Gunnery Sgt. Elmo Haney Character Analysis in With the Old Breed

A member of the “Old Corps,” part of the Marines since World War I in France, Sergeant Haney is an inspirational model to young Marines such as Sledge. Although characterized by idiosyncrasies such as cleaning his rifle three times per day, talking to himself, and spending most of his time on his own instead of having a buddy, Haney is a stern, deeply experienced officer, committed to respecting the rules. On Pavuvu and Peleliu, during training as well as in battle, he ensures strict discipline, encouraging everyone to respect safety regulations. Although young Marines joke about Haney having gone “Asiatic,” they love and admire him deeply, respecting his authority as an esteemed fighter.

Gunnery Sgt. Elmo Haney Character Timeline in With the Old Breed

The timeline below shows where the character Gunnery Sgt. Elmo Haney appears in With the Old Breed. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

To illustrate the influence of the “old breed” on young Marines, Sledge describes Gunnery Sergeant Haney. He recalls Haney’s idiosyncrasies, such as washing his genitals with a stiff brush used to... (full context)

Sledge also mentions that, unlike other Marines, Haney does not have a buddy but spends most of his time on his own, obsessively... (full context)

...amphibious tracked vehicle. During these few days of training, as Sledge explains to sailors that Haney is not “Asiatic,” he realizes that, from the outside, Marines might seem crazy or reckless,... (full context)

...find that stress leads them all to the bathroom. Although there are only two toilets, Haney occupies one of them for a long time, forcing the Marines—who do not dare tell... (full context)

Over the course of the next few hours, Haney makes frequent rounds asking the Marines for the night’s password. Although his goal is to... (full context)

...killed or wounded at any time. As they move away from Peleliu, Sledge asks Sgt. Haney, whose experience of war dates back to World War I, what he thinks about their... (full context)