Martin King - Blood Is Thicker than War: Brothers and Sisters on the Front Lines

Advance Praise for
Blood Is Thicker than War

Martin King, once again, has crafted a masterful historical work studying some of the most compelling human storiesfamilies fighting and surviving the horrors of war. Across the ocean of time, fathers and sons, daughters and mothers, families have been severely tested in their heroic efforts to win. This collection of stories is being lived out today in Ukraine and as such, you have to add this to your library today. I met Martin in early 2019 when we both spoke at a military historical event in Las Vegas, a mere week or less before the United States began to restrict activities in response to the growing COVID-19 pandemic. Martin is a keen studier of war and an incredible storyteller, especially those stories that have had profound impacts on the lives of others, and the conflicting often devastating results. These are stories worth telling and Martin King does exactly that in this newest historical work.

Robert G. Novotny, Brig Gen (ret), USAF

War is a very personal endeavor. Servicemembers form inexplicable bonds as they prepare for battle and fight alongside each other. These bonds, or more appropriately stated, love, lives on, far beyond the battlefield. It is proper then, that the story of war be told through the stories of the people who experienced it. Nobody tells the story of war better than Martin King. Let Martin take you on a journey of combat through the stories of brothers, sisters, and families to experience one of lifes greatest crucibles. Blood is indeed thicker than war.

- Robert Campbell Colonel, U. S. Army, 101st Airborne. (Ret)

Martin is a master storyteller. His intensive research and unique writing style enable one to visualize the scenes and sense the emotion. Braided rope, like brother and sisterhood, is strong, but occasionally ideology snaps even the strongest bonds.

Brigadier General (ret) Gregory J. Ihde, USAF

Martin King, once again, has crafted a masterful historical work studying some of the most compelling human storiesfamilies fighting and surviving the horrors of war. Across the ocean of time, fathers and sons, daughters and mothers, families tested and their heroic efforts to win. This collection of stories is being lived out today in Ukraine and as such, you have to add this to your library today.

Brigadier General Robert G Novotny (ret) USAF

...a story which needed to be told... definitely a volume worth reading as we look to gain all of the information possible before the primary source of the Greatest Generation is gone.

The Journal of Americas Military Past

An absolutely essential and core addition to personal, professional, community, college, and university history collections, Blood is thicker than war is an inherently absorbing read from cover to cover.

Midwest Book Review

Martins ability to tie family allegiances in key historical battles over hundreds of years is unprecedented and noteworthy. Martin shows how families, regardless of their individual beliefs, rivalries, or allegiances, were critical in some of historys most pivoting and defining military engagements. Weather it was brother against brother on the bloody fields of the American Civil War, or sister working with sister fighting together under a common belief to stop the Nazis, Martin weaves the stories in such a way that it allows you to feel what they felt, whether it was the sorrow over the loss of a sibling, or the happiness and completion of reconciling with a brother who fought, just yards from you, against you and everything you were fighting for. Wars may be fought by individuals and units, but ultimately most everyone participating comes from a family that worried and grieved, or celebrated their accomplishments. This book will help you understand the emotions and critical roles that the families of those involved.

Arthur Art Gordon, MAJ. US. ARMY, 1988-2015

Ive studied history for many years and Im an author of two books myself. Martin covers the often-missed aspect of war, the personal aspect. I feel his is a much-needed reminder that wars are not fought by tanks, trucks, and artillery; they are fought by people.

Robert R. Allen, MSGT USAF Retired

Compelling! King mixes archival evidence with biography and history to take you into how the lives of families are affected by war siblings fighting side by side.

Mr. Randy Garcia President ICC The Investment Company Las Vegas

As a Combat Veteran who thrives on remembering history, I enjoy a good read, rather than spending time reading the news, or spending hours on Facebook. I find Martins work, honest and factual. He has the ability quite early on, to grab a persons attention and hold onto it, not just in the beginning, but also throughout the entire book. This is what I think most people are looking for when they read and purchase books. Regardless of the content of the book or the subject matter, how you portray your work and naturally flow from one chapter to the next is not something easily done, yet you seem to do this with ease. No doubt your experience in writing is obviously clear and evident in your style of writing. It takes creativity, imagination, and inspiration to perfect the writing skills to achieve this, and Martin does this time and time again. To be able to grab a persons attention, and hold onto it throughout the duration is a gift, and clearly this is what makes reading Martins your books so enjoyable. So not only do we get a history lesson, but we crave for more as we dander through the pages. So in closing I just want to say, I tip my hat to you sir, and wish you a grand day. I will be looking forward to reading the full content of your newest edition when it arrives.

Mark Chernek United States Marine Corps

A KNOX PRESS BOOK

An Imprint of Permuted Press

ISBN: 978-1-63758-352-4

ISBN (eBook): 978-1-63758-353-1

Blood Is Thicker than War:

Brothers and Sisters on the Front Lines

2022 by Martin King

All Rights Reserved

Cover Art by Cody Corcoran

Interior Design by Yoni Limor

All people, locations, events, and situations are portrayed to the best of the authors memory. While all of the events described are true, many names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of the people involved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author and publisher.

Permuted Press, LLC

New York Nashville

permutedpress.com

Published in the United States of America

In Memoriam:

Dearly departed friends Mr. Dan Goo,
whose memory will live in our hearts forever,

and Mark William Altmeyer, gone but never forgotten.

Table of Contents

PART ONE:
Destiny and dilemma.

PART TWO:
I vow to thee, my country.

M artin King is a prolific writer of military history with an unrivaled breadth of knowledge and passion for his subject matter. His latest literary effort tackles the stories of siblings in conflict throughout history, at times even on different sides on the same battlefield. After reading a few excerpts, Ive become even more intrigued by this subject matter, in part through personal experience. I had the privilege of commissioning my daughter into the United States Air Force and now, as a retired Air Force officer, have the good fortune of teaching at the same overseas location where my daughter is stationed. Like many of the themes in Martins book, Ive experienced firsthand the strengthening of the bonds between my daughter and I through shared experiences so unique to military life. Im honored that a historian of Martins caliber gave me a peek at his latest book and I eagerly await the opportunity to read the final product.