The Lieutenants by W.E.B. Griffin

It is my opinion that the book The Lieutenants (Brotherhood of War series) by W.E.B. Griffin is one of the very finest works of fiction ever written.

At one point in the story Craig W. Lowell, through a series of highly-irregular but totally believable circumstances finds himself in a "hot" civil war in Greece, a conflict that he is perhaps the least prepared person in the post WWII army to be involved in.

During an unanticipated battle, Craig's one strength, his ability to hit the target he aims at serves him well. His chaperone is KIA mere feet from his battle position. Craig kills seven or eight of the attackers. He also craps-his-pants during the battle.

A week later, one of the HQ weenies visits Craig and is amazed that the Greek fighters have no problem understanding Craig's horrible, 100 word Greek vocabulary (with mangled pronunciation with improper tense and gender) and enthusiastically support his efforts while West Point graduates with flawless Greek linguistic skills are misunderstood and the WP grad's plans founder.

It was not so much that Craig mowed down the attackers as much as the fact that he invested in his position and stood his ground, shoulder-to-shoulder with the Greek fighters. He was there on the ramparts when the lead was flying while the WP grads were in a hotel in town with feather beds, linens, dinner, fine wine and pretty girls.

After all of the superficial trappings of civilization have been boiled off, what remains is equity-of-character. Such are the bones upon which epic stories are constructed and the foundations of unbending loyalty.

God willing, should events demand such, I pray that I will be able to demonstrate character equity.