With the Old Breed

Sledge begins his memoir by describing his decision to enlist in the Marines. As he notes, he wanted “to get overseas into combat” as soon as possible (5). To placate his parents, Sledge signed up for the Corp’s officer training program, the V-12. This meant that instead of immediately being sent to fight, he was first sent to college. However, Sledge found school tedious, as did many other young men who had enlisted in the officer program and were ready to fight. At the end of his first semester, Sledge, along with many others, failed out of school so he could enter the Marines as an enlisted man. Once he is freed from the tedium of school, Sledge feels eager and invigorated, ready to take on boot camp. Corporal Doherty, his Drill Instructor, is demanding but not cruel. Sledge recounts long days of training that start at 0400 hours and end at 2200. Discipline and basic rifle training consume most of the day. Sledge bonds with those training alongside him. On December 24, 1943, Sledge is officially pronounced a Marine at his graduation from boot camp. As he leaves for his next level of training, Sledge feels a sense of accomplishment and pride.