|
Local
author writes book of fiction featuring division
Blizzard Newspaper, December 18, 2003, Spec. Rachael Tolliver
In a stunning
turn of events, the U.S. Army, led by the 10th Mountain Division,
invaded Quebec, Canada — as written in a new work of fiction
by Michael Karpovage.
“Flashpoint
Quebec: Operation Joint Suppression” is a book that focuses
on the secession of Quebec from the Canadian provinces. The
posturing on both sides of the issue, and the heated debate
that ensues, prompts the Canadian prime minister to seek help
from the U.S. in stabilizing the region.
Because
Fort Drum is just across the border and close to the “hot
spot,” the 10th Mountain Division gets the call.
But it
is no coincidence Karpovage, a publication designer at Thompkins
Cortland Community College in Ithaca, chose the 10th Mountain
to highlight in his first work of fiction.
“I’m a
big military enthusiast, but most scenarios in combat books
were set overseas,” the Rochester native explained. “I wanted
to write a book that was set in North America and would bring
combat to the civilized Western world. Because I am from New
York, and the 10th is such a big part of upstate New York,
it was an easy choice.”
Karpovage
not only focuses his story on the 10th Mountain Division,
but its main characters are from the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry
Regiment. While some of the characters may resemble well defined
leaders within the division, Karpovage strongly insists the
characters are based on no one specific. But his reason for
choosing 2-14 Infantry as his focal unit was specific.
“The 10th
was in Somalia, but were not given the credit they deserved,”
he said. “They were the real heroes there, and I wanted to
give them their credit due.”
Karpovage
said he started researching his book in 1998, and he admitted
the combat scenes were heavily influenced by the book Black
Hawk Down. As in that book, he strove to describe chaos and
leadership in the presence of the uncertain and unknown. In
an odd twist of fate, he said he received the very first copies
of his book on Oct. 3, exactly 10 years to the day of the
Battle of Mogadishu.
Although
he never served in the military, Karpovage points out that
neither did Tom Clancy or Tom Hanks. A firefighter for a number
of years who was recently named the Waterloo Firefighter of
2003, Karpovage likened the drama of firefighting to a war,
but without the bullets.
While
Karpovage said he knows he has some work to do before he can
be considered in the same company as Harold Coyle, John Antal
and Tom Clancy, he is never-the-less proud of his first book.
He said he tried to add a real world feel to his book by including
great detail about the history of Quebec, as well as actual
places around Fort Drum. But he stayed away from the Hollywood
endings.
“The ending
is not Hollywood, it’s real life … bitter sweet,” he commented.
“I wanted to make the public more aware of our true heroes,
and how they allow us to sleep peaceably.”
|
