WITH THE OLD BREED

With the Old Breed

With the Old Breed

Introduction

Among the common and most prevalent themes of the Sledge's account is the severe and terrible cost of combat and warfare. There is no doubt that Sledge is a patriotic and determined, and dedicated marine who regards his service to the military as an honor, privilege and a duty. His firm determination to support and advance the American cause is ahead of the argument. Even, though, he mostly considers and talks about the negative features of warfare and battlefield. After the discussion about the war and combat, Sledge gives a thoughtful reflection from the distance of decades about the terrible consequences and cost of warfare. The consequences and cost of war are not only considered with respect to the number of soldiers killed, wounded, or mentally suffered during combat, but also with respect to the degradation of morality, the brutalization of those who participate, and the psychological price which a nation has to pay to enter a war. Therefore, the argument relates to the cost of wars as the ultimate solution or degradation of morality.

Discussion

The book with the old breed is a personal memoir written by E.B. Sledge, who shares his experiences when he joined the United States marine for a combat during the World War 2 operation in the Pacific theater. The book starts with how Sledge becomes a marine, shares his experiences about the initial training all through the boot camp and infantry school. Furthermore, Sledge explains his days at Pavuvu before the combat. Later, Sledge describes and recollects the time during his combat, when he had the responsibility to assist a gunner on a 60mm mortar. The had the assignment during operations in Peleliu and Ngesebus. Later he had some time off, and then he was again called to serve in Pavuvu. Moreover, Sledge recollects those days during the combat of assaulting and capturing Okinawa. In the end, Sledge talks about the conclusion of the war and ultimate demobilization of the marines. In the book, Sledge has given attention to the mental and moral factors of the war.

The book represents the text as a personal account of a marine who participated in combat as an infantry soldier during the World War II. The account and the experiences have been written as the first-person point of view, which is appropriate and ensures an engaging and accessible text. Sledge, the author, is also the primary participant in nearly every aspect of the narrative—as expected for a book of this type. Sledge is unquestionably qualified to deliver a book of this type. He was a combat veteran marine and participated in nearly all of the events described. Thus, as an eye-witness and participant, his narrative is credible, accessible, and highly engaging. Sledge's focus is on personal experiences—thus, he relates carrying ammunition, bearing stretchers, slogging through mud, and living in foxholes more than he relates shooting down enemy soldiers or engaging in ...