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With the Old Breed
- At Peleliu and Okinawa
- Narrated by: Marc Vietor, Joe Mazzello, Tom Hanks (introduction)
- Length: 13 hrs and 58 mins
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Helmet for My Pillow
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- Written by: Robert Leckie
- Narrated by: James Badge Dale, Tom Hanks (introduction)
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The celebrated 2010 HBO miniseries The Pacific, winner of eight Emmy Awards, was based on two classic books about the War in the Pacific, Helmet for My Pillow and With The Old Breed. Audible Studios, in partnership with Playtone, the production company co-owned by Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, and creator of the award-winning HBO series Band of Brothers, John Adams, and The Pacific, as well as the HBO movie Game Change, has created new recordings of these memoirs, narrated by the stars of the miniseries.
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Hooked from the start
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Band of Brothers
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Great listen! But I am kinda bias!
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In November 1965, some 450 men of the First Battalion, Seventh Cavalry, under the command of Lt. Col. Hal Moore, were dropped by helicopter into a small clearing in the Ia Drang Valley. They were immediately surrounded by 2,000 North Vietnamese soldiers. Three days later, only two and a half miles away, a sister battalion was chopped to pieces. Together, these actions at the landing zones X-Ray and Albany constituted one of the most savage and significant battles of the Vietnam War. How these men persevered makes a vivid portrait of war at its most inspiring and devastating.
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The author could be described as a veteran in every sense of the word, even though he was only age 21 when the war ended. Armin Scheiderbauer served as an infantry officer with the 252nd Infantry Division, German army, and saw four years of bitter combat on the Eastern Front, being wounded six times. This is an outstanding personal memoir, written with great thoughtfulness and honesty.
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Enjoyable.
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Gunter K. Koschorrek was a machine-gunner on the Russian front in WWII. He wrote his illicit diary on any scraps of paper he could lay his hands on. As keeping a diary was strictly forbidden, he sewed the pages into the lining of his thick winter coat and deposited them with his mother on infrequent trips home on leave. The diary went missing, and it was when he was reunited with his daughter in America some 40 years later that it came to light and became Blood Red Snow.
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The author cuts out or invents things altogether
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From the author of the international best seller A Higher Call comes the riveting World War II story of an American tank gunner’s journey into the heart of the Third Reich, where he will meet destiny in an iconic armor duel - and forge an enduring bond with his enemy.
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Superb storytelling AND it's true!
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Helmet for My Pillow
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Hooked from the start
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Band of Brothers
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Great listen! But I am kinda bias!
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In November 1965, some 450 men of the First Battalion, Seventh Cavalry, under the command of Lt. Col. Hal Moore, were dropped by helicopter into a small clearing in the Ia Drang Valley. They were immediately surrounded by 2,000 North Vietnamese soldiers. Three days later, only two and a half miles away, a sister battalion was chopped to pieces. Together, these actions at the landing zones X-Ray and Albany constituted one of the most savage and significant battles of the Vietnam War. How these men persevered makes a vivid portrait of war at its most inspiring and devastating.
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WOW, Exceptional
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Enjoyable.
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The author cuts out or invents things altogether
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A good read!
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Things I’ll Never Forget is the story of a young high school graduate in 1965 who faces being drafted into the Army or volunteering for the Marine Corps. These are his memories of funny times, disgusting times and deadly times. The author kept a journal for an entire year; therefore many of the dates, times and places are accurate. The rest is based on memories that are forever tattooed on his brain. This is not a pro-war book, nor is it anti-war. It is the true story of what the Marine Corps was like in the late 1960’s.
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Great read.
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When Guy Sajer joins the infantry full of ideals in the summer of 1942, the German army is enjoying unparalleled success in Russia. However, he quickly finds that for the foot soldier the glory of military success hides a much harsher reality of hunger, fatigue, and constant deprivation. Posted to the elite Grosse Deutschland division, he enters a violent and remorseless world where all youthful hope is gradually ground down, and all that matters is the brute will to survive.
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I have PTSD after reading this
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They were called a generation without heroes. Then they were called upon to be heroes. Within hours of 9/11, America's war on terrorism fell to those like the 23 Marines of the First Recon Battalion, the first generation dispatched into open-ended combat since Vietnam.
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In one furious week of fighting in December 1943, the First Canadian Infantry Division took Ortona, Italy, from elite German paratroopers ordered to hold the medieval port at all costs. When the battle was over, the Canadians emerged victorious despite heavy losses.
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In 1944, David Render was a 19-year-old second lieutenant fresh from Sandhurst when he was sent to France. Joining the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry five days after the D-Day landings, the combat-hardened men he was sent to command did not expect him to last long. However, in the following weeks of ferocious fighting in which more than 90 per cent of his fellow tank commanders became casualties, his ability to emerge unscathed from countless combat engagements earned him the nickname of the 'Inevitable Mr Render'.
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A stunning look at World War II from the other side.... From the turret of a German tank, Colonel Hans von Luck commanded Rommel's 7th and then 21st Panzer Division. El Alamein, Kasserine Pass, Poland, Belgium, Normandy on D-Day, the disastrous Russian front - von Luck fought there with some of the best soldiers in the world. German soldiers. Awarded the German Cross in Gold and the Knight's Cross, von Luck writes as an officer and a gentleman.
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Panzer Commander must read
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From the best-selling author of A Higher Call and Spearhead comes an unflinching firsthand chronicle of the heroic US Marines who fought on Guadalcanal, Peleliu, Iwo Jima, and in other pivotal battles during the Pacific War, a classic book now expanded with new stories from the flyboys overhead and the home front at war.
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not the same as the other books...
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Publisher's Summary
The celebrated 2010 HBO miniseries The Pacific, winner of eight Emmy Awards, was based on two classic books about the War in the Pacific, Helmet for My Pillow and With The Old Breed. Audible Studios, in partnership with Playtone, the production company co-owned by Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, and creator of the award-winning HBO series Band of Brothers, John Adams, and The Pacific, as well as the HBO movie Game Change, has created new recordings of these memoirs, narrated by the stars of the miniseries. James Badge Dale (who portrayed Robert Leckie) and Joseph Mazello (who played Eugene Sledge) bring all the passion and emotion of their riveting television performances to these new audio productions.
With the Old Breed is a modern classic of military history AND has been called "one of the most important personal accounts of war that I have ever read," by distinguished historian John Keegan. Author E. B. Sledge served with the First Marine Division during World War II, and his first-hand narrative is unsurpassed in its sincerity. Sledge's experience shows in this fascinating account of two of the most harrowing and pivotal island battles of the Pacific theater.
On Peleliu and Okinawa, the action was extremely fierce. Amidst oppressive heat and over land obliterated by artillery shells, the combat raged ferociously. Casualties were extreme on both sides, and by the time the Americans had broken through at Okinawa, more than 62,000 Japanese soldiers were dead. Against military policy, Sledge scribbled notes and jammed them into his copy of the New Testament. Those notes form the backbone of what Navy Times said "has been called the best World War II memoir of an enlisted man."
BONUS AUDIO: Tom Hanks, one of the executive producers, has written and narrated an original introduction to With the Old Breed where he describes his appreciation for the book's author, the narrators, and the soldiers who had fought in the cauldron of the Pacific Theater during World War II.
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What listeners say about With the Old Breed
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- David Unger
- 2019-03-24
a must read/listen for ALL civilians
armed forces ervice vets, emergency services, law enforcement vetrans, will be able to relate to the emotions of this book. in that we have common ground. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, SACRIFICE AND ENDURANCE TO WALK ON THERE AFTER... Peace Be With You.
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- Anonymous User
- 2022-07-15
Outstanding and Enlightening!
The narration of this important work of history is so well done! It isn’t often we get to read about the point of view of an infantry man. The detail of what he has seen is, in my mind, important for those learning about history and war, and why we should do our utmost to avoid war.
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- Philip T
- 2022-02-07
horrifying yet devilishly exciting
Without a doubt the greatest book I've read on WW2. Although not for the faint of heart or the close minded, this book will blow the socks off any reader interested in WW2.
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- Charlie
- 2021-11-29
Just amazing.
Listened to this right after the Band of Brothers Book. Paints such a real and different picture of war. So descriptive you feel like you’re actually there. Already recommended it to some friends. Overall the best war book I’ve listened to yet.
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- Beekaye69
- 2021-09-27
Exceptionally vivid
I bought it on a whim and I am very glad I did. After slogging through the first two lord of the rings books I needed something with a little more action and this definitely fit that need. I felt like I was there beside Sledge the whole time.
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- ld2013
- 2021-07-27
Thank you Eugene.
incredibly important piece of work. Every highschool student in the USA should cover this book.
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- Paul and Jess.
- 2021-04-09
Top notch.
An excellent book. Provides a visceral, gritty, and nasty insight into a foot soldier's life.
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- Mike91
- 2020-07-05
Incredible story
An account that accurately details the reality of War, it’s affects & the ultimate sacrifices made.
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- Tabitha B
- 2020-02-27
Should be required reading in High School!
I couldn't stop listening! it was brutally honest but poignant and very very real about the horrors of the Pacific war. A perfectly written memoir.
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- JayEC0
- 2019-10-22
An amazing account of war
Sledge cuts through to the harsh reality of war in the rawest way imaginable
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- Richard
- 2013-10-21
This is the second audio book of Sledge's work
Narrators matter and it is rare for me to buy an audiobook that I already own, and enjoy just to hear another perspective in the way it is read. But this book lends itself to the two pretty much different voices. Sledge wrote this book about his combat experience in his maturity. I think like many veterans of war, especially ground combat. some distance, in terms of years, often decades, is required to tell the story. But E. B. Sledge lived it and survived it, and not just physically, as a young man.
George Wilson does a terrific job of telling this story as an adult explaining what happened, in the voice of someone who not only survived, but is strong enough to remember and acknowledge the ordinary people who accomplished remarkable things, good, bad, and horrific. The drama comes from the written word, and Sledge does not add many flourishes. The stated facts of what he saw and experienced do not need them.
Marc Vietor reads in the voice of the young man experiencing the fatigue, terror and even humor, of the ground combat soldier in the Pacific of World War II. It is good to remember that Sledge and his fellow marines were very young. In another time they would have been deciding what they would do when they grew up. In that time they were just trying to stay alive to grow up.
I am glad I indulged myself and bought both books.
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- Aaron
- 2014-08-13
Engaging Account of the War in “The Pacific”
This is a review of two books, “With the Old Breed” and “Helmet for My Pillow.” HBO based its miniseries “The Pacific,” on these books, and Audible Studios and Playtone recently made new recordings of both books. If, like me, you were interested in both, hopefully this will help sort out how they stack up. In short, both are worth the listen, but if you only wish to get one, go with “With the old Breed.”
“With the Old Breed” is the war diary of E.B. Sledge (a.k.a. “Sledgehammer”). Although not an author by trade Sledge is obviously very intelligent and well-spoken. He writes like he was telling the story to his family, which is, in fact, apparently why Sledge wrote the book in the first place. Sledge describes his experiences at the battles of Peleliu and Okinawa, but also describes his training prior to the battles. The scenes are graphic and disturbing at times, but no doubt accurate.
It’s been said before that Sledge’s book is required reading for anyone thinking of joining the Marines, and I think this must be correct. For officers, Sledge’s account as a private depicts and describes the traits of the “good” officers verses the, let’s call them, “not so good” officers. It’s a veritable “how to” earn and command the respect and admiration of your men, which may be useful for any person in a leadership position to know. For the enlisted men, the book is a very real account of the inglorious nature of war. Wars are not fought to win honors, and no-one should join up in search of glory and fame. As Sledge says, often, it’s a “waste.”
As for the narration, Mazzello is a good actor, but a little slow. I’d recommend listening at 1.25% speed at least, or else it just drags on.
“Helmet for my Pillow” is Robert Leckie’s account of his experiences in the war. Leckie fought at Guadalcanal, New Britain, and Peleliu, but also writes considerably about his “debauchery” in Australia between the battles. His prose (and even his poetry) are quite well-written, and you get a good sense of what life must have been like in the Pacific when the fighting was not going on.
The book is also well narrated. Dale tells the story with good pacing, tone, and vocal color throughout. (By the way, Tom Hanks phones in his introductions for both books, which is disappointing).
In comparison, although there are many similarities to the realities of war, the books are very different. Leckie’s book is much better written than Sledge’s, but perhaps not as engaging from a story-telling perspective. Also, these two Marines could not be more different in character. Sledge is a boy-scout, whereas Leckie is a rogue, spending it seems more time in the brig, than in battle. This is not likely a fair comparison, given the horrific things both privates had to put up with, but Leckie comes off as less sympathetic than Sledge.
Overall, if you choose only one of these two books, I recommend “With the Old Breed,” but really I’d recommend both books to anyone, even those not interested in history. These are not stale accounts of dates and locations and troop numbers. These are firsthand accounts of the horrors of war, which is something later generations (such as my own) luckily have not experienced to this extreme. The people Sledge and Leckie describe are real people, not just characters. When they died, or were injured, or went crazy, these things really happened, which is, I think, something worth remembering.
Read the book(s), and thank a veteran when you see one.
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- Berserk
- 2013-11-21
The best war memoir you will ever read.
This is indeed greatest war Memoir I have ever read. Normally, with first hand accounts there is a lot of bluster. However, E.B. Sledge's writing is void of any bravado and it's truly an amazing story. The book will really give you a deep appreciation for what these Marines went through and the brutality that they had to endure. The totality of the conflict in which these young men were swept into is really awe inspiring. I think everyone should really read this work.
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- ipppon
- 2014-08-16
Brings the horror of war home
Where does With the Old Breed rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
This is one of the most riveting stories of war that I have read. I have read many first hand accounts on WWII and other wars. None have gone into the horrific details face by EB Sledge and his fellow Marines. His book brought home the full horror of war in the pacific.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Since the story is about EB Sledge and his fellow marines, Sledge is the favorite character. However, He describes many other of his marines in ways that I wish I could have read their stories too.
What three words best describe the narrators’s performance?
Nasally, slow, gets better further in book ( yes, more than three words)
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I grieved for the marines and the horrors they had to face. But I was warmed by the courage they showed. I am glad the US Marines are still around to keep the county safe.
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- The Louligan
- 2014-10-11
AWESOME FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT OF WWII IN THE PACIFIC!
THIS is the book to read for the stories behind HBO's "Pacific" mini-series. The show was based on this book and "Helmet For My Pillow", which I read first. It was so poetic, prosey and philosophical that the reader/listener doesn't really FEEL the horrors of war from the men who fought it on the ground, as "cannon fodder". Think of Shakespeare writing "Generation Kill": "Where the art thy going, Caesar? Can not thou see-eth that thy tank-eth hath sallied forth a mere 10 clicks from Angincourt?" That's literally how flowery "Helmet" was!
But here we get first-hand all of the horror and fear of the young men, many still in their teens, who are inadequately prepared mentally for such trauma. US Marine E.B. Sledge's name has been mentioned in quite a few of the books that I've read about World War II in the Pacific. It's easy to see why so many people had a great respect for the brave young man. I don't even need to watch the mini-series after this book. I'm glad that the other story involved didn't keep me from such a great experience!
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- Anthony
- 2015-08-27
Amazing what a voice can do!
First of all Sledge does an amazing job of creating an immersive experience that allows the reader to connect with the true heroes who fought and died during the less recognized War of the Pacific. Sledge's story telling ability provides an amazing firsthand experience that is so powerful you feel the intensity, emotion, fear, humor, horror, comradery, suffering, etc. This book is truly outstanding by itself, but the fact that Joseph Mazello, who played Eugene Sledge in the 2010 award winning HBO miniseries The Pacific, is the narrator the Audible edition elevates it from outstanding to phenomenal!
There are many opinions about how to approach books that have been made into movies. Some prefer to read first and then watch, while others watch first and then read, but regardless of your preference if you are a fan of military history and/or the HBO miniseries The Pacific I highly recommend paring the HBO miniseries with the listening of this audio book. I actually made the choice to intertwine them by listening to sections of the audio book and then transitioned to watching corresponding sections of the HBO miniseries, which for me created the most memorable and engaging Audible experience I have had thus far out of the nearly 700 Audible books I have listened to.
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- Tim
- 2015-10-05
Fantastic
Easily one of the best audio books I have ever heard. Stellar performance with an intense and exhilarating story.
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- Dennis
- 2014-04-20
GREAT BOOK AND NARRATION. WORTH YOUR TIME.
A great history of a tough breed of everyday guys rose to the challenge and in the face or hardship and death became heroes. The narration was great. There was a humbleness about the author who lived and fought through that troubled time. You will not be disappointed.
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- Tim
- 2014-04-03
War Diary
Eugene B. Sledge's diary of the war is one of the best memoir that I've read in a long time, ever since Louis Zamperini and "Unbroken." In many ways, "With the Old Breed" is far better than Laura Hillenbrand's rendition of Zamperini's story because E. B. Sledge is not an author by trade. He is a soldier. Eugene took notes during the combat of the Pacific and later published his memoir.
Instead of telling his story to a schooled prep writer that has little or no experience of war, Eugene wrote his own experience with his own words. It makes his book that much more creditable to read.
As for the performance of Joseph Mazzello, (he played Sledge's character in the HBO miniseries of the Pacific), the first half of the read wasn't that good. I struggle through his pace of reading and found his voice to be very bland. Maybe someone gave a talk or a cup of coffee to Mazzello, but his performance becomes much more enjoyable in the second half.
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- David Firebaugh
- 2015-10-01
I'm speechless.
This is a must read or listen to. I have downloaded several books of WWII. To understand what my grandfather went through in the Pacific war. Because he himself refused to talk about it, all of his life. My respect for my elders. Who gave so very much. I thank you so much. This is a must read
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