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Ranger School is one of the tougher military schools. Some say the toughest, although combat diver might argue and certainly SEALs would disagree. I found the Robin Sage phase of the Special Forces Qualification Course to a be a total mind fuck. Lots of lose-lose scenarios as in Star Trek’s Kobayashi Maru mode.
This scene is the second one in New York Minute. It is a flashback, which many warn against; it’s one of four in the book. But they are key to understanding my protagonist, Will Kane, and how a warrior is made. It also foreshadows, as all good scenes do. And, after all, the title of the book is New York Minute. You’ll see as you read. Here’s the really, really interesting thing: I had the title before I came up with this scene or how the minute is used later in the book. Writers– trust your subconscious.
It also introduces a real life, perhaps bigger than life, person, Chargin’ Charlie Beckwith who would go on from this assignment to form Delta Force, a development which will come up in a future book in the Will Kane series. Will Kane, my protagonist, has just graduated West Point, class of 1966. He is in the last phase of Ranger School. His wife gave birth on the first day of Ranger School and he hasn’t seen his son yet.
Always remember: the n in Ranger stand for knowledge!
