Robert Leckie (author) explained

Robert Leckie
Birth Date:18 December 1920
Death Place:Byram Township, New Jersey, U.S.
Nickname:"Lucky", "Peaches"
Allegiance:United States
Branch:United States Marine Corps
Serviceyears:1942–1945
Rank:Private first class
Unit:How Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division
Battles:World War II
Awards:Purple Heart
Navy Commendation Medal with "V" Device
Laterwork:Writer

Robert Hugh Leckie (December 18, 1920  - December 24, 2001) was a United States Marine and an author of books about the military history of the United States, Catholic history and culture, sports books, fiction books, autobiographies, and children's books. As a young man, he served with the 1st Marine Division during World War II; his service as a machine gunner and a scout during the war greatly influenced his work.

Leckie's war memoir, Helmet for My Pillow, along with Eugene B. Sledge's book With the Old Breed, formed the basis for the HBO series The Pacific (2010), the follow-up series to Band of Brothers. In the miniseries, Leckie is portrayed by James Badge Dale.

Early life and education

Leckie was born on December 18, 1920, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to an Irish Catholic family of eight children. He grew up in Rutherford, New Jersey.

Early career and military service

He began his career as a writer in high school, as a sports writer for The Bergen Evening Record in Hackensack, New Jersey.[1] On January 18, 1942, Leckie enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.[1] He served in combat in the Pacific theater, as a scout and a machine gunner in H (How) Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division (H/2/1).

Leckie saw combat in the Battle of Tenaru and in the Guadalcanal Campaign and the Battle of Cape Gloucester, and he was wounded by a blast concussion in the Battle of Peleliu. Due to his wounds, he was evacuated to an army field hospital in the Russell Islands. He returned to the United States in March 1945 and was honorably discharged shortly thereafter.[2]

Military decorations

Leckie's decorations include:

1st rowPurple Heart Medal
2nd rowNavy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat "V"Navy Combat Action RibbonNavy Presidential Unit Citation with award star
3rd rowAmerican Campaign MedalAsiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three bronze campaign starsWorld War II Victory Medal

Later career

Following World War II, Leckie worked as a reporter for the Associated Press, the Buffalo Courier-Express, the New York Journal American, the New York Daily News, and The Star-Ledger.[1]

According to his wife Vera, in 1951 Leckie was inspired to write a memoir after seeing South Pacific on Broadway and walking out halfway through it. He said, "I have to tell the story of how it really was. I have to let people know the war wasn't a musical."[3]

His first and best-selling book, Helmet for My Pillow, a war memoir, was published in 1957.[4] Leckie wrote more than 40 books on American war history, spanning from the French and Indian War (1754–1763) to Desert Storm (1991).[5]

Personal life

He married Vera Keller, and they had three children.[6]

Death

A longtime resident of Byram Township, New Jersey,[7] Leckie died on December 24, 2001, six days after his 81st birthday, after fighting a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was survived by his wife of 55 years, his three children, two sisters, and six grandchildren. His remains were entombed at St. Joseph's Mausoleum in Newton, New Jersey.[8] [9]

Books

Military history books

Autobiography

Catholic history

Fiction books

Books for younger readers

See also

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Leckie Biography, All Media Guide.
  2. Book: Helmet for My Pillow: From Parris Island to the Pacific . 0553593315. Leckie. Robert. 1979. Random House Publishing .
  3. Web site: Rice, Sarah . HBO series illuminates N.J. Marine's book on World War II experience | NJ.com . NJ.com . 2010-02-21 . 2015-02-27.
  4. Booknotes, Okinawa: The Last Battle of World War II, Transcript of Interview with Robert Leckie, 3 September 1995
  5. Interview with Brian Lamb, 1995.
  6. Web site: Robert Leckie – The Pacific . Awesome Stories . 2010-02-21 . 2015-02-27.
  7. https://amp.njherald.com/amp/4079790007 "HBO series based on Byram man's war story"
  8. News: HBO The Pacific Premiere In Raritan . Black Tie Magazine . 2015-02-27.
  9. News: Obituary. The New York Times. December 27, 2001. 2015-02-27.
  10. Web site: 2007-12-22 . Full Record of Great American battles (1968; Leckie, Robert) . Library of Congress Online Catalog.

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