Robert Leckie

Robert Leckie was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on December 18, 1920, and grew up in Rutherford, New Jersey, as part of an Irish Catholic family with eight children. Leckie's writing career began in high school when he became a sports writer for "The Bergen Evening Record" in Hackensack, New Jersey, at the age of sixteen.

In January 1942, Leckie enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served in combat in the Pacific theater during World War II. He was a scout and a machine gunner in H Company, 2nd Battalion 1st Marines Regiment 1st Marine Division (United States). Leckie saw action in significant battles such as Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, and Peleliu, where he suffered a blast concussion. He was discharged honorably in March 1945 after returning to the United States.

After World War II, Leckie became a reporter for the Associated Press, the "Buffalo Courier-Express," the "New York Journal American," the "New York Daily News," and "The Star-Ledger." He married Vera Keller, a childhood neighbor, and they had three children: David, Geoff, and Joan. In 1951, Leckie decided to write a memoir after being inspired by the Broadway musical "South Pacific," feeling compelled to tell the true story of the war. His first book, "Helmet for My Pillow," was published in 1957 and became a best-seller. Leckie went on to write over 40 books on American war history, covering conflicts from the French and Indian War (1754–1763) to Operation Desert Storm (1991). Robert Leckie passed away on December 24, 2001, after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease.