- [after a particularly grueling encounter with a Japanese pillbox]
- Cpl. R.V. Burgin: Why don't they just surrender?
- PFC Eugene Sledge: 'Cause they're Japs.
- [while looking through the ruins of a Japanese machine gun nest, Sledge notices one of the dead Japanese has gold teeth, and draws his kabar]
- PFC Merriell 'Snafu' Shelton: Whatcha doin', Sledgehammer?
- PFC Eugene Sledge: Thought I'd buy me some Jap gold.
- PFC Merriell 'Snafu' Shelton: You don't want to do that!
- PFC Eugene Sledge: Why not? I saw you do it.
- [turns over the corpse]
- PFC Merriell 'Snafu' Shelton: Don't! You shouldn't do it.
- [pauses]
- PFC Merriell 'Snafu' Shelton: Germs. Doc says all these dead Nips have germs.
- PFC Eugene Sledge: Germs?
- PFC Merriell 'Snafu' Shelton: Bad germs. Diseases that'll make you sick.
- PFC Eugene Sledge: Bad germs.
- [backs away from the corpse]