Brotherhood of War (novel series)

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 the careers of four U.S. Army officers who were lieutenants in the early 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.

Novels

*Book I, "The Lieutenants" (North Africa, Germany, Greece, CONUS 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, 1965-1967)

Primary cast of characters

Colonel Sanford "Sandy" Thaddeus Felter, USA

Sandy Felter is a son of Jewish immigrants who resigns while a Cadet Corporal(Junior) from the Corps of Cadets of the United States Military Academy (or West Point) to accept a direct commission as a 2nd Lieutennant and 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 goes to Ranger and Parachute school and serves as a 1st Lt. in Greece under Lt. Col Paul T Hanrahan, and with 2nd Lt. Craig W Lowell who becomes his best friend. Afterwards, he serves in Berlin as an intelligence officer. During the Korean War he commands a covert, behind the lines operation with Captain Rudolph G. MacMillan. He subsequently becomes Counselor to the President for four US Presidents. Though Felter wishes several times to return to the conventional army, he is kept on in his role as Counselor to the President due to his demonstrated abilities. In the books, Felter is respected, feared, and even hated because of the clout he wields with the President and his analytical and espionage abilities, as he usually has information before anyone else and is sometimes the only one to analyze that information correctly. Despite his short stature and unimposing appearance (earning him the nickname, "Mouse"), he becomes a highly capable officer. In the Epilogue of "The Generals", he reaches the rank of Lieutenant General, and head of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). It seems possible that the Felter character may have been based in part on Lt. Gen. Sidney T. Weinstein [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/25/AR2007052502231.html]

Colonel Rudolph George "Mac" MacMillan, USA

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. MacMillan qualifies as an aviator prior to the Korean War although his flying escapades are limited largely to "The Captains." Following an altercation with another officer in an officers' club in the pages of "The Majors", Mac is assigned as Red Hanrahan's deputy at the Special Warfare Center. He dies, apparently of a stroke, during a raid on a POW camp in the final pages of "The Generals".

Colonel Craig W. Lowell, USA

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, as a Private First Class, was assigned to manage a polo team for the commanding general "Porky" Waterford. Since he was essential to the general's team and since a game against the French could only be played by officers, the General orders Mac MacMillan to get him commissioned before the game. When the general dies during the polo match, General Waterford's replacement, disgusted by the direct commissioning of Lowell just to play polo (which he views as a breach of military ethics) uses Lowell to fill a request to be an advisor to the Greek Army in the Greek Civil War since Lowell had not been an officer long enough to rate an efficiency report. Here he meets Sandy Felter and serves under Paul "Red" Hanrahan. During heavy action in which most of the Greek officers and soldiers in the unit to which he is assigned are killed, Lowell takes command and they successfully hold the position. He is eventually awarded the medal of the Order of St. George and St. Andrew, the highest award for bravery that Greece can bestow on a foreigner. Upon his return to the US, Lowell stays in the Army a couple of years until his commission expires, but later joins the Pennsylvania Army National Guard where he is given a tank company command. Lowell is accepted to, and graduates, from the Wharton School of Business (Masters Degree) before having attained a baccalaureate degree. In Korea, Lowell commands an element of the 73rd Heavy Tank Battalion, "Task Force Lowell", so well that he is promoted to Major at the age of 24. An incident with a visiting movie star, his defense of Phil Parker during Parker's murder trial, his smart mouth, and his penchant for circumventing the rules when it suits him all hurt Lowell's career. Upon returning to the US, Lowell is attends the Advanced Armor Officer's course at Fort Knox where one of his studies (in an Orwellian twist) includes analyzing and recommending improvements to the organization and operations of Task Force Lowell in Korea. He privately tells Parker that he felt he did it correctly the first time. He is almost thrown out of the Army several times before finally being promoted to Lieutenant Colonel after rescuing Sandy Felter and an "A" Team during the failed Bay of Pigs invasion. Lowell is a civil aviator, an army helicopter pilot, and a de facto Green Beret.

Though Lowell ends the series as quite the reputed ladies' man, he was a faithful and devoted husband to Ilse von Greiffenberg Lowell and their son, "P.P." (Peter-Paul), until Ilse was killed in a car accident while Lowell was serving in Korea. Lowell's escapades with women often nearly cost him career, and his last affair with a wife of an Air Force POW in Vietnam was so far beyond acceptable behavior that he was immediately retired. His administrative skills, along with his planning ability and superb leadership abilities, make him an invaluable asset to almost every unit to which he is assigned. Lowell is also described as quite the "guardhouse lawyer" and knows how to manipulate the rules, his rank, and situations to his advantage. Lowell was admired and respected by the soldiers who served with him, though some of the more traditional officers, such as Bob Bellmon and Bill Roberts, dislike Lowell because his womanizing and his disregard for the rules. They all have a grudging respect for both his administrative skills and his demonstrated warrior abilities.

Colonel Phillip Sheridan Parker IV, USA

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 Army just beginning desegregation. He begins a lifelong friendship with Craig Lowell while attending the same Advanced Armor Officer's course at Fort Knox (as told in Book I: "The Lieutenants").

However, this friendship with Craig Lowell often works against his career. His career is very nearly ended in Korea due to his being charged with murder. He is subsequently acquitted of the charge with the help of testimony given by Craig Lowell, but they are both branded as troublemakers. After the war, Parker "volunteers" for Army Aviation, and later qualifies as a Green Beret.

Parker is sent to Vietnam as an aviator and becomes a Prisoner of War through an act of sabotage on his OV-1 Mohawk (as told in Book VII: "The Generals"). Married to Antoinette Parker, a Doctor and former associate professor of pathology at Massachusetts General.

upporting cast of characters

Lieutenant General Robert F. Bellmon, USA

Bob Bellmon, USMA '39, the son of one general and the son-in-law of another (Porky Waterford), is a 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 Commander. Bellmon moved from Armor to Army Aviation and eventually became the Commanding General of Army Aviation at Fort Rucker. While he is a typified as a bit of a stuffed shirt, there is no doubt as to his abilities and his devotion to the US Army. In "The Generals" he was the Commanding General of XVIII Airborne Corps at Ft. Bragg.

Major General Paul T. "Red" Hanrahan, USA

One of the original Airborne 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 were 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. Hanrahan's real-life counterpart as commandant during that era was then-Brigadier General William P. Yarborough, who arranged for President Kennedy to approve the famed green berets worn by Special Forces.

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.

Colonel Phillip Sheridan Parker III, USA, Retired

A Norwich graduate, Colonel Parker commanded a colored tank destroyer regiment in North Africa and Northern Europe under General "Porky" Waterford. Without orders, he led the task force that rescued Bob Bellmon.

Generalleutnant 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. After the war, he becomes the head of German intelligence. For nearly five years after the war he was a prisoner in a Russian Gulag, and was identified and repatriated by Sandy Felter where he found his daughter married to Craig Lowell.

Ilse von Greiffenberg Lowell

Ilse is Graf von Greiffenberg's daughter and becomes Craig's wife. She is killed in an automobile accident in Germany caused by a drunk US Army Quartermaster Officer, while Craig is in Korea.

Major George Washington "Father" Lunsford, USA

A talented, black Special Forces Officer, his skills at Swahili allow him to play a key role in support of operations in the Congo. He becomes a good friend to John Oliver. Lunsford appears in "The Aviators", "The New Breed", and "Special Ops".

Brigadier General [Designate] Geoff Craig, USA

Craig Lowell's cousin, he was drafted into the army and placed in the stockade after assaulting his NCO (in response to being hit first by the sergent). Craig Lowell was able to get him into Special Forces school where he was given a promotion to Sergeant. While in Vietnam, he received a battlefield commission after being the last American able to fight in a Special Forces base they were defending. After Vietnam, he became an aviator. As an aviator and Brigadier General [Designate] in the Pentagon in Washington, he plays a critical role in Army aviation and with covert operations around the world.

1st Lieutenant Jacques Emile "Jack" Portet, USAR

The American-born son of a commercial airline pilot from the former Belgian Congo, he is an accomplished aviator whose knowledge of the area proves invaluable in the operation detailed in "The Aviators" and "The New Breed". He later marries the Bellmons' daughter Marjorie.

Captain John S. Oliver Jr., USA

A Norwich University graduate, Captain Oliver served in Vietnam commanding the 170th Assault Helicopter Company. He earned the Combat Infantryman Badge during a Special Forces operation where his helicopter was shot down. As the only uninjured officer, he led the Green Beret A-Team to safety through the jungle. He served as General Bellmon's aide-de-camp while stationed at Fort Rucker.

haron Felter

Sandy Felter's wife. She hated Sandy for wanting to be a soldier but has come to love the life they have. Later in the series, she wishes Sandy was a regular soldier but understands the importance he has to the President. Sandy's role as an intelligence officer leaves her yearning for life like her friends have. She helped bury Craig's wife, Ilse when he was in Korea and when Sandy was believed to have died in Korea, and later in a plane crash at Dien Bien Phu, helped comfort Craig Lowell (when Lowell should have been comforting her). She, and Barbara Bellmon, regard Lowell as a mischievous younger brother. Lowell regards Sharon probably more fondly than any other woman in his life, and often jokes that if anything were to happen to Sandy, he would quickly propose.

Dorothy Sims

A wife of a prisoner of war during Vietnam. She becomes involved with Craig Lowell and they fell in love and married after she divorced her husband, Thomas Sims, USAF, after Craig rescued him from a POW Camp. Their relationship cost Craig his career.

Other notable characters

*General E. Z. Black - Armor officer, division and corps commander in Korea (see I. D. White). Later served as Vice Chief of Staff and CINCPAC. Longtime protector of Mac MacMillan ("The Captains", "The Colonels") and also the officer who rescued Craig Lowell's career at the end of "The Majors".
*Porter Craig - Craig Lowell's cousin, and father of Geoffrey Craig; Porter is the Chairman of the Board of the Lowell/Craig family firm of investment bankers, Craig, Powell, Kenyon, and Dawes.
*Lieutenant Commander Edward Eaglebury, USN - Naval Intelligence Officer and Aviator assigned to U.S. Army Special Forces; disguised as an Army Sergeant First Class, he served as Tom Ellis' tormentor during the latter's Green Beret training cycle (featured in "The Berets") Commander Eaglebury was killed while looking for missile sites in Cuba during the crisis. He was decorated posthumously by President Kennedy for his actions.
*1st Lieutenant Tom Ellis - Airborne and later Green Beret officer (introduced in "The Colonels", featured in "The Berets"). Tom Ellis was an OCS graduate who enlisted to be a cook and then went to Officer Candidate and Airborne Schools at Ft. Benning, Ga. to avoid the kitchen. He was picked up by Col. MacMillan while hitchhiking to Ft. Bragg because he lost his car playing poker. Served as Aide to Paul Hanrahan after his promotion to Brigadier General. Commanded the "A" Team picked up by Craig Lowell in Cuba. Died after stepping on a Punji Stick while leading an unauthorized enemy patrol in Vietnam while acting as an officer courier. Went AWOL in returning to the United States for proper medical care of his infections.
*Major William Franklin - Early Army Warrant Officer Aviator
*1st Lieutenant Ed C. Greer - Early Army Warrant Officer Aviator (Featured in "The Majors"). Former assistant to Gen. E. Z. Black, later sent to Warrant Officer Candidate (WOC) school at Ft. Rucker to learn how to fly. Served in Algeria after Craig Lowell and Bill Franklin. Married Melody Dutton. Pilot of the ill-fated H-19 "Big Bad Bird".
*Major General Paul T. Jiggs - Army Armor Officer and Aviation convert; Served as Craig Lowell's CO with the 73rd Heavy Tank in Korea and later became the Commanding General of Ft. Rucker
*Major General Angus C. "Scotty" Laird - Army General and Aviation convert (Introduced in "The Majors") (see Bogardus S. Cairns)
*Colonel William R. Roberts - West Point Graduate (Class of '40), Long time Army Aviation visionary and promoter. Frequently at odds with Bob Bellmon.

Inconsistencies and historical integration

*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 cannot have a number higher than "36" for a heading of 360 degrees is the highest possible.

*In "The Lieutenants" Stalag XVII-B is erroneously located some 5 miles south of Stettin (today it is a Polish city, but was always a German one) and another erroneous reference as to the camp was located in a former Cavalry barracks from the Polish Army. The real location of Stalag XVII-B was not in Pommern (Pomerania) as described in the book.

*In "Special Ops" the C-46 transport aircraft operated by "Air Simba" in the Congo is mentioned as a "Boeing C-46." Actually, it was manufactured by Curtiss Wright.

*Originally, there would have been no novels written after "The Generals", as the book closed with an epilogue of each officer's and character's career. This was skillfully pushed aside, however, in the three novels written after "The Generals". However these three books were set before the last book.

*Griffin's books frequently suffer from inconsistencies in character names and historical references. For example, in "The Lieutenants", the Bellmons' daughter is referred to as "Eleanor", however, she is called "Marjorie" in the remaining books. While "Scotty" Laird ("The Majors") is mentioned as the namesake of the airfield at Ft. Rucker following his crash at the controls of his H-13, a later book makes reference to the same helicopter crash naming General Bogardus S. Cairns, after whom the Ft. Rucker airfield is named.

*In this series of books, Griffin incorporates many of his own experiences from his service in the U.S. Army and captures some of the critical and little-known episodes in the evolution of new branches of arms, such as Special Forces and Airmobile Operations. In the afterword of "The Aviators" he pays tribute to a long-time friend (Col. Clifford Merritt Walker, Jr.) whose exploits as a Huey pilot in Vietnam served as the inspiration for the events surrounding Capt. John Oliver's award of the Combat Infantryman's Badge.