Righteous Might: 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 in World War II, 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 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 back across the Pacific.
"You have done it. One of the few books that tells about what the soldiers did 95 percent of the time."
C. B. Griggs
6th Infantry Division Veteran
"...a good account of what life was like over there, in and out of combat. Lots of details you don't get in books by generals."
Mark Bradigan
6th Infantry Division Veteran
