Marching north, the other way, were the bloodied veterans of the 27th Division, whom the 1st Marine Division would be replacing in the line. “Tragic expressions revealed where they had been,” wrote Gene Sledge. “They were dead beat, dirty and grisly, hollow-eyed and tight-faced. I hadn’t seen such faces since Peleliu.” One passing soldier told Sledge what to expect: “It’s hell up there, Marine.”
