HJR776 Summary

• Honors the memory of Dr. Eugene B. Sledge, a Mobile native who served with the First Marine Division in World War II battles at Peleliu and Okinawa in 1943.

• Recognizes his memoir "With the Old Breed: at Peleliu and Okinawa" (published 1981) as a foremost work in American literature about the experience of war and ordinary soldiers.

• Acknowledges his second book "China Marine" (published 2002 posthumously) documenting American troops' post-war occupation experience and soldiers' struggles returning to civilian life.

• Notes his work was featured in the Ken Burns World War II documentary series and used in HBO's miniseries "The Pacific" tracking three Marines including Dr. Sledge.

• Celebrates his academic career earning a Ph.D. in biology and serving as a professor at the University of Montevallo for over 28 years, as well as his advocacy for bird-watching and conservation.