With the Old Breed

For Sledge, the ability to endure the constant pain and hardship of war constitutes a type of valor. He doesn’t celebrate those, like Mac, who claims to be eager for the kill and utterly without fear. Instead, he documents all the tireless work the Marines do, all the lugging of ammo and rations in hostile, muddy terrain, and the dangerous recovery of wounded men, all as part and parcel of the bravery of these men serving in the Marines. Life is almost always arduous for his company, as they often lack water and edible food, have to deal with rain and heat, and are periodically afflicted with serious maladies, such as trench foot, hepatitis, and malaria. He credits the perseverance of the men he served with, stating, “valor was displayed so often it went largely unnoticed. It was expected” (315). He does not note any particular heroes. Instead, he praises the company as a whole for their dedication to one another.

The first time Sledge witnesses souvenir hunting, seeing Marines extract gold teeth out of the mouths of Japanese corpses, he is horrified. Later, though, he comes very close to joining them in this practice. He is glad that