Book Review: Helmet for My Pillow by Robert Leckie

I pride myself on passing up the reprinted editions of books that play largely to the television crowd. You know the ones. The repackaged – and often cheapened – versions of great works that feature the actors over and above the title or the author. The only thing worse is a book that was written after the movie. *insert snobby eye roll here*

With an intro like that, you know where this is headed: I recently picked up a reprint of Helmet for My Pillow by Robert Leckie. I have been curious about Leckie’s story since the debut of HBO’s The Pacific a couple of years ago, as Leckie was one of two primary sources of material for the miniseries. (The other work that heavily influenced the script was EB Sledge’s With the Old Breed.) And this relatively recent reprint has the actor from the show on the cover. Blech.

Originally published in 1957, Helmet for My Pillow takes the reader from Leckie’s enlistment with the United States Marines, through boot camp at Parris Island and deployment to Guadalcanal and throughout the Pacific. Leckie was a machine gunner and later a scout with the 1st Marine Division during their time in battle.

I appreciate how shockingly honest, though incomplete, Leckie is about his experiences. He pulls no punches in describing the discomfort, inconvenience, disorganization, exhaustion, hunger and fear associated with war. But I say “incomplete” because while Leckie works to paint the full picture, I’m not sure I would have been able to follow his accounts had I not seen The Pacific and had those additional details to fill in the blanks.

I struggled, too, with the flowery language and admissions of insubordination. Please don’t misunderstand, I appreciate military service and sacrifice more than most. But this particular work reads like an over-anxious submission to journalism school than an expertly crafted literary work. Maybe mine is a generational issue?

As for the insubordination: I like rules. And following them for the most part. I’m sure many would argue that a love of rule breaking is a prerequisite for service in the Marine Corps., and you’re probably right. But during wartime it just seems like you’d keep the AWOL adventures, drunken debauchery, womanizing and in-fighting to a minimum.

My nitpicking criticisms aside – thank goodness we have such an amazing written account of this man’s experiences! So what if I don’t love his choice of adjectives? He served this country in one of the most physically and emotionally trying times our servicemen have ever faced. And if getting drunk and thrown in the brig was what Leckie needed to keep his sanity, then more power to him.