Counterattack: Book III of The Corps - Military Fiction Novel | WWII Historical Adventure | Perfect for History Buffs & Book Club Discussions

T first I thought that contemporary knowledge of the events and players in the Pacific during WWII would remove the suspense from this particular series of books. Almost any school age child knows we lost Wake Island, that Guadalcanal was a rough fight and that Jimmy Dolittle bombed Tokyo. The Story, as told by Mr. Griffin, actually plays into the fact that most Americans know the results and thus he concentrates more on the characters and manner of how the events occurred rather than the actual events themselves that gives the story a fresh and different element of suspense-how and why things occurred as they occurred. One of the elements of Mr. Griffin's books that I like best IS his characters. When the Brotherhood of War series ended I felt somewhat as I did the year my favorite soap opera was cancelled-like I had almost lost a best friend. That said, this series of books- and particular this "chapter" of the story of the Marine Corps during WWII- reminds me of interesting combinations of well-loved friends- The Mouse, the Duke and the Pollock. The primary role is that of Naval [former Marine corporal] Fleming Pickering, Chairman [and with wife and son] sole stock owner of Pacific & Far East Shipping. Attractive, "comfortable" and used to being in command he is selected by Sec Defense Frank Knox to proceed to Pacific Theatre and putting his shipping experience to work as a cover, he is tasked with cutting through the Cincpac [ Navy vs Army] MacArthur rivalry and giving the Sec. of the Navy the real truth. Thus we find a blend of Lowell [ "comfortable & used to seeing that things get done best and efficient] with Felter [right-hand-of-God- power no one can override] but because he is not in his natural element- he is a Navy Captain who used to be a WWI Marine Corporal who left the military until "the day of infamy" he isn't always sure of the processes and is untainted by the rivalry addding a wisp of uncertainty and unexpected behavior. As in Brotherhood- with its "Gone Greek Group" of characters, there are Marine Corps connections between many of the central characters within this series as well s they meet and develop associations through the work: serving in "the wood" during WWI; that makes the needed back channel mechanisms very credible. Other Connections that are eluded to and will no doubt be developed in later chapters are Old China 4th Marines, and the growing relationships between the sons and younger generations who entered service for the first time; a reversal of the first several chapters in the Brotherhood series where the primary focus was on the Officers of WWI who influenced the WWII Brotherhood. This book begins with the "after" Pearl Harbor Attack and ends with the beginning of the planned invasion and repelling of Japanese from Guadalcanal. It Touches a bit on MacArthur and the move to Australia, the "Palace Guard" which I am reasonably sure will be a conflict vehicle for Pickering's operations much like the West Point Protection Assn and the Cincinnati Flying Club served in Brotherhood. Co-Stars Steve Koffler and Mr. Howard find themselves teamed up and Banning and Steckler sr have vital roles in this chapter of the Marine Corps. Steve is one of my favorites. From his "ferocious Mouse" attitude about being a Marine; to his baby face & scared but is more afraid to show it mind-set he plays the vital character of most young Marines. He is a ham radio operator and expert but hid that fact from the Corps because he didn't want to end up as a company typist. He and Joe Howard find themselves on a coast watcher island that no doubt will be a central theme of the next chapter "Battlefield" as the fight for control of Guadalcanal and the Solomon Islands develops.