Helmet for My Pillow: From Parris Island to the Pacific Paperback – May 28, 2019

Having seen this title as one of the Bantam's World War II series when I was much younger ... I remember always passing over it for a book that focused on the European Theatre. Watching HBO's "The Pacific" compelled me to read this book and looking back, I must say that I am glad I waited. I was mesmerized by the Leckie's recollection of his wartime experience ... in a way that I probably wouldn't have appreciated had I read it when I first saw it as a child. Leckie has a writing style that easily allows the reader to shadow him through his experiences and his dedication to detail seems to invigorate the senses as well. This book about one Marine's experience from boot camp to Peleliu has contributed greatly to my craving to learn more about Pacific Theatre of World War II.First of all, the book was easy and enjoyable read. The vividly detailed writing-style puts the reader on point throughout the book and Leckie allows us to view his world through a colorful panoramic lens. In fact, I never felt myself in need of additional information or details; all questions are answered and all voids are filled. Many books have a tendency to tease readers when describing events, leaving us to use our imagination to fill the gaps. I find this particularly annoying when reading about an eyewitness viewpoint of history as I don't like to guess about what is actually being seen by the author.Another tactic that I found particularly effective was Leckie's preference to refer to all fellow Marines exclusively by their nicknames (enlisted men and officers alike); it made his storytelling even more personal. We are introduced to men like Eloquent, Chuckler, Hoosier, The White-man, Souvenirs, The Kid, Big-Picture and Commando ... along with an explanation of how those names were appropriately earned.The contents of Leckie's journey starts immediately following the attack on Pearl Harbor and the author decides to enlist. We follow him throughout the process of him becoming a Marine and meet the men in his unit that form the core of his wartime experience. Leckie colorfully illustrates the antics, pranks and miseries of boot camp, his transformation from neighborhood kid to a fighting man, as well as his sardonic attitude toward authority and the rigid set of rules he must obey. It is at this point where we meet his three most-revered buddies that would share all aspects of the journey with him (The Runner, The Hoosier and The Chuckler). Aside from the fact these men were trained to be fodder for the fight against a relentless, unforgiving foe, no opportunity was left not to exploit. Whether it be foraging for goodies in an Army depot to being AWOL in order to meet women ... even time in the brig didn't deter Leckie and his buddies from making the most out of what they were facing, wherever they were. Leckie doesn't ever dwell on thoughts of dying ... much of his book is about living and taking advantage of certain moments ... living on the edge.When Leckie describes his combat experiences on Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester and Peleliu, he spares no detail in describing events before, during and after the battle. Whether it be stumbling upon a Japanese patrol in the humid foliage of Guadalcanal or running for his life and diving in a shell crater on the sun-scorched airfield of Peleliu ... he takes you with him, sweating, thirsty, scared and out-of-breath. The after-battle recollections give the reader a sense of surveying the battlefield and makes you realize how much simple luck had to do with survival (like crowding in a shell-hole located in the middle of the airfield while being targeted by a Japanese heavy gun that was simply too big to fire accurately at close range, but it kept trying anyway). Eventually, after being caught in the middle of a Japanese artillery barrage at Peleliu, Leckie's wartime experience ends on a hospital ship and he learns that the battle for Peleliu claims the lives of most of the men he introduced us to throughout the book.Overall, "Helmet for My Pillow" was a brilliant/engrossing read and a hard book to put down. What separates Leckie's book from most other books of its genre is that Leckie delves into more than just the Marine Corps and World War II battles ... we are treated to the life-defining experience that World War II was to so many young men ... a grand adventure defined by extremes: the Heaven of Melbourne to the Hell(s) of various land-dots in the vast Pacific Ocean, the comforts of a dry hospital bed to sleeping in muddy water for days on end, witnessing the thrill of seeing a buddy survive to the seeing the ignominious defiling of the dead. Leckie's storytelling is superb and I'm glad I finally gave myself the chance to read this book after so many years.

A true telling of Robert Leckie's war experience, good and bad. I'm troubled by this book. I consider myself a patriotic reader of the heroism of our soldiers but Leckie's book includes many acts of non-heroism: a month in a psychiatric ward where he didn't belong, repeated run-ins landing him in the brig twice, and a complete disrespect for authority when the mood so moved him. But also included are the many acts of heroism if heroism can be described as doing the mundane fighting necessary to achieve our victory in WWII. Approximately 40% of the book is of fighting, 30% of the layover and adventure with ladies, liquor and shenanigans in Australia and the remaining 30% is of the camaraderie of the soldiers, whether in the line of duty or usurping authority in theft of food or AWOL adventures.So, maybe this is the first truthful book I have read of WWII with the remaining of the books covering only what the author believes the readers will want to hear and not exposing the warts of war. It certainly leaves the reader with a perplexing feeling as it is so different from the typical book of war.Leckie joins the Marines the day after Pearl Harbor and after boot camp is stationed at New River NC, a marine base I lived on with my Naval father in the 1960s. Shenanigans and disrespect for authority prevail prior to departure to Guadalcanal where his unit performs masterfully in repelling the Japanese while stranded on the island. This is probably the clearest picture of battle as his ability to sense the state of the battle by who controls the air and sea is effectively relayed. The most telling part of this section is when they have no idea whether Americans even know what they are doing only to have this dispelled upon return to the ship when a sailor explains that all of the country know of the great victory and bravery of the soldiers of Guadalcanal.Next the book wanders into the stay in Australia where debauchery is reined on the nation and accepted by the welcoming ladies of Australia who feel they were rescued from invasion. This is a welcome interlude for the soldiers and for the readers and really provides a good look at what it was like even when not on the battlefield. This is also where his rebellious tendencies raise their head and he ends up in the brig twice.After battle in New Guinea Leckie's disrespect for authority land him in a mental ward which is really a strange segway for a book of a fighting hero. I applaud the honesty but must admit it was almost like he was hiding from the battlefield until he realizes where he should be.His fighting career ends on Peleliu in some of the most devastating fighting of the war. Of 1,500 in his regiment only 28 survive unscathed such was the horrible fighting. But there is a much better book of the fighting on Peleliu, "With the Old Breed at Pelelui and Okinawa" by E. B. Sledge. Leckie's career on this island only lasted a couple of days and then he was transported by ship to the states.I read this book as it was one of three used for the HBO miniseries The Pacific. From watching the show and having read one of the other books I conclude that this book dominated the most time of the miniseries, probably because he touched a number of campaigns as well as the noncombat sections. I'm curious as to the decision to keep so much nonessential parts of the War in the miniseries that came from this book.I'm always inspired as I read these stories, this being no different. But possibly this was the most disturbing and non-enjoyable of all the books I have read of WWII and its fighting men. Still a worthwhile story to read. Interestingly, Leckie, the writer closes with some very interesting and depressing thoughts of the "mushroom cloud" that ended the war vs. the American soldier.

A great read and accounting of some of the main Pacific battles. Will read more of the works written by from “Lucky”.