Righteous Might - Library Version

by Craig Siegel

Righteous One Man's Journey Through War in the Pacific is based on the memoirs of Leonard Gordon who served in the 6th Infantry Division in New Guinea and the Philippines, earning three Bronze Star commendations and three Purple Hearts. His first-person story takes the reader from his life as a teenager in Chicago, Illinois, through basic training and on to bloody combat in the sweltering Pacific. The narrative depicts daily life in camp and in the foxhole as well as brutal and deadly combat. The text includes additional background material and quotes from other 6th Infantry Division veterans to round out the foot soldiers' view of the war. In a historical perspective, Righteous Might fills an unfortunately significant gap that exists in material covering the lesser-known Pacific campaigns of the U.S. Army. We know much more about Marine campaigns, such as Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Iwo Jima, than we do about Army campaigns in New Guinea and the Philippines, even though many of the battles there were equally ferocious, equally bloody and equally critical. Righteous Might follows Gordon and the rest of the 6th Infantry Division as they help push the Japanese forces back across the Pacific.

238 pages, Paperback

Published July 31, 2012

About the author

Craig Siegel is a freelance writer with a passion for history. He was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois and, after living in several U.S. locales, settled in Portland, Oregon. His interest in history was sparked by his travels across the U.S. and Europe, and his main historical interests are World War II and the American Revolution. His published work includes personal interview and general interest articles for local Portland publications, feature-length articles for technical trade journals and short fiction stories. His first full-length book, "Righteous Might: One Man's Journey Through War in the Pacific" is based on the World War II memoirs of Sgt. Leonard J. Gordon, who served in the U.S. 6th Infantry Division in New Guinea and the Philippines. He lives in Portland with wife, Susan, and rescue poodle, Joey.