“The Pacific,” an HBO series developed by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks after the success of “Band of Brothers,” presents the real-life stories of Marines in the 1st Marine Division during World War II. The series showcases the harsh realities of island-hopping campaigns in the Pacific theater and draws from several memoirs to provide a broader perspective than just a single Army company. The show profiles various Marines, detailing their experiences during the war and their lives afterward.
  

Key Points: 

1. “The Pacific” followed the 1st Marine Division in World War II and was based on multiple memoirs, providing a comprehensive view of the war in the Pacific theater.
2. Unlike “Band of Brothers” that focused on key parts of Europe, “The Pacific” details the Marines’ grueling island hopping campaign towards Japan.
3. Eugene Sledge, nicknamed “Sledgehammer,” endured brutal close combat and later wrote a memoir titled “With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa,” which significantly influenced the series.
4. Robert Leckie, an experienced journalist before joining the Marines, took part in intense combat, post-war became a military historian, and wrote “Helmet for My Pillow,” another significant source for the series.
5. John Basilone, a hero depicted in the series, showed exemplary bravery during the war, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroics at Guadalcanal, and was later killed in Iwo Jima, receiving a posthumous Navy Cross.

Source: https://taskandpurpose.com/culture/real-life-marines-the-pacific-ww2/