WORLD WAR II - NONFICTION
"Helmet for My Pillow" by Robert Leckie 
A gritty and sometimes funny account of one Marine's journey through World War II. Robert Leckie started as grunt machine gunner in Company H, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, a highly decorated unit that fought in many of the major campaigns in the Pacific. This book traces his career from boot camp, advanced training, and then the landing on Guadalcanal on 7 August, 1945. Leckie was in several engagements on the island and had his share of hell until the marines were replaced in early 1943 by the Army.
The 1st Marines were sent to Melbourne, Australia for rest, replacements, and training for upcoming fights. While in Australia, the 1st Marines ran amok and had a wonderful time. But all good things came to an end and they were sent to the hell of New Britain. But Guadalcanal and New Britain were just warm-ups for the nightmare of Peleliu where the island was highly contested by the Japanese and Marine casualties were very high in just a few days. Peleliu is where fighting ended for Leckie. He was so badly concussed by and exploding ammunition dump he was senseless for several days and evacuated. The 1st Marines went on to Okinawa without him.
The book discuses the relationships between the new breed and the old breed, men who had seen service prior to the war, some in combat in Central America and other hot spots. These old-times were the core that the new Marine Corps was built around. Also disgusted if how great some of the officers were and how some of them were pathetic and treated their men like serfs, taking from them what the wanted and constantly doing stupid things.
"Helmet for My Pillow" was first published
in 1957 and thus the realistic language that soldiers and marines used are only
hinted at and only minor profanity is used. The actual words used would have
proved more descriptive. There are no names given to the comrades of Leckie,
only nicknames. I guess this was normal, since many of the marine friends and
families of those killed were still alive and one did not want to cause them
pain.
Reviewed by Kenneth S. Smith 2/06/2001
ibooks, New York
Distributed by Simon & Schuster, Inc.
www.ibooksinc.com
