Helmet for My Pillow: From Parris Island to the Pacific: A Young Marine's Stirring Account of Combat in World War II

Leckie's memoir conveys the mud, fear, boredom, and camaraderie of Pacific combat with unusual immediacy and humanity.

What stuck

• Combat is long stretches of discomfort and fear punctuated by moments of terror.
• War strips language down to endurance, routine, and the people next to you.