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To become a Marine Corps officer, Sledge must attend Georgia Tech, a college. However, Sledge decides to flunk on purpose after the first semester because he hadn't 'joined the Marine Corps to sit out the war in college." (6) This event is a turning point because instead of having an easy, comfortable life as an officer, Sledge decides to quit Georgia Tech so he can fight in the war. Sledge is determined to make a change for his country as a soldier, despite the risks.
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After 2 months of grueling boot camp, Sledge has become disciplined and in physical shape. He was then sent to Camp Elliot to continue his training. This event is both a turning point and a character development. Being at boot camp turned Sledge into someone new, someone who is efficient and more prepared for war. It also opens up his next path to becoming a Marine. Even though boot camp was harsh and merciless, Sledge was persistent through the entire 2 months of it.
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By now, Sledge has gone through many harsh conditions aboard ships and across camps. However, nothing beats Pavuvu, a place where the climate was hot and humid, and the only food was dehydrated potatoes and Spam filled with beetles. Sledge experiences a change in his character because while he is forced through such horrible living conditions, he learns how to survive through the unimaginable, something that will be needed in the future. He is forced to persist through such tough situations.
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Sledge and his comrades depart onto the island of Peleliu. Immediately, he is bombarded by shells and experiences emotions he has never felt before. This event is both a turning event. He embarks on a battle that will last over 1 and a half months, and will have devastating effects on his sanity. In the battle of Peleliu, Sledge is persistent and pushes his way through every situation, shell, and 'Jap'.
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Captain Haldane, someone the entire battalion had respected, died in battle. This is a negative character development because Sledge learns that even men that seem strong and invincible can pass away. Haldane's death devastated him and his comrades. This event shows that despite the harshness of war and the deaths of people he holds close, Sledge manages to move on.
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Sledge gets news that they would board the ship off the island, the bloody battlefield, the next day. This event is a turning point because Sledge has been fighting for more than 1 and a half months, and is mentally and physically drained. This news brings relief to him and his comrades. Even though he was fighting for so long, was dirty, and hadn't had a decent meal in months, he managed to persist through and stay alive, despite the circumstances.
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Persisting and having determination is the best way to face hardships in life.
