With the Old Breed: Part 1, Chapter 3 Summary & Analysis

On August 26th, Company K heads to Guadalcanal, where the men practice amphibious landing exercises that involve using an amtrac, an amphibious tracked vehicle. During these few days of training, as Sledge explains to sailors that Haney is not “Asiatic,” he realizes that, from the outside, Marines might seem crazy or reckless, but this is only because they adopt an attitude of ironic detachment in order to prepare themselves for stressful ordeals.

In anticipation of landing, Sledge explains that Peleliu, in the Caroline Islands chain, has the shape of a lobster’s claw, which allows the Japanese to defend landing beaches from the surrounding coral ridges. On September 14, “D Minus 1,” the Marines embark for Peleliu. On the ship, Sledge and a friend try to appear relaxed about the next day. However, as Sledge watches the beautiful Pacific sunset, he suddenly realizes that he might not actually be alive at the same time tomorrow, and he feels panic overcome him. A lieutenant then gives a speech in which he says they expect the battle on Peleliu will be rough but will last only a few days.

Sledge then chats about what he wants to do after the war with his companion Oswalt, whom Sledge admires for his intelligence. Although Oswalt says he plans to be a neurosurgeon, because he is fascinated by the human brain, Sledge explains that Oswalt was later killed on Peleliu. As Sledge prepares to go to sleep that evening, he tries to convince himself that he will not die because God loves him, although he also realizes that God loves everyone. He begins to panic and prays silently to himself to find reassurance.

On D Day, September 15th, 1944, the Marines wake up, eat the typical meal Marines eat before combat—steak and eggs—and most of them find that stress leads them all to the bathroom. Although there are only two toilets, Haney occupies one of them for a long time, forcing the Marines—who do not dare tell him to hurry—to form a long line in front of the other one.

As dawn arrives, Sledge stays close to Snafu, who makes Sledge feel safe because he is a Gloucester veteran. Snafu offers Sledge a cigarette, which Sledge refuses. Snafu then laughs, betting Sledge that he will be smoking before the end of the day, just like everyone else. The men are then ordered to wear their gear and enter an amtrac. Sledge recalls the moment in which the amtrac began to float and move through the water, and concludes that no other time in his life had the intensity of that moment in which the amtrac drew closer to the smoke- and flame-covered beach where the Marines were supposed to land.

Sledge interrupts his narrative to explain that most historians now believe that the battle of Peleliu was not necessary to the outcome of World War II. At the same time, they agree that this was one of the most vicious battles of the war. Peleliu also played an important role in teaching the Marines about a change in Japanese tactics: instead of having one defense line, as the Japanese did in the past, they started using a system of fortified positions in caves and pillboxes (small guard posts), spread as a network throughout the island. This led to a ferocious, merciless battle of attrition, fought until all defenses were destroyed.