Sledgehammer - Old Breed Marine Part 2

[andyindublinireland]

There is one book I thought was unbeatable as a tough account of WW2, ''With the Jocks'', by Peter White, but this book which I got from the library is in a league of its own. Poor fellows.

[wadyano]

8:10 i remember that scene from The Pacific on HBO...even just seeing it reenacted i was thinking HOLY CRAP that was CLOSE"

[mommymonster1andonly]

i just made it to okinawa in the book, its an intense book man i can picture every scene becuase i watch all this footage of the pacific theater

[centurion180ad]

Bella Detesta Matribus

-Horace

[raptorman120]

This book is the most detailed I've ever read on the war, Just reading it might give a weak mind PTSD.

[AMCsoldier]

@raptorman120 My heart was pounding when I read the section describing the approach and beach landing on Peleliu. That's never happened to me before when reading a book.

[hockey6467]

@raptorman120 If you want another book that, in my mind is just as good as Sledge's book, read God isn't here by Richard Overton. The book is about Overton as a medic at Iwo Jima. It starts out a bit slow, but when he describes the battle, you actually get scared and feel that a jap will pop up in front of you.

[corona67]

Reading his book right now. He's a good writer and a unique individual. RIP Sledge.

[MiseryYT]

@corona67 Nice, maybe ill get it too, I read Helmet For My Pillow for Leckie, really good, but he don't talk enough about him:(

[joshuaoha]

wtf

[boatstaylor]

Thank you for posting this!!! Semper Fi

[M40]

It reached 125 degrees in Iraq very often in the summer time.

it still wasnt the sauna the pacific was

[M40]

@MrS5099

the fuck I wasnt

where the fuck were you

[M40]

@MrS5099

hey im sorry, i wasnt aware i was talking to a snot nosed kid who hasnt spent a night without his mommy

[M40]

@MrS5099

once you learn how to read and respect those that have gone before you come and talk to me, until then....open up a book, or your case dictionary.

I was with the US Marines as an 0311 in Iraq.

[M40]

@MrS5099

accepted, just think things through in the future

[starryknight]

@M40

Real, non-dickish question:

First... What is a 0311?

Secondly, how many pounds of gear were you carrying in that 125 degree heat?

[M40]

@starryknight

0311 is the mil. designation for Marine Rifleman.

it was alteast 60lbs (MTV flak + kevlar) 400rds of SAW ammo = 15lb

A loaded SAW with all the accesories = 25lb

plus water and food to last a couple days

[starryknight]

@M40

I'm counting almost 100lbs of gear. That's insane!

[Rustyshacklefization]

@M40 this men fought without all your luxuries of Kevlar and light weight weapons like SAWS...and food and water ..they ate when they got lucky drank nasty oily water ,carried heavy gear with little protection ...the only Armour was the helmet and they never really got a good nights sleep ...as much as i respect the infantry man even today they have it easy compared to the hell that these guys endured...modern wars are like the non battle parts of ww2

[wadyano]

@Rustyshacklefization those helmets were useless against bullets. they just helped protect from shrapnel and flying rocks.

[Rustyshacklefization]

@wadyano Just another reason to keep your head up and not get to comfortable while your in a WAR

[wadyano]

@Rustyshacklefization not get comfortable? are you high or something?

[Rustyshacklefization]

@wadyano No,i just no that the hardships that modern military personnel endure are a lot different then those endured by ,ww2 era personnel. have you watched Generation kill?,i know its a TV show but its based on real events. There is a quote in here that is a great example of what i mean when i say "comfortable" "These men are living out here on rice and beans, sleeping out in the cold in these rags these are some fuckin’ hard men. You ladies bitch if you get an MRE without a Pop Tart."

[wadyano]

@Rustyshacklefization yes i did see that. at least in previous generations the USA had the resolve to do what had to be done at any cost and as long as it took whether it meant nuking a city or just digging in and not caring what people thought. in generation kill i was flabbergasted when they find themselves on the business end of a sniper's rifle and they need to radio for permission to shoot.

[wadyano]

our military today are very brave and wonderful people especially considering the selfish gimme gimme generation that they came from and chose to give anyway, but thank G-od we are able to give our toops today a more humane experience than this. that there are robots that can do some of the most dangerous work and keep them safe, that the food is decent, that there are water purification tablts and internet technology so they can see and talk to their families from far.

[wadyano]

now if only our country would give our troops the respect the ww2 folks got, not sending reporters in with them to make a name off their backs, not micromanaging them, turning every accidental misfire into a huuuuge investigation, not making the rules of engagment impossible to survive by, trusting their judgement and their training, not putting political correctness over gettinfg the job done...we've made their lives easier but their jobs way harder.

[333assman]

@Rustyshacklefization Yeah yeah, your generation was fucking magical and the new generation are all wussies. I basically agree that we've gotten too soft but don't go around acting like your shit doesn't stink, thats not the way to set an example for young Marines.

[wadyano]

@Rustyshacklefization what they men back then had that they don't have today is a country and a government that understand the need to do what one has to do to win a war and not trying to be politically correct and please a fussy united nations. the rules of engagement were basicly get the badguy. we make it impossible for our guys to fight today and then pulle them out before the job is done making their sacrifices wasted.

[Rustyshacklefization]

@wadyano I agree man ...they way i look at this Afghanistan bullshit .. is either do your job and do it right .. or just get the fuck out of there because like you said the sacrifices are unfortunately going to waste because no results are being produced

[atltom58]

gawd i love this guy.he tells such a good story...

[owenv11]

Very good. Thank you.