Marine Ed Sledge Research Papers

In this memoir, former U.S. Marine E.D. Sledge describes his experiences fighting against the Japanese in the Pacific during World War II. The book starts off with Sledge's experience in school then entering into the marines. It follows his training through boot camp and infantry school, and describes his pre-combat deployment to Pavuvu. It also mainly focuses on two very important battles. The Battle of Peleliu and The Battle of Okinawa. The book is less concerned with describing their strategy and more with Sledge’s personal experience. This paper will include events that Sledge experienced and his life throughout the war in his own words. Sledge began his military career with a short stay at the Marion Military Institute. Sledge enlisted

When he got to bootcamp, he was assigned to drill instructor Corporal Doherty. Doherty was something else. He was the type of person to feel like they are the boss and what is said is to be followed. He says “I’m your drill instructor. This is Platoon 984. If any of you idiots think you don’t need to follow my orders, just step right out here and I’ll beat your ass right now. Your soul may belong to Jesus, but your ass belongs to the Marines” (pg.9). The eight weeks of basic training served good to him not just physically but mentally as well. This is a quality he would rely on greatly during the fighting on Peleliu. After graduating from basic training, Sledge was sent to Camp Elliott in San Diego, California for infantry training. Each man was able to choose which weapon they wanted to specialize in for the future. Sledge chose the 60 mm mortar, which was used for light infantry support. Like basic training, infantry training went very smooth for him, with the men working with enthusiasm without knowing of the horrors of the “meat grinder” that awaited them in the Pacific. With them not knowing what they were getting themselves into, they were ready for the next

I was not familiar with E.B Sledge or “Sledgehammer”. Sledge had did a lot as an individual for America. He was a very influential person during the Battle of Okinawa and the Battle of Peleliu. Both of these battles were harsh to America. There was a bunch of things that went on during these times like the improvement of weapons and transportation. Both of these things helped improve the chance for America. A bunch of soldiers were killed and could not return home to their families. He was one of the very few who survived both wars and was never captured as a slave. He was very blunt about his experiences but then again you should be when telling your story of the war. War is a very surreal thing and it takes a special someone to enlist in the armed forces. Not only did he survive, he lived long enough to write his story in a book and had it published in magazines at first but then took it and had it published as a book which is cool to see. People enjoyed reading small excerpts so he decided to put it all