The Story Unfolds

"Okay, so how the hell did I end up in this godforsaken place, anyway?"

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Close friend to Thurman Miller. Wrote the book Hell in the Pacific, about his experiences.

"... one helluva great guy and an outstanding officer... He was firm with the troops but always fair, and he never raised his voice.'

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Commanding officer of K Company at Cape Gloucester, where he received the Silver Star for leading hand-to-hand combat on Walt's Ridge. KIA by a sniper during the Battle of Peleliu.

"Will the storm of war swallow me up... Will I ever see my parents again?"

‍A prominent character in the story. A Platoon Sergeant, 2nd Platoon, served in the Marine Corps from 1939-1945. One of eighteen children in a poor family from the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia. Wrote the book 'Earned in Blood' about his experiences.

Eugene B. Sledge with Mortar Platoon. Eugene is sitting on the floor with the pipe in his mouth.

Saul David used the letters, journals and text written by soldiers serving in the Devil Dogs to write his book. These are letters from Eugene B. Sledge to his family back home. I'm struck by how much comfort he gets from reading about mundane events from home, and how he relays his experience of war: mostly uneventful, boring even, passing the time in tents, watching movies, chatting with fellow soldiers. Also his realisation that war is hardest on the parents of soldiers. The plan with a documentary about the Devil Dogs is for Saul to trace the steps of these soldiers and read and recount their words as he does so.

Conversation between Saul David, director Tim Robinson and Eugene Sledge's youngest son Henry.