E.B. Sledge, With the Old Essay

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Consider the following quotation in which he reflects on the companionship between him and his peers.

War is brutish, inglorious, and a terrible waste. Combat leaves an indelible mark on those who are forced to endure it. The only redeeming factors were my comrades' incredible bravery and their devotion to each other. The Marine Corps training taught us to kill efficiently and to try to survive. But it also taught us loyalty to each other -- and love. The esprit de corps sustained us (Sledge 152).

This passage provides a very vital means on interpreting many of the different events discussed within this memoir. It also answers a lot of questions in regards to the author's true esteem for war, which does not appear to be 'necessary' whatsoever. It is worth noting that this passage concludes the manuscript, and delivers a sort of insight and value to the book that the younger Sledge, simply living through experiences, could not possibly have fathomed. The more mature Sledge openly disparages the nature of war in this passage, by labeling it as a "waste." This conception of war is certainly incongruent with the notion that it war is necessary. However, this passage also shows the full extent to which Sledge revers the relationship that he was able to foster with other Marines during this martial encounter.

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This tact is denoted by his reference to the esprit de corps, which is the spirit of loyalty, love and companionship that the Marines felt for one another. It is this sort of insight that makes this particular book worth reading -- such insight comes from the more dominant voice of the older Sledge.

It is important to understand that both voices of Sledge's voices -- that as a young soldier and that as an established collegiate professor -- take a certain sense of pride in being a part of the Marines. Yet what the young soldier did not understand or could not fully fathom, the collegiate professor ultimately gives voice to and deconstructs. As such, the dual nature of this particular form of narration cannot be questioned, and is one of the strengths of this particular book. The callow Sledge is needed to supply the raw materials for the fresh, revealing insights of the older Sledge. Ultimately, it is this latter version of the author that guides the book through, denoting which experiences are important and worthy of analysis, and which ones are not. Neither of these voices questions the degree of pride that the author has in the military. They simply present alternate perceptions; those from the older Sledge are substantially more informed than those from the younger Sledge.

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