another, slogging through mud or dense jungle to get there and being shelled or sniped at along the way. Exhaustion from heat and lack of sleep was constant. At night, Japanese constantly tried to infiltrate the lines. The possibility of sudden violent death was always there. The book is a testament to what the body and mind can endure.
What is rather unusual about this book is that Sledge is very honest about the practice of 'field stripping' the enemy dead of their belongings for souvenirs. This also meant that gold teeth were liberated from the dead. In the fighting, no quarter was asked and none given. Sledge clearly acknowledges the hatred that he and his fellow Marines had for the Japanese soldiers and doesn't shy away from describing the savagery of the fight.
IMO, this book should be required reading for those who have illusions about the 'glory' of war. Sledge would be first to say there may be good reasons to fight a war, but there certainly isn't any glory in it. As he says throughout the book, all he could see was that it was all such a waste.
A powerful book. Highly recommended.
Great book from the heart August 29, 2010
Joshua M Olson (Edina, Minnesota United States)
I have nothing but good things to say about this book. It is an easy read I did not want to put down. I was drawn to read it after seeing The Pacific miniseries and recommend both to anyone that would like to understand as best they can through words and pictures what war was like in the Pacific theater. Sledge does an excellent job of describing his experiences via all five senses. I have not read many first hand accounts but none have transported me into a war zone as well. With the Old Breed is a gem and required reading for any WWII buff.
God Bless Them. August 27, 2010
Jr Altfeld (Burbank, California USA)
It was not a story as much as a documentary on what took place at Peleliu and Okinawa, uncut, unedited and with the covers thrown back. After reading the book, I had my good friend read it. He was a jungle fighter in Greece against the Nazis and later became a US soldier. His brother, it turns out, actually fought in Peleliu and Okinawa. My friend broke down and cried because he now knew, after all these years, what his brother went through and how bad it really was. He told me he wished he'd known this long ago. That his brother had kept it all in and their relationship had suffered because of it. To Mr. Sledge, my good friend, my own brother, Dave Latoria, John Veremis, Jerral Hancock and all those who have served, I say I owe you a great debt of gratitude and Thank You!
The Old Breed August 21, 2010
Kenneth M. Gengler (Norfork, Ar)
Book is a must read for anyone interested in the story of the Marine's in the Pacific theater of WW2.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 353
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