“EugeneSledgebecamemorethanalegendwithhismemoir,WithTheOldBreed.Hebecameachronicler,ahistorian,astorytellerwhoturnstheextremesofthewarinthePacific--theterror,thecamaraderie,thebanalandtheextraordinary--intotermswemortalscangrasp.“--TomHanksNEWYORKTIMESBESTSELLERInTheWallStreetJournal,VictorDavisHansonnamedWiththeOldBreedoneofthetopfivebooksonepictwentieth-centurybattles.StudsTerkelinterviewedtheauthorforhisdefinitiveoralhistory,TheGoodWar.NowE.B.Sledge’sacclaimedfirst-personaccountoffightingatPeleliuandOkinawareturnstothrill,edify,andinspireanewgeneration.AnAlabamaboysteepedinAmericanhistoryandenamoredofsuchheroesasGeorgeWashingtonandDanielBoone,EugeneB.Sledgebecamepartofthewar’sfamous1stMarineDivision--3rdBattalion,5thMarines.Evenafterintensetraining,hewasshockedtobethrownintothebattleofPeleliu,where“theworldwasanightmareofflashes,explosions,andsnappingbullets.“BythetimeSledgehitthehellofOkinawa,hewasacombatvet,stillfilledwithfearbutnolongerwithpanic.BasedonnotesSledgesecretlykeptinacopyoftheNewTestament,WiththeOldBreedcaptureswithuttersimplicityandsearinghonestytheexperienceofasoldierinthefiercePacificTheater.Hereiswhatsaved,threatened,andchangedhislife.Here,too,isthestoryofhowhelearnedtohateandkill--andcametolove--hisfellowman.“InalltheliteratureontheSecondWorldWar,thereisnotamorehonest,realisticormovingmemoirthanEugeneSledge’s.Thisistherealdeal,therealwar:unvarnished,brutal,withoutashredofsentimentalityorfalsepatriotism,aprofoundprimeronwhatitactuallywasliketobeinthatwar.Itisaclassicthatwilloutliveallthearmchairgenerals’safeaccountsof--notthe’goodwar’--buttheworstwarever.“--KenBurns
