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Leckie, Robert "Lucky"

Date of birth:
December 18th, 1920 (Philadelphia/Pennsylvania, United States)
Date of death:
December 24th, 2001 (Montville/New Jersey, United States)
Nationality:
American

Biography

Robert Leckie was born December 18th, 1920 in Philadelphia. He grew up in Rutherford, New Jersey and at the age of 16 started a career as a writer as sports editor of the Bergen Evening Record in Hackensack, New Jersey.

December 8th, 1941 he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and was sent to the Pacific to become a machine gunner with Company H, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. After being injured on Peleliu he was evacuated to the United States.
After World War Two he worked as a reporter for Associated Press, the Buffalo Courier Express, the New York Journal American, the New York Daily News and the Star-Ledger. He married Vera Keller and the couple had three children. After publication of his best seller "Helmet for my Pillow" about his wartime experiences he wrote more than 40 books on American war history.

Leckie died December 24th, 2001 as a result of Alzheimer.

Portrayed in the tv series 'The Pacific'.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

With Combat V.
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (NMCCOM)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

Five battle stars
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
1957
For his book "Helmet for my pillow".

Received in 1958.
Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association Award

Sources