Sledge Revisits Peleliu Airfield in HBO's "The Pacific" Part 6

[@ReelHistory]

This episode debuts on Henry's birthday! Send him some kind wishes in the comments!

[@Nyllsor]

Wishing Henry a pleasant day! Cheers from Sweden!

[@tobytawaqal3678]

Happy Birthday Mr. Henry Sledge! Thank you for bring out the light of your father's legacy

[@JARP173]

Happy Birthday 🎉

[@joshh8245]

Happy birthday Mr Sledge! Hello from Washington state! Definitely enjoying hearing your perspective on The Pacific and your father's service. Fascinating stuff.

[@cinematicsunproductions7748]

Happy Birthday, Henry Sledgehammer.

[@marklacombe8666]

Henry, no you’re not talking too much. You’re doing a great job. Really appreciate your insight.

[@BjrnOttoVasbottenbjovas]

Haha i laughed out loud at that. Happy birthday!

[@thedude1316]

Exactly. That is why we are here.

[@prestonskeete1308]

As a member of the Marine Corps, these are some of my favorite videos on KZbin I love that you guys are doing this to continue to create great content for us

[@ReelHistory]

Semper Fi!

[@auntykriest]

This was my favorite episode. The evolution of Eugene into Sledgehammer is the best story in the whole series. Really makes you feel the fear and trauma of the combat and the trials of overcoming them and finally becoming numb to it all. Really a powerful soldier's (marine's) story.

[@ReelHistory]

Well said.

[@toneian]

JF. I realize you’re riding co-pilot in this series but this could be the best ReelHistory episode to date. Nicely done and great humility shared by Sledgehammer Jr.!!!!!

[@douglasiles2024]

First of all, happy birthday to Henry Sledge, and many more to come!! I remember when the previews from this series first came out, I was beyond excited. I had watched Band of Brothers several times, but growing up as the son of a career Navy man, my childhood consisted of World War II history about the Pacific Theater of Operations, because the Navy and Marine Corps had a much more prominent role there. My dad's first ship that he served on after basic training in 1959 was the USS Laffey (DD-724), which served in World War II at Okinawa. As a fresh young radioman, he served with veterans of that campaign and told me the stories that were told to him. The Pacific was long overdue, and to have the added personal insights of the son of one of the main characters, these episodes have been a real treat for us all. Thank you, Jared.

[@Hobbitma]

Happy Birthday Henry. I am loving this series. Thank you so much.

[@apanapandottir205]

5:08 I made that exact face when I saw that. Henrys commentary and insights and this bible, the bag and pistol and such from the last episode is amazing. This series of videos are something really special.

[@ReelHistory]

Thank you.

[@brendanlillie7037]

I was lucky enough to stumble upon a copy of With the Old Breed at a used-book store in Niantic, CT. It was shortly after the mini-series came out. I was intrigued to read the personal stories of the people depicted in the film. Thank you @reelhistory and Mr. Sledge for these video lectures.

[@andrealongwith9741]

Happy Birthday Henry! I named my kitten Sledge! My father served in Korea & only said a few words about his service; Thank you;;

[@The_Texas_Welder]

Happy birthday Mr. Sledge

[@boss-anova]

The level of greatness here is like you watching Gettysburg with R. Lee's son. This is amazing. Happy birthday Henry. You can never say too much about your legacy.

[@ReelHistory]

Thanks!

[@scrappydoo7887]

With the old breed is an excellent book, i cant recommend it highly enough to anyone who hasn't read it yet.

[@shadowwolf9503]

Happy Birthday Henry !🎉

[@DunsonDrums]

Again, more priceless insight into the lives of these outstanding men. Keep up the great work!

[@scottmcgahey891]

Incredible 👍🇺🇸

[@TR00P]

I love this series so much. Especially Mr. Sledge’s incite. Can’t wait to see the Reel History take on Generation Kill!!

[@therampanthamster]

Thank you both so much for taking the time to produce these. It's fascinating and emotional in equal measures. The artifacts that Henry has are wonderful to see as well.

[@robertmalcomson4777]

Wow, being able to see his bible was awesome. What a great episode overall! History is so interesting.

[@ReelHistory]

It took our breath away a bit.

[@chemBTW]

happy birthday henry! i look forward to these very much every week.

[@Jmiranda70]

After watching the beginning of Saving Private Ryan I thought that was the best depiction of a battle ever made until I watched these episodes about this battle. This so far is the best reaction to the Pacific that I’ve seen, i keep waiting for each new video to come out

[@DARKFOX1000]

Happy birthday, Henry!! Thank you for your valuable, personal insights in to this tremendous series.

[@pjny21]

Happy Birthday, Mr. Sledge!

[@jessierollstin4853]

Happy Birthday Henry! Thank you so much for being willing to do this!

[@johnwayne9828]

Happy Birthday Henry. God Bless.

[@tomdeacon-harry839]

Happy Birthday Henry. Fascinating to hear you’re views and unique perspective on the series

[@kremesauce]

Happy birthday Henry! Thank you for doing this wonderful series, this is so important to document and I’m so glad you could do it You wouldn’t be the man you are without your father and thank you for all the wonderful anecdotes!

[@bcarreon6409]

I got to know Mr. RV Burgin and he said that crossing the airfield was by far the hardest day of the war for him.

[@timalexander7758]

Happy Birthday Henry! Another great installment Looking forward to seeing the next one!

[@aerodynamiccerebrum]

I'm not sure about in the 40s, but when I was an 0341 (USMC Mortarman) we would get the order to "half load" from the team leader, the A-gunner would take the mortar round from the ammoman, who set the charges, he would check the charges and timer then put the round at the end of the tube and hold it there and day "hangin" until given the order to fire. So from a more modern perspective, it is accurate.

[@SpookyDeer]

It been great to see this channel on such a regular upload schedule - truly living the dream combining love of film and history

[@ReelHistory]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@ReelHistory]

We are trying our best!

[@resisthesucc]

Happy Birthday, Mr. Sledge! And Happy New Year to everyone!

[@rufusmedrano2962]

My wife’s uncle fought on Pelilou with the 11 th Marines. They have a picture of him holding a 75mm pack howizer round during the battle

[@Nyllsor]

Being sick this weekend seeing this totally made my day! :) Thanks!

[@ReelHistory]

Get well! Semper Fi.

[@BjrnOttoVasbottenbjovas]

Jared like most teachers is a pretty vocal dude, he is displaying great self discipline here in keeping very still while his guest is talking. Its a good quality in a show host to give guests a lot of room. :)

[@ReelHistory]

Thanks! I do indeed try to give my guests space.

[@djegg3210]

Happy birthday from Scotland!!!

[@jwspeakermre5968]

Happy birthday Mr. Sledge!

[@pomrowik_bagienny1089]

Happy birthday , Henry ! 🎂🎂

[@seangrogan5413]

Have a happy blessed birthday Henry

[@Shadow_Wolf3490]

With The Old Breed and Helmet for My Pillow are both on audible and narrated by the respective actor's that played Leckie and Sledge.

[@henrymeinz1644]

happy birthday to my fellow henry! so cool to hear your perspective. just got your dads book!

[@Coolbreeeze5858]

BEEN WAITIN ON THIS UN DANG HOLIDAYS Happy birthday young sledgehammer

[@blakerh]

Happy Birthday Henry. 🎉

[@worshadar150]

Happy Birthday Henry! I think these are the situations where you can talk as much as you want. It gives them more to work with in the edit :)

[@tdv17]

Awesome. Thanks to you both.

[@mwhyte1979]

Happy birthday, Mr. Sledge. I've read both your fathers book "With the Old Breed" and Mr. Leckie's book "Helmet for My Pillow," and I'm getting ready to read your father's second book , "China Marine."

[@GregoryWagner-l5m]

Happy birthday

[@nicholasmodzinski2528]

Happy Birthday!!!❤❤

[@davidk7324]

Thank you gentlemen. Great questions, Jared. Mrs. Sledge's face upon being told that the car outside carried a uniformed man, reflects the same emotion so well depicted in SPR -- when Mrs. Ryan, while washing breakfast dishes and using her thumbnail to pry off a bit of egg, gazes out the window at the approaching car.

[@ReelHistory]

That's a great cinematic analogy.

[@kevywevykevy]

Fantastic series!

[@jonasgustaf]

The scene when they're asking the tank or APC to carry dead bodies. It took me at least 10 years to understand, much because of channels like yours. What they are really asking is: will you spend fuel to carry these dead bodies to their proper burial grounds instead of participating in the fight. That's not an easy question to ask...

[@johnclarencemercado4218]

Happy birthday Mr. Sledgehammer

[@worshadar150]

Thank you so much for all of these. I look forward to these on Saturdays now. I'd love to see a breakdown on how modern (or WWII era) artillery works, so that when you say "the japs had them pegged" folks fully understand how this works. I know there's a similar line in Saving Private Ryan, about how the German's had "pre-sighted" the beach. I feel like because it starts to get into math and physics some folks don't want to know, but I do :)

[@adamhauskins6407]

Happy birthday to henry sledge Thank you for the insight from one of the first to pre order your book probably I know this probably pre filmed but what did your think of the weapons that where issued to him? Have you ever purchased any of them such as a m1 carbine

[@ReelHistory]

We don't recall him doing so. If we find out otherwise, we will reply again.

[@yago8672]

Awesome!

[@SomeTypicalTourist]

I never noticed the dog at 27:25 when I first watched the series. Interesting

[@gettysburgguy]

Nice job!

[@TR00P]

The million dollar question! Sledgehammer Jr. What did your dad do for fun?

[@Someloke8895]

This is going to sound kind of silly, but ever since reading "With the Old Breed" I found myself quite attached to Sledge, more so when learning he was from Mobile, as at the time I was living in Alabama. (Former Green Card holder) - My friend and I did a big roadtrip one weekend down to the USS Alabama and USS Drum, and I suggested we look up where Sledgehammer was buried and pay our respects, but sadly, traffic and a time limit put an end to that notion. But it has been something I've wanted to do ever since. It's fantastic hearing from Henry and the historical items he and the family have kept.

[@ReelHistory]

We are glad you can hear about him via his son. Thanks for the kind comments.

[@PalleRasmussen]

Peleileu was the death of the finest light infantry division in the entire war. It was a scandal.

[@dsl32]

I hope Eugene Sledge’s bible dose go the The Library of Congress. That is amazing Henry has His dad’s bible.

[@johnclarencemercado4218]

34:32 I think I know who Mr. Sledge is talking about. A former K/3/5 member who was active on Reddit back then.

[@ChrisP.Bacon008]

I’m sure one of the people he’s talking about is Burgie. His book puts him in a pretty arrogant light.

[@franciscogaray2530]

Yeah, Sterling Mace.

[@boss-anova]

​@@ChrisP.Bacon008 I feel like Burgie only said that Snafu and Sledgehammer were too hard on the NCO from New England that talked too much. Sledge expresses alot of contempt for "yankees" himself. Especially regarding the flag being raised at Shuri Castle.

[@ChrisP.Bacon008]

@ It’s been awhile since I listened to the book but a lot of people in the reviews were saying stuff like that too, but idk maybe it’s exaggerated too much. Oh also the ultra religious speil at the end is pretty bizarre even for a normal Christian.

[@vincentklein4455]

Yeah although to be fair Sterling seemed to take a lot more issue with Snafu than with Sledge and if he truly had had an issue with Sledge he wouldn’t have helped with the writing of WtOB. For what it’s worth I think his book is a very interesting read and if you ignore the few digs at the mortars it adds some really great context to Peleliu although less so to Okinawa. Like Henry said though, take it with a grain of salt it’s 70 years on from the events.

[@behindthespotlight7983]

0:52 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@tomjarrett2477]

Happy Birthday. Has he found a publisher?

[@ReelHistory]

Yes. Click the link in the video caption for the details.

[@gregoryluckie1649]

I can't believe the motorman were issued with those crappie carbines!

[@ReelHistory]

Carbines didn't have the range or knockdown power of a Garand, but they were quite capable and light.

[@vincentklein4455]

Those carbines were very well liked in WW2. If you’re carrying a mortar baseplate you really don’t want to be lugging an M1 Rifle around.

[@oreuh]

i love the pacific … 1940’s men were just built different.

[@jwspeakermre5968]

Fun fact: the US military didn't take cigarettes out of combat rations until 1972.

[@ReelHistory]

Fun fact indeed!

[@davidk7324]

@@jwspeakermre5968 Tiny packs of +/- 3 or 4 cigarettes. I was issued “C-Rats” in W. Germany 77-80 that still had ‘em. Mighty stale as I recall. Meals Combat Individual.

[@jwspeakermre5968]

@davidk7324 then you must have received the ones that were dated 1972 or older because I assure you they stopped putting cigarettes in them in 1972.

[@davidk7324]

@@jwspeakermre5968 Yep, they were dated approx. 71-72 as I recall. Not sure what the projected shelf life was. Pretty much everything we had, including our Hueys, were VN vintage.

[@jwspeakermre5968]

@davidk7324 yeah when my dad was in the army in 1973 or 74 he had rations dated from World War II or the Korean War.

[@williampage622]

You hope to live the next 5 minutes, the deleterious effects of cigarettes is probably way down on your list of problems.

[@ReelHistory]

Absolutely. Living in the moment.

[@smartbomb7202]

this guy keeps saying in almost every upload... "the gunny is doing what a gunny should be doing". I don't think he has a clue what a gunny does, and if so, please elaborate, these non military types always keep it shallow.

[@boss-anova]

Isnt the Gunnery Sgt supposed to lead the squad?

[@ReelHistory]

This gives a pretty good overview. Oh, and there is no need to be an ass. Thanks. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqaVhpKsgZmIotU

[@smartbomb7202]

@ another wanna be