Robert Leckie (author)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Robert Leckie
1st Marine Division
Battles/warsWorld War II
Awards
"V" Device
Other workWriter

Robert Hugh Leckie (December 18, 1920 – December 24, 2001) was a

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,

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

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

1st Marine Division
(H/2/1).

Leckie saw combat in the

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:

V
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
1st row Purple Heart Medal
2nd row
Combat "V"
Navy Combat Action Ribbon
award star
3rd row American Campaign Medal
campaign stars
World War II Victory Medal

Later career

External videos
video icon Booknotes interview with Leckie on Okinawa: The Last Battle of World War II, September 4, 1995, C-SPAN

Following

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,

Desert Storm (1991).[5]

Personal life

He married Vera Keller, and they had three children: David, Geoff and Joan.[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

  • These Are My Heroes: A Study of the Saints
  • A Soldier-Priest Talks to Youth
  • American and Catholic

Fiction books

Books for younger readers

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Leckie Biography, All Media Guide.
  2. .
  3. ^ Rice, Sarah (February 21, 2010). "HBO series illuminates N.J. Marine's book on World War II experience | NJ.com". NJ.com. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  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. ^ "Robert Leckie – The Pacific". Awesome Stories. February 21, 2010. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  7. ^ "HBO series based on Byram man's war story", New Jersey Herald, March 6, 2010. Accessed February 23, 2022. "One night in 1951, Robert Leckie and his wife Vera stepped out to see the musical South Pacific.... The Byram writer and his memoir are the main focus of the HBO miniseries The Pacific, debuting March 14."
  8. ^ "HBO The Pacific Premiere In Raritan". Black Tie Magazine. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  9. ^ "Obituary". The New York Times. December 27, 2001. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  10. ^ "Full Record of Great American battles (1968; Leckie, Robert)". Library of Congress Online Catalog. Retrieved December 22, 2007.

References

External links