Brotherhood of War (book series)
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Brotherhood of War is a series of novels written by W.E.B. Griffin about the United States Army from the Second World War through the Vietnam War. The story centers around four officers who were lieutenants in the late 1940s. The series is notable for the amount of attention it does not devote to combat—rather than skipping forward, it follows the main characters though their peacetime service as the Army evolves in the forties, fifties and sixties, particularly in the development of Army Aviation and the Special Forces.
Contents |
[edit] List of books
- Book I, The Lieutenants (North Africa, Germany, Greece 1942–1950)
- Book II, The Captains (Korea 1950–1953)
- Book III, The Majors (French IndoChina, Algeria, CONUS 1954-1958)
- Book IV, The Colonels (Vietnam, Cuba, Germany, CONUS 1958-1961)
- Book V, The Berets (Vietnam, Germany, CONUS, 1961-1962)
- Book VI, The Generals (Vietnam, CONUS, 1962-1985)
- Book VII, The New Breed (Congo, CONUS, 1963-1964)
- Book VIII, The Aviators (Vietnam, Congo, CONUS 1963-1965)
- Book IX, Special Ops (Congo, Argentina, CONUS, 1965)
[edit] Primary Cast of Characters
[edit] Sanford "Sandy" Thaddeus Felter
Sandy Felter is a son of Jewish immigrants who resigns as junior from the Corps of Cadets of the US Military Academy to accept a direct commission as a German and Russian interpreter in the last year of World War II. While doing so he is instrumental in locating a group of allied POWs and assists in their repatriation. He subsequently serves in a variety of Infantry and Intelligence posts where his keen intellect proves valuable. Despite his short stature and unimposing appearance, he is very capable of doing whatever it takes to accomplish his mission.
[edit] Rudolph George "Mac" MacMillan
Mac MacMillan was an 82nd Airborne Division sergeant who received a battlefield commission while participating in Operation Market Garden, although he was taken prisoner before he learned of it. For his actions in that abortive river crossing, he was later awarded the Medal of Honor. He was the senior NCO of the prisoners of war in the same POW camp as Bob Bellmon. As a former NCO with a tenth grade education, he doesn't always think very far ahead but is a survivor and knows his way around paperwork in his recurring role as an aide-de-camp.
[edit] Craig W. Lowell
Craig Lowell is an extremely wealthy Harvard drop-out who was drafted and sent to the US occupation forces in Germany. Because of his polo skills, he was assigned to manage a polo team for the commanding general "Porky" Waterford. Since he was essential to the general's team and a game against the French could only be played by officers, Mac MacMillan figures out how to get him commissioned before the game. When the general dies at the end of the polo match, the Army doesn't know what to do with him so he is sent off to be an adviser to the Greek Army in the Greek Civil War. Lowell takes command of a large group of Greek forces and is eventually awarded the medal of The Order of St Michael and St Andrew. Lowell is a superb aviator and a de-facto Green Beret.
Craig never gets the fine points of Army social propriety, and his wealth often causes resentment. But his technical skills with weapons, armor and operational planning plus his experience as an enlisted man and willingness to get his hands dirty with them makes him a hero at the unlikeliest times.
[edit] Phillip Sheridan Parker IV
A 1946 graduate of Norwich University, Phil Sheridan is a 4th generation professional Buffalo Soldier serving in Armor. Because he is black, he knows that he has to be the best in every class to stay even with the others in an a Army just beginning desegregation. However, his friendship with Craig Lowell often works against his career.
[edit] Supporting Cast of Characters
[edit] Robert F. Bellmon
Bob Bellmon, USMA '39, the son of one general and the son-in-law of another, is quintessential career Army officer. As a very young Armor Major in the Army of the United States he is captured at the battle of Kasserine Pass. As a POW of the Germans in Poland, he is executive officer of the prisoner detachment and its de facto OIC. Bellmon moved from Armor to Army Aviation and eventually became the Commanding General of Army Aviation at Fort Rucker. While he is a forward thinker in tactics, the antics of some reserve officers do try his patience.
[edit] Paul "Red" Hanrahan
One of the original paratroop officers before the war, Red Hanrahan served in the OSS in Greece during World War II, nominally as a Signal Corps Officer. He served as Felter's and Lowell's commanding officer when they served as advisors during the Greek Civil War. He is an advocate of the concept of Special Forces to assist allies in fighting their own wars. Eventually, Hanrahan was named Commandant of the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg.
[edit] Barbara Waterford Bellmon
The daughter of General Porky Waterford, Barbara is the classic officer's wife, assisting with the families of her husband's command. She is amused by some of the junior officers and often reminds her husband to relax a little with them.
[edit] Phillip Sheridan Parker III
A Norwich graduate, Colonel Parker commanded a colored tank destroyer regiment in North Africa and Northern Europe under General Porky Waterford. He led the task force that rescued Bob Bellmon.
[edit] Graf Peter Paul von Greiffenberg
A member of the German professional officer corps, he is made commandant of the POW camp Bob Bellmon is held in after suffering wounds commanding a Regiment in the Ardennes.
[edit] Ilse von Greiffenberg Lowell
Ilse is Graf von Greiffenberg's daughter and becomes Craig's wife.
[edit] George Washington "Father" Lunsford
A talented, black Special Forces Officer, his skills at Swahili allow him to play a key role in support of operations in the Congo.
[edit] Geoff Porter
Craig Lowell's cousin, he was drafted into the army and placed in the stockade after assaulting his NCO. Craig Lowell was able to get him into Special Forces school was given a promotion to Sergeant. While in Vietnam, he was given a battlefield commission after being the last American alive in a fort they were protecting. After Vietnam, he became an aviator.
[edit] Jack Portet
The American born son of a commercial airline pilot from the former Belgian Congo, he is an accomplished aviator who's knowledge of the area proves invaluable. He later marries the Bellmons' daughter Marjorie.
[edit] John S. Oliver Jr.
A Norwich University graduate, Captain Oliver served in Vietnam commanding the 170th Assault Helicopter Company. He earned the Combat Infantry Badge during a Special Forces operation where his plane was shot down. He led the Green Beret A-Team to safety through the woods. He served as General Bellmon's aide-de-camp while stationed at Fort Rucker.
[edit] Other Notable Characters
- E.Z. Black Armor Officer, division and corps commander in Korea (see I.D. White)
- Scotty Laird Army General and Aviation convert
- Paul Jiggs Army Armor Officer and Aviation convert
- William Roberts Army Aviation visionary and promoter
- Ed Greer Early Army Warrant Officer Aviator
- William Franklin Early Army Warrant Officer Aviator
- Tom Ellis Airborne and later Green Beret Lieutenant
- LCDR Eagleberry Naval Intelligence Officer assigned to US Army Special Forces
[edit] Trivia
- One minor point is that when receiving landing instructions, winds are often reported as "negligible" The correct terms would be "calm" or "light and variable". Also in "The Majors" clearance to land on "Runway 45" is given. Runways can't have a number higher than "36" for a heading of 360 degrees is the highest possible.
There is the potential for at least one more book to be written, perhaps describing Craig Lowell's experience as a battalion commander in Vietnam in the mid-1960's, which was alluded to in The Generals
