Eugene Sledge was born in 1923 in Mobile, Alabama. As a young man he hoped to become an officer and studied at both the Marion Military Institute and the Georgia Institute of Technology. At the age of 20, fearing that he would miss an opportunity in combat, he dropped out and enlisted in the US Marines. This decision propelled Sledge into the heart of the brutal war in the Pacific, an experience he would never forget.
September 1944: Sledge Lands at Peleliu
After having completed basic training, Sledge joined the 1st Marine Division as a mortarman. He went on to further training at New Caledonia and Pavuvu before being deployed to the Island of Peleliu in 1944. With the deaths of 1252 US Marines and a further 5274 wounded, Peleliu was one of the longest and bloodiest battles in the Pacific. During rest and recuperation on Pavuvu, Sledge began to write down his memories of the battle, inserting the pages into the Bible he had been issued during training at Camp Elliott.
April 1945: The Battle at Okinawa
On April 1, Sledge's unit landed at Okinawa as part of the US Operation Iceberg, tasked with capturing the island as part of their strategy to reach mainland Japan. The battle lasted for 82 days and the US Armed Forces suffered losses of 50000; dead, injured or missing in action. After Okinawa, Eugene the 'Sledgehammer' was posted to China as part of the US Occupation Force and was later discharged in 1946.
Eugene Sledge Returns to America
Readjusting to civilian life was not easy for Sledge. He struggled with the emotional and psychological effects of active duty. He did, however, continue writing his memoirs, adding as much detail as possible. Sledge did this for his family, as a way of making his experiences easier to understand.
Despite such difficulties, Sledge built a successful career in academia. After gaining his doctorate in 1960, Sledge spent his working life at the University of Montevallo where he taught biology, physiology and the history and philosophy of science. He was fondly regarded by staff and students and retired in 1990.
Eugene Sledge Publishes His First Book
It was Sledge's wife, Jeanne, who encouraged him to put his memoirs into print. In 1981, his first book, With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa, was published. Sledge was very matter-of-fact in his descriptions of the brutal living conditions, the intense hatred between American and Japanese soldiers and the many acts of violence that he witnessed. Historians and fellow veterans have praised the book as one of the finest "first-hand accounts of combat in World War II". Above all, he praised the work of fellow Marines and soldiers and highlighted the sacrifices that they had made for their country.
The Posthumous Second Book
In 2001 Sledge died of cancer and, one year later, a second book was published, entitled China Marine: An Infantryman's Life After World War Two. The book detailed his work with the US Occupation Force in China, his return to civilian life and his post-war psychological battles. As in With the Old Breed, the book was a frank and honest portrayal of his experiences. Sledge admitted that he felt no guilt in using his weapons and argued that civilians could not understand the concept of an 'enemy' in the way that he had.
The Legacy of Eugene B Sledge
Despite his academic success, Sledge will always be remembered for his writings on World War II. His memoirs have had a profound influence on soldiers, civilians and fellow writers. They continue to be a source of inspiration today, forming the foundation for the recent HBO series, The Pacific.
References:
Encyclopedia of Alabama: Eugene B. Sledge
This Goodly Land: Eugene B. Sledge
Join the Conversation