Chapter 5, Another Amphibious Assault Summary and Analysis

Furious fighting continues on Bloody Nose Ridge but K/3/5 is not directly involved. One day, Sledge resupplies the company command post with water, and after delivering the supplies, he sits and watches operations. Captain Haldane is competent at his post and demonstrates a remarkable concern for his men. Sledge is impressed and returns to his mortar team and comments favorably on Haldane's command. On another occasion some Japanese soldiers infiltrate the marine's foxhole at night and Sledge witnesses a disturbing incident of mistaken identity—a marine kills a wounded marine, erroneously believing him to be a Japanese soldier. The effect upon Sledge is profound and he despises the waste and cruelty of warfare.

After three days on Peleliu, Sledge's company, along with others, is assigned to assault Ngesebus Island—a small island just...