Athena Unleashed: Book Three in the Guardians of Peace Series

Athena Unleashed is the third book in the Guardians of Peace historical fiction series depicting the experiences of the first female Army ROTC officers and the first women to attend and graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.

In Athena Unleashed, the story begins in the summer of 1980 as Army Captains Maura Collins and Anne Deveraux are enroute to Fort Bragg for their assignments in the 82nd Airborne Division. Lori Nelson is a new Army Lieutenant having completed airborne training before attending her military police officer basic course at Fort McClellan, Alabama. Experience their military stories while stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The story continues through 1983 as Lori is battle tested with the leadership highs and lows she encounters in the U.S. Army, while Maura seasons her resolve in her unique and challenging chemical corps assignments in the Division. Their journey into a male dominated army is chronicled in this exciting, page-turning adventure.

“I’m hooked on the Guardians of Peace series! Refined by Fire and Trailblazers transported me back to the beginning of my Army career in the early1970s when I was assigned to Germany. My experiences in Europe were almost exactly the same as the women officers portrayed. Athena Unleashed is equally compelling and does a fantastic job of portraying the difficulties, hardships and successes experienced by the first women to join the “All American” Division. I was assigned to Ft. Bragg and the 82d Airborne Division in 1977. The 21st Chemical Company (Airborne) was one of the initial units to integrate women into 82d formations. My female soldiers and NCOs were phenomenal and many became future leaders in the Chemical Corps. I might never have realized this series existed if Ruth had not asked me to read the books and more importantly, I wouldn’t have been captured by the great portrayal of the integration of women into the Army’s fighting forces. Keep writing and telling the story that changed the Army for the better.”

John Doesburg, MG, USA, (RET),

Honorary Colonel of the Chemical Corps Regiment