| Summary: | This certificate was presented to Eugene B. Sledge on November 1, 1989, to confer on him the honorary rank of Colonel in the Marion Military Insitute Corps of Cadets. Sledge was a freshman in the Corps of Cadets at Marion during the fall term of 1942. At the end of the term on December 3, 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, which was recruiting on campus. Sledge went on to serve briefly in the V-12 officer training program at Georgia Tech before dropping out to serve as an enlisted Marine. He fought in the Pacific campaign in World War II at Peleliu and Okinawa. Many years later, Sledge wrote an account of his combat experiences, published under the title With The Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa. With The Old Breed was extremely well-received by veterans and civilians alike for its gritty account of front-line combat. Sledge was invited to return to Marion on November 1, 1989, to speak about his experiences and his book. He was honored with this certificate of rank and a military parade during his visit.
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