Challenge for the Pacific: Guadalcanal: The Turning Point of the War

by Robert Leckie

  From Robert Leckie, the World War II veteran and New York Times bestselling author of Helmet for My Pillow, whose experiences were featured in the HBO miniseries The Pacific, comes this vivid narrative of the astonishing six-month campaign for Guadalcanal.   From the Japanese soldiers’ carefully calculated—and ultimately foiled—attempt to build a series of impregnable island forts on the ground to the tireless efforts of the Americans who struggled against a tenacious adversary and the temperature and terrain of the island itself, Robert Leckie captures the loneliness, the agony, and the heat of twenty-four-hour-a-day fighting on Guadalcanal. Combatants from both sides are brought to General Archer Vandegrift, who first assembled an amphibious strike force; Isoroku Yamamoto, the naval general whose innovative strategy was tested; the island-born Allied scout Jacob Vouza, who survived hideous torture to uncover the enemy’s plans; and Saburo Sakai, the ace flier who shot down American planes with astonishing ease. Propelling the Allies to eventual victory, Guadalcanal was truly the turning point of the war. Challenge for the Pacific is an unparalleled, authoritative account of this great fight that forever changed our world.

Genres: History, World War II, Military Fiction, Nonfiction, War, Military History, Ebooks

477 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

Leckie was born on December 18, 1920, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He grew up in Rutherford, New Jersey. He began his career as a writer in high school, as a sports writer for ''The Bergen Evening Record'' in Hackensack, New Jersey.

On January 18, 1942, Leckie enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.He served in combat in the Pacific theater, as a scout and a machine gunner in H Company, 2nd Battalion 1st Marines Regiment 1st Marine Division (United States). Leckie saw combat in the Battle of Guadalcanal, the Battle of Cape Gloucester, and had been wounded by blast concussion in the Battle of Peleliu. He returned to the United States in March 1945 and was honorably discharged shortly thereafter.

Following World War II, Leckie worked as 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 According to Vera, in 1951 he was inspired to write a memoir after seeing ''South Pacific '' on Broadway and walking out halfway through. 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 His first and best-selling book, ''Helmet for My Pillow'', a war memoir, was published in 1957. Leckie subsequently wrote more than 40 books on American war history, spanning from the French and Indian War (1754–1763) to Operation Desert Storm (1991). Robert Leckie died on December 24, 2001, after fighting a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease.

Reviews

[Martin Koenigsberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am usually not happy with American Journalists who try to add unneeded drama into historical non-fiction. It usually falls flat and their breathlessness comes off a poor second to the dry droll humour of the British writers. But this is different, because Leckie, the author is the very same "Lucky" Leckie, some of you might remember from the HBO Series "The Pacific", the wisecracking Marine who fought several of the battles on Guadalcanal himself, before a strong career as journalist and author of histories. This might be the BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ ON THE AMERICAN PACIFIC WAR (I've reviewed over 30). Leckie explains the Guadalcanal Campaign at every level in detail, going seamlessly between the Strategic, Grand Tactical, Tactical and most importantly Logistical realms, while weaving in the war on the Island itself, in the roiling seas around the Solomons, and most importantly in the humid skies above the Island, as Air Power dominated the Pacific War. I was held in rapt attention the entire time, looking forward to solitary meals and waiting rooms, as this was my car book for a wonderful month.
Leckie begins with the immediate aftermath of Pearl Harbour and the Japanese Pacific onslaught of December 1941 through March 1942. The Japanese, thinking the US will be stunned for at least a year, decide to build their pacific Defensive line south of the Solomons defended by an Air base on Guadalcanal- while they focus on taking New Guinea and threatening Australia and the Anzac lifeline to the US. But the US Commanders have resources the Japanese can barely comprehend. Meeting the American braintrust that will fight the war, King, Fletcher, Nimitz, Halsey, and Vandegrift gives us great insight into their actions later in the story. Leckie is just as analytical with the Japanese commanders, but my spelling is not up to the same task. Suffice it to say the interplay of moves is almost movie like as the officers play cat and mouse. The plucky Americans hold on for dear life to their beachhead/airbase, feeding supplies and equipment in a "just-in-time' pace that eventually the Japanese cannot match. But its such a close thing.....
The graphic nature of some of Leckie's prose might be too much for some junior readers, so I'd say 12ish for a minimum age readership. But this direct and clear explanation of events will clarify all thought on the topic. For the Gamer/Modeller/Military Enthusiast, this is also a joy, although more on background than for direct help on Dioramas/Scenarios. The clear diagrams should help also to comprehend the subtleties of the campaign. I cannot recommend this book highly enough for the well read WWII reader as well as the utter neophyte to the era.

[Staci Cahis · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the past I've been under the false impression that I don't enjoy nonfiction books. Happily, this hasn't actually proven to be true and I deeply enjoyed the last three nonfiction accounts I had the privilege to read. Consequently when I read the description of this book and learned that it included a piece of history I was never aware of (or forgot over the years subsequent to high school) I was ecstatic to discover something new and was anticipating reading another perspective in the long line of WWII era histories (both historical fiction and nonfiction) I've read. Unfortunately, while this book was packed full of knowledge and information I hadn't previously attained (and will likely soon forget), this book was not quite what I was expecting. While very informative, I found it dry, lacking in much human sympathy, fairly biased, and at times troublingly stigmatizing. I certainly came away from the experience a more learned individual, but I personally did not overly enjoy the telling of this tale, at least not in the light it was presented by this particular author. I believe I am in the minority here, and I do believe if you are more versed in some of the military particulars and personal, the geography of the area, and the different vehicles of war used throughout this book you will truly enjoy it. It was not however overly entertaining for me, although I cannot underscore enough how grateful I am to the men who lost their lives in the Pacific to help guarantee that I have the freedom I have today to write what I think about any book, including this one.

[Steve Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dramatic, but sometimes confusing presentation. A lack of sufficient maps made it difficult to track the battles Leckie described. Like with his book "Strong Armed" I would have been happy with a longer account.

Still worth reading!

[Abby Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

A year is not really a good year without reading a book or two by my second favorite author.
This book was so filled with heroics, humor, horror, and Leckie talking about himself in the third person. You can really tell how much he loved his marines, while at the same time Leckie showed how the whole military fought for Guadalcanal. It's fascinating to read the big picture overview of this long running battle while knowing Leckie was there on the front lines. He came home and started researching what everyone else was doing while he was fighting from his foxhole.
This book also had the standard Leckie style of big picture military movement studded with stories of brave men doing heroic things on the most personal level. This book made me laugh and cry.
Leckie's writing is beautiful as ever, and his love for the worn-down, muddy, bloody marines is felt in every page.

[Eddie R Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greatest ever written!

No author can possibly contend with Robert Leckie on the subject of the Pacific War. His experience in battle and writing style makes him the Master.

Believe me, I've read them all and you will definitely feel pride, sorrow and the sense of being there when reading this great book.

[Laurel Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook which was fine but finally downloaded the eBook so I could look at the included maps. I had heard of Guadalcanal but didn't know much about the fighting there during WWII. Glad this is all written down since we need to know about this history. The narrator did a great job with accents (American, Japanese, Australian, etc.) which helped to identify characters.

[Don Halpert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent detailed description of the battle for Guadalcanal in 1942. The author has done extensive research from both the American and the Japanese records. The descriptions by the survivors and witnesses is detailed. You can almost feel the courage and unimaginable hardships on the participants. It was a close call.
Recommended for anyone interested in the Pacific war.

[Grant Kisling · Rating 5 out of 5]

An all-around fantastic account surrounding both the marines, air support, and navy support for the battle of Guadalcanal. Written in an engaging way that keeps the story, key players, and events moving quickly. Great choice of first-hand accounts and actions at pivotal moments.

Highly recommended read.

[Janetta Bitting · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent work on this epic battle

This is one of the best works on Guadalcanal. The amount of detail puts the reader in This hell hole. The statistical information provided is accurate.

[Audrey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Leckie is a great writer but I really struggled to get through this, and admittedly skimmed a good portion of the book. It felt too technical and factual, almost like a textbook, while I was hoping for/expected something more personal and full of life.

[Brayden Bentle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book about a bloody conflict that I honestly knew very little of before hand. The legends that died, the ones that started and the ones that becomes even more legendary on that little island in the pacific.

[Brian Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding

I love Robert Leckie’s style. It’s unimaginable to think what he, and his fellow soldiers, experienced in that tropical hell-hole. I’ll bet he couldn’t imagine he’d live to write about it.

[Dr. Lefever · Rating 5 out of 5]

this should be mandatory reading by every American member of “the whiniest generation.“

Well, researched, and well written. This account of the battle for GuadalCanal is riveting. Robert Leckie knows what he was talking about, he was there.

[Laurie Gross · Rating 5 out of 5]

impossible to put down

wow. just wow. this book reads like a novel. Even though you know how it ends it keeps you on the edge of your seat. The ships almost become characters themselves.

[David Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book and I am happy that I paired it with Toll’s trilogy. Leckie was among the marines on Guadalcanal and he writes both on the basis of his tremendous research and personal experience. This is a fine mid-century history - both honest and compelling.

[Tango Dancer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very readable. But it would benefit from more maps.

[Fred Lombardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. Only small defect was not much of a conclusion. It would have been better with a longer epilogue.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephen Coonts was right in his recommendation- it read like a novel.

[Charles M Rodgers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written and a Great War story

[Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well written book. I enjoyed the excerpts from other works, such as diarys. He was well versed in the ideas of the Japanese and their strategy. Easy to read, tough to put down.

[Seth J. Vogelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing read. Maps could have been better but given they are easily found, the book was a joy.

[Christopher Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I admit, I didn't finish it. It just wasn't engaging.

[Jeff Proctor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written book. I love the way Leckie writes. Looking to pick up other titles by him that don't have to do with the Second World War

[Anthony Bracciante · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent account of the six months long Campaign for Guadalcanal during World War II.

[Jim Starley · Rating 5 out of 5]

superb account

This book has the rare quality of meticulous historical research buttressed by the first hand experience of an author who was there.

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book about the brutal battle for Guadalcanal that ground down the Japanese navy's capabilities, and developed the American doctrine and tactics that won the Pacific War.

Leckie is not nearly as emotionally forceful as EB Sledge's With the Old Breed, but conveys a very vivid story nonetheless, from a more general viewpoint. The mistakes and attitudes of many of the commanders on both sides are alternately appalling and gratifying to read about, when the suffering of the Marines, soldiers, and sailors are considered.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good Leckie book! Great overview of the events and personalities that lead up to and played significant roles in the Guadalcanal campaigne.

Picked this up as a follow-up read to Neptunes'Inferno and Island of Destiny, both writen more recently. I should have realized that Leckie's book, being earlier, provided much of the reference for the later 2. Still a great read thought, strategic as well as tactical and persons details. Strong suggest other reads start here and move to the other 2.

[Jay Atwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly researched (from both American and Japanese perspectives,) well organized, and well written. The only thing that takes away from the work is the author's insistence on including random peeks into what his younger self was doing on Guadalcanal during whatever he was describing. It comes across very out of place and self-gratifying, especially considering he already wrote and published a war memoir about his personal experiences on Guadalcanal.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book is a blast - it really shows off the scope of Guadalcanal, and is written in a very engaging style.

Leckie can write stirring prose (although occasionally it turns purple), and this was a great read from start to finish. My only criticism is that there are some weird third-person episodes that don't quite fit with the rest of the narrative. But this is a nitpick about an otherwise well-written book.

[7$MartyQ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hell ot Earth

As a student of World War II, this work by Robert Leckie is probably the most authentic account of the struggle for Guadalcanal written by one who fought there and survived the horror of that island. Robert Leckie was a member of "The Greatest Generation", and his story as well as those other members of that club must NEVER be forgotten.