The Things That Remain

“Henry Sledge thoughtfully curates an exhibit within this book, using his father’s Pacific War artifacts and archival collections to stitch together memories that capture the legacy of Eugene B. Sledge. It is a testament to how personal stories endure through the things that remain.” – Nicole Bagley, Director of Collections and Exhibits for the National Museum of the Pacific War
“For much of my Marine Corps career I turned to Eugene Sledge’s book for insight and inspiration. And I’m certainly not the only individual who has garnered and gleaned combat revelations from the observations in With the Old Breed. In fact, that book was the Bible for us when we were making the HBO mini-series The Pacific. It lives on in an inspirational role with today’s Marines which is one of the reasons that Henry Sledge’s study of his Dad’s artifacts and uniforms is an important adjunct. This is an insider’s look at the man, Marine, and author who brought the brutality and shattering experiences of South Pacific combat in World War II alive for generations of Americans.” – Captain Dale Dye USMC (Ret), author, advisor, and filmmaker
“The raw, unflinching recollections of Eugene Sledge in With the Old Breed connected us to the experiences of our fathers and grandfathers in WWII. In The Old Breed, his son offered us a deeper connection to the Marine that we’d come to love by sharing the unpublished memories from his father’s memoir. The Things That Remain is the final piece that completes that connection to the past by showing us the physical objects that Eugene Sledge carried. Henry Sledge has come as close as you can to placing these items in our very hands and immersing us in the stories that they tell.” – JD Huitt, creator, The History Underground YouTube Channel
“Through their compelling writings over the decades, the Sledge family has gifted readers with intimate understandings of the psychological weight of war. For those who endured the likes of Peleliu and Okinawa, the emotional baggage of those infamous battles in the Pacific was a burden that could never fully be released. Marine Eugene Sledge imparted that lesson in his stark but soulful reminiscences. His son, Henry—who has dedicated years to preserving his father’s legacy—now presents us glimpses of the physical weight of war. This rich volume of artifacts, photos, and mementos vividly illustrates the day-to-day life of Sledge’s war. The items Sledge carried and treasured throughout his military odyssey and beyond are stirring reminders of memory, coping, responsibility, and—ultimately—family legacy.” – Dr. Jared Frederick, author of Fierce Valor and Hang Tough
“The Marines of the Pacific Island campaign were not just Marines, they were legends. Eugene B. Sledge was one of those Marines, and his son’s book, The Things That Remain, brings us closer to Eugene Sledge and the reality of his wartime experience. Through pictures of personal gear, notes, uniforms, and documents that connect directly to his horrific and heroic experience, this book allows us a closer glimpse at the men of The Old Breed.” – Jocko Willink
“The world was captivated by what Eugene Sledge told us in With the Old Breed. It conjured images, conveyed emotions, and painted a picture of the Marines Corps War in the Pacific better than anyone else ever could. And now, thanks to his son, we get to see what he lived. Henry Sledge shares in The Things That Remain images and photos that bring to life what we all had to imagine before. This goes beyond a ‘must read’ for any combat memoir enthusiast. It is essential to fully grasp the magnitude of the deadliest and most important conflict in human history. It is visually stunning and evokes emotion in a way words alone could never do.” – Lieutenant Colonel Dave Berke, USMC (ret), USMC Combat Aviator, TOPGUN Instructor, author of The Need to Lead

Henry Sledge is the son of acclaimed author Eugene B. Sledge, who is known for With the Old Breed and China Marine. Growing up, he witnessed firsthand the creation and lasting impact of his father’s memoir, and through their conversations about the Pacific War, developed a lifelong passion for World War II history.

Henry is the author of The Old Breed… The Complete Story Revealed, a companion to his father’s work. His writing has appeared in World War II Magazine, Naval History Magazine, and Valor. He has cohosted and appeared on numerous podcasts, including the Jocko Podcast, and has been featured in documentaries and historical programming with HBO, Fox Nation, History Channel, and American Heroes Channel. His speaking engagements include American Veterans Center, the Society for Military History, The Citadel, the International WWII Conference in New Orleans, and the Library of Congress. He holds a BA from Auburn University (1988) and lives with his family in Birmingham, Alabama.

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