Customer Reviews

Helmet For My Pillow (Military History (Ibooks))

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Robert Leckie gives a gripping first person narrative in which he seemingly pulls no punches about life in the mud and among the flawed but heroic men of the First Marine Division. He recounts hardship, cameraderie, and combat in an engaging, almost lyrical, fashion. I came away from "Helmet" with a renewed respect for the sacrifice of the Greatest Generation. Uncommon valor was truly a common virtue. Leckie's story will make any 18 year old want to march down to the recruiting station and sign up.

Leckie's story dovetails quite nicely with another memoir, "With the Old Breed at Peliliu and Okinawa," the account of another First Division rifleman, E.B. Sledge. The First Marine Division's WWII career began in the jungles of Guadalcanal, went through New Britain and on to Peliliu and ended at Okinawa. Leckie was in at the beginning, but his combat career ended when he was wounded in the Hell of Peliliu. Sledge's combat career began at Peliliu and ended on Okinawa. Together the two give you an enlisted man's eye view of all the First Division's campaigns.

Sledge doesn't turn a phrase as well as Leckie, but his description of combat will make your blood run cold in a way that "Helmet" does not. Any 18 year old reading "Old Breed" will want to tear up his enlistment papers. It seems odd that Leckie, obviously the more accomplished wordsmith, does not paint as horrific a picture of combat as Sledge. Could it be that Leckie has shied away from revealing the full extent of the hardship of combat? Or could it be that Peliliu and Okinawa served up privation and hardship on a much grander scale than Guadalcanal and New Britain? Read both books and decide for yourself. For all its stark description, "Old Breed" will engender the same kind of respect for the men of the First Division that the reader takes away from "Helmet."

Robert Leckie, machine gunner and then scout in the 1st Marine Division, retells his battle experiences on Guadalcanal, New Britain and the horrific losses suffered on Peleliu. In addition to the battle descriptions, this rebel and admitted brig-rat, writes of time spent in the brigs and bars from the states to the South Pacific. The loss of friends and the meaning of war itself are woven into the narrative with skill absent any maudlin sentiment. He paints a vivid picture of the fear brought on by night in the jungle during war. "I could not see, but I dared not close my eyes lest the darkness crawl beneath my eyelids and suffocate me. I could only hear. My ears became my being and I could hear the specks of life that crawled beneath my clothing... I could hear the darkness gathering against me and the silences that lay between the moving things." If this is "brig-rat" writing, then bring on more of it.

At first Leckie grabbed my attention by being at the front of the line to join

The US Marines. Through basic traning and on, a pattern seems to develop in his character. A lack of respect for any person in a position of authority starts to develop. From him, one gets the impression that he feels as if it is some kind of game to try to get over on his superiors, sometimes at the cost of his fellow Marines. He seems to thrive on getting over, getting drunk and womanizing. All that before he ever goes into combat. After entering combat it seems that he continues to try to get over and out of as much as he can. On Guadalcanal, He explains, drunk on japanese sake, he gets naked and swims across a croc infested creek to get to japanese prizes, only to get sick swim back across and get complimented by a know-nothing Lt. from his platoon. He seems to bask in being able to fool his superiors.

He seems to wonder why he does't make any rank and continues to get picked on.

His trip to Australia and further misadventures continues to befuddle him. He cannot seem to give any credit, even to the sgtmajor that could have sent him to prison or the doctor that could have put him away.

Towards the end of the book, on Peleliu it might appear that he does gain at least a little redemption and perhaps begins to reflect back upon his wayward ways and to think of others besides himself. Better late than never.

I have known a number of World War II Pacific Marines. After all that I have met, I would have to say that Leckie would appear to be different. I have the upmost Respect and Appreciation for ALL that participated.

All said and done I must say that I am glad to have read This Book. If not the most enjoyable read, though well written, but for a First Person Account by someone who was there. It seems to ask as many questions as it answers. Many second hand accounts, information heavy documentary, and backseat drivers are available.

I am sorry Mr Leckie is no longer with us (2001,age 81). I know that he had a long list of titles to his credit. I hope during his long life he was able to cope and find peace.

I would like to recommend reading, E.B. Sledge's "With The Old Breed", after reading this work. It offers an interesting compare and contrast.

Leckie's talent as a writer is surpassed only by the visceral drama of his story. His story is riveting as he takes the reader from boot through his participation in the 1st Marine Division's battles in the Pacific through Peleliu. He literally lived out of his ruck, never seeing his sea bag, for over two years. Leckie is a craftsman, and entertains too with his tales of debauchery in Australia, tempered with the vocabulary of an earlier, more decorous America. He also warns, "Keep it up, America, keep telling your youth that mud and danger are only fit for intellectual pigs. Keep on saying that only the stupid are fit to sacrifice, that America must be defended by the low-brow and enjoyed by the high-brow. Keep vaunting head over heart, and soon the head will arrive at the complete folly of any kind of fight and meekly surrender the treasure to the first bandit with enough heart to demand it."

The thoughtful military reader will be interested in the differences between today's warrior culture and that of half a century ago. Leckie's story is purely from his vantage point, and a great read in it's own right, but don't expect perspective or analysis. Anyone interested in Leckie's story would probably also enjoy With the Old Breed by Sledge. Sledge was also at Peleliu and went on to Okinawa with the 1st Marine Division. I found Sledge's story more gripping, visceral and grim, ranking with The Forgotten Soldier by Sajer as some of the best chronicling of war.

I read this book in a short two days, I couldn't put it down. I read Leckie's book "The Wars of America" about 10 years ago and I was really impressed with his writing style. However I had no idea that he had lived the real thing. Being a former enlisted man I could totally related to his hatred of the Officer class. I now have everyone of his books on my reading list!

Leckie's book is top notch. He weaves into the narrative a profound
insight into the spiritual side of warfare. It's not a religious
book in any sense of the word, but you will begin to understand what
goes on inside a man's soul as he faces the terrible rigors of
brutal combat. He describes living conditions in the jungles of
Guadalcanal and on the horrible wasteland that was Peleliu. His
narrative waxes eloquent as he tells the story of young Marines ripped
from the innocents of boyhood to the reality of Warriordom. You will
feel what he must have felt, surrounded by the unspeakable misery of
Jungle warfare against a bitter enemy. The book is unique in style and
difficult to put down. Leckie brings to life a period of our history
we all need to focus more attention on. Without the sacrifice of these
fine young men human liberty would be vanished from the face of the
earth. May their memory forever be enshrined in the pages of this
book.

An excellent narrative by one who experienced all the events described in the book. Robert Leckie, "Lucky", was a private in the US 1st Marine Division and he takes us from enlistment shortly after Pearl Harbor to Parris Island, to New River, and thence to the Tenaru on Guadalcanal. Leckie's writing style is sophisticated and surprising at times. Occasionally he waxes lyrical on a pet subject which detracts from his book, but then he quickly reverts to the main narrative. All characters are identified by nicknames which helps paint a picture of the individual. Leckie writes of marines usually of less than sergeant rank as this was the company he kept. There are no strategic issues and few tactical concerns as the enlisted men were primarily occupied with staying alive. There is a lengthy description of the marine invasion of Melbourne which I found interesting, although three minor errors grated (Port Phillip Bay not Melbourne Bay, HMAS not HMS for Australian ships, and the You Yangs are on the opposite side of Melbourne from Dandenong) and the lack of mention of the "services" provided by our taxi drivers was surprising. But all idyls come to an end and for the 1st Marine Division the war continued on Goodenough Island, then New Britain, and for many ended on Peleliu. Until Peleliu the Japanese were only one of many enemies which included the officers, supply personnel, and the jungle and the weather. This is a top book, well worth reading.

First, I must admit a particular regard for this book as the granddaughter of Bill Smith (whom Leckie refers to as 'Hoosier'), who served with Leckie in How Company, 2nd Battalion of the 1st Marine Division. Leckie offers nuanced insight into the ways in which he and his friends understood national military service, the `enemy', and the war more generally, and how these perspectives or ideas evolved among the men from North Carolina to Guadalcanal, Australia, and New Britain. Leckie steers clear from prototypes or cliches; there is no enblematic enlisted man or officer. Rather, these men are treated as real people coping (or not) with the profound uncertainty of their situation.

Perhaps this appreciation says more about my own lack of experience with combat/warfare. Yet thinking of Guadalcanal from a macro or military history perspective, it is easy to take for granted that marines' objectives - and the most efficacious means to pursue them - were always apparent to those involved, at multiple levels. In this context, I found his account of warfare as a process of organizational learning riveting. For example, he describes: 1) the marines' first reactions to air battle and subsequent adjustment to air battle as a simple process of attrition; and 2) the uncertainty confronted by officers at various stages, against the backdrop of the US' limited military experience in the Pacific or in jungles more generally. In this way, Leckie also makes apparent the need - and efficacy - of severe hierarchy. For this reason, I think that reviewers' arguments positing a lack of regard for officers deserve serious qualification.

Leckie was with the 1st Marine Regt (2nd Bn) of the 1st Marine Division on Guadalcanal, New Britain and Peleliu. First published in 1957 it is a fairly raw account of life and battle as a Marine. Apart from the battlefields, Leckie writes of his training on Parris Island and extensively of leave in Melbourne. He covers things that others don't - being AWOL, being drunk and being in the brink. He doesn't sanitize things either or imply everyone was a big happy family. For instance he makes many pithy observations about officers, their ways, their airs and their privileges. At other times, the petty discipline and denial of home leave has tragic effects.

As for battle, there is a variety of experiences. Most of it is of being continually in the line on Guadalcanal. He is never faced with a direct attack, though he does deal with a few stragglers with his 30 cal (his later trip to gain souvenirs is unsettling in a number of ways). Even so the campaign is exceedingly wearing. The attacks by Japanese planes and big ships are constant and deadly. The debilitation caused by the tropics (Malaria is torture!) and inadequate food is also made clear. It was a close run thing but the Marines emerge with intense pride when the extent of their achievements is finally clear. On New Britain Leckie is mainly involved in patrols but he does use his personal weapon to deadly effect. Peleliu though is a hellish experience that overwhelms him. The Japanese resistance is ferocious and the casualties are very heavy (he is caught in the armoured counterattack). So in terms of battle experiences, there is a lot to read.

Leckie was a journalist before and after the war and is an impressive writer. There is some excellent description and imagery ("the sand clung to us like flour to a fillett" P38 and "A soldiers pack is like a woman's purse, it is filled with his personality." P34). Interestingly, he never writes about fellow marines by name. Everyone is given a nick-name: The Artist, Runner, Chuckler, Sergeant Straight Talk and Lieutenants Commando, Ivy-League and Racehorse. While simplistic, I found this devise to be effective in revealing personality types and it allows Leckie to write bluntly of deeds and misdeeds. The cult of Marine is also explored and aspects of this are quite stirring. It is a deeply considered and informative book and I found it amazing in many ways. Highly Recommended

When I heard that HBO would be broadcasting the series "The Pacific," based upon Eugene Sledge's "With the Old Breed," and Robert Leckie's "Helmet for My Pillow," I immediately placed Leckie's book at the top of my reading list, having already read Sledge multiple times. It is inevitable that these two great memoirs be compared and contrasted, not just because of the Pacific series, but because the two accounts not only abut chronologically, but present contrasting writing styles while depicting similar experiences.

Other reviewers have already done a fine job of comparing Leckie's memoir to Sledge's, but I will nevertheless throw my own two cents in. With Leckie, the deadly business of infantry combat is lightened somewhat by the diversions of drinking, womanizing, disrespect for authority, humor and sarcasm. Sledge offers no such relief from the grim reality of his experience. For a rewarding reading experience, I recommend they be read in order, first Leckie, then Sledge.