Strong Men Armed

The United States Marines Against Japan

By: Robert Leckie

Narrated by: Johnny Heller

Written by Robert Leckie, whose wartime exploits are featured in the Tom Hanks/Steven Spielberg HBO miniseries The Pacific, Strong Men Armed is the perennial bestselling classic account of the U.S. Marines' relentless drive through the Pacific during World War II.

As scout and machine-gunner for the First Marine Division, Leckie fought in all its engagements until his wounding at Peleliu. In Strong Men Armed, Leckie uses firsthand experience and impeccable research to re-create the nightmarish battles of the Pacific campaign---from Guadalcanal to Okinawa---as ships, men, and guns moved over vast distances to fight an enemy that was willing to defend to its last man. Here is the whole sweeping epic of the Marines who battled---and won---on the bloody beaches at Guadalcanal, the unforgiving reefs at Tarawa, the rain-soaked mud of New Britain, the dark gray soil and deadly caves of Mount Suribachi, and the muddy slopes of Shuri Castle on Okinawa. It is a masterful narrative by a writer the New York Times praised as possessing the "rare gift of capturing all that is human in the most inhuman of man's activities."

©1990 Robert Leckie (P)2010 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Raw, heartbreaking, and superb." ( Christian Science Monitor)

Great Book

This is a truly great book. It get down to the grunts. This book tell how the individual MARINES fought, died, overcame, conquered and won the battles of WWII from Guadalcanal to Okinawa. Worth it.

Excellent history of the US Marines in Pacific

Very detailed history of all the battles of the Marines during WW 2 in the Pacific. Well read.

Great story

Outstanding overview of the Marines in WWII. It covered all significant actions in vivid detail yet provided great strategic overview. Highly recommended

Leckie is a brilliant soldier historian

Leckie’s books are among the very best combat memoirs and war histories. He was there.

Johnny Heller does a fair job but his lack of research results in numerous faux pas. He calls a B A R a bar. He says Minda-NAY-oh instead of Minda-NOW. He says Tah-RAH-wah for TAR-ah-wah. He gets officers names wrong and common terms wrong. But it’s still great history if you already know.

Might be a bit much for an audiobook

This is a detailed history of the US marines in the Pacific War. Well written from someone who was there. It is a lot of information for an audiobook.

Best USMC pov of WW2

I thought it would be a story told from the pov of the author but it was so much more. A complete 'salty' recap of the marines battling their way across the pacific.

Excellent big picture look at Pacific Theatre.

While other books on WW2 have more in-depth looks at individual islands (as Eugene Sledge's "With the Old Breed" does with Peleilu and Okinawa), I always wanted a good comprehensive book of all the islands to see the bigger picture -from the Marines point of view. That last one is important. I'm thankful I found this.

a history book

the narrator was good but not a personal account nothing like Helmet for a Pillow

Overview From One Who was THERE

Robert Leckie is best know for the stunning memoir "Helmet For My Pillow," which would be hard to impossible to improve upon. He proves himself a marvel historian with "Strong Men Armed" which is a complete overview of the US Marines' fight against Japan. Given that he was there it packs an even bigger punch. The descriptions are visceral and the stories of great American heroes awe inspiring. If you want to listen to a book about American valor, this is the book to grab. It's absolutely outstanding. These brave men one cannot talk enough about. The narration by Johnny Heller is so complimentary to the work.

Insightful and moving account of Marines in WWII

Compelling, heart wrenching and comprehensive detailing of the war in the Pacific. Very moving recount of the struggles and sacrifice of US Marines in particular. Listening to the book felt like a young marine killed early in the war was watching from the next life and describing the battles.