You'll Be Sor-ree!: A Guadalcanal Marine Remembers the Pacific War

Awesome book. If you enjoy WWII history buy this book! Dr. Phillips has a great story to tell. Easy and enjoyable to read. I had a hard time putting the book down at night before I went to sleep. WWII history buffs this book is for you!

The first thing I thought about when I finished YOU"LL BE SOR-REE was will the next generation, this generation, have such heros? I surely hope so. I hope todays Marine are as full of patriotism and grit and love of country Sid Phillips and his corps mates had. If you are into the history of WWII, the Marines, men in arms, or just stories of war this new book is a must read. You can not put it down. It is so real, so easy to feel the pain, tragedy, friendship and loyalty it took to get through the south Pacific campaign. Phillips lets us into his stories, written to share with his family but now available to us. Take advantage, read this little book. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Sid Phillips is a fantastic storyteller who tells his own story of WWII in the Guadalcanal with the First Marine Division with strength, humility, and humor. The book, "You'll be Sor-ree! A Guadalcanal Marine Remembers the Pacific War", started out to be his memoirs for family members to read but is destined to be a classic that Marines and their families should be required to read. The final chapter aptly titled "Reflections" states his convictions in a belief system that are the foundations from which future generations will build greatness. According to the author, though he acknowledges the greatness bestowed upon his generation of Marines, the best of the Marine Corps is yet to come. After reading the last page, I put the book down, in tears and contemplating my own lack of convictions because of "political correctness". The author has impacted me with such a profound sense of duty, that I am unable to describe it aptly. But this book is certainly not political nor is it a call to action; it's simply a story of Marines in the Pacific during World War II, written as an enjoyable tale urging the reader to turn one page after another. It's not a book about war, but a book about brotherhood through the toughest of times and what it took to get through another day during months of combat. The Marines offer one another no sympathy, yet are true brothers for life. Perhaps that is what makes the brotherhood so very strong. Particular sentences throughout the book sent my emotions over the top, but one stands out for me more than any other. I had to put the book down while I shed a few tears--for myself and for all the other families who are sending their kids off to bootcamp. The day after the invasion of Pearl Harbor, Phillips and a friend chose to enlist in the Marine Corps (the line to enlist in the Navy was longer than two city blocks). It's in Chapter 3 that Phillips has just arrived at Parris Island for recruit training. As the founder of an organization that supports the families of Marines from bootcamp through deployments, I hear from parents whose sons and daughters have recently left for bootcamp, complaining about what they perceive as heavy-handed training. Sid Phillips' sentence sums up bootcamp with all that I would love to share with parents of new recruits: "My experience there was one of which I have no criticism." The author goes on to skillfully relate how the training in bootcamp had a simple message, "Get it right and the harassment [from the DIs] would stop." From what I understand, recruit training today uses the same philosophy and it hasn't changed in over 230 years. It's this philosophy that has generations of Marines standing head and shoulders above the rest of the troops, assuring that when they get it right when faced with an enemy, the harassment will stop. Simply put, that's what it takes to be victorious in a combat zone. It's a conviction worthy of being applied to all aspects of our lives. I hope you read

Sid is a true American hero and patriot. In his book, Sid provides a firsthand account of what a mortar man experienced on Guadalcanal and Cape Gloucester. He had a baptism in fire and lived to tell future generations about his World War II experiences. I have had the unique privilege of meeting Sid on two occasions and sharing meals with him. Sid loves his country has much today as he did back in 1941 when he signed up to fight for America and if necessary die for it. He comes from a unique generation, a generation that put it all on the line for me, my family and future generations. It is because of men like Sid, we are the recipients of inherited freedom. [...]. Tim Drake

Sidney Phillips wrote in his preface that he originally meant this book only for his family but then when it was well received decided to release it for the public. He does not consider it to be a history so much as a collection of "sea stories". If it has any serious flaw that would be the fact that at only 205 pages it doesn't tell all the stories this obviously talented gentleman has seen in his long and productive life. As such a "sea story" collection it will round out anyone's collection of WW-II stories and is a great companion to With the Old Breed and China Marine, written by his friend and fellow Marine, Eugene Sledge. Phillips tells about his induction into the US Marines, his battle experiences at Guadalcanal and Cape Gloucester as well as numerous experiences of his day to day military life, his lifelong friendships, his life after the war and the philosophy of life which kept him sane during and after the war.