Character guide

Claude Wheeler

major

Also known as Claude, Mr. Claude, Wheeler, Lieutenant Wheeler

A young Nebraska farmer who seeks meaning beyond his provincial life and joins the war effort.

Enid Royce

major

Also known as Enid, Miss Enid, Caroline Royce

Claude's first love and later wife, a devout and emotionally distant woman.

Mrs. Wheeler

supporting

Also known as Mother Wheeler, Mother

Claude's gentle, religious mother who understands his restless spirit.

Mahailey

supporting

Also known as Old Mahailey

The Wheelers' loyal, simple-minded hired woman who adores Claude.

Ralph Wheeler

supporting

Also known as Ralph

Claude's older brother, practical and conventional, who runs the family farm.

David Gerhardt

supporting

Also known as Lieutenant Gerhardt, Gerhardt, Dave

A refined, educated officer who becomes Claude's close friend in the army.

Bayliss Wheeler

supporting

Also known as Bayliss

Claude's older brother, a successful but narrow-minded businessman.

Gladys Farmer

supporting

Also known as Gladys

A spirited young woman from the neighborhood who admires Claude.

Victor Morse

supporting

Also known as Victor, Morse

A brash, adventurous young soldier from the American West.

Leonard Dawson

supporting

Also known as Leonard, Len, big Leonard Dawson

A prosperous farmer and neighbor of the Wheelers.

Sergeant Hicks

supporting

Also known as Hicks

A tough, experienced non-commissioned officer in Claude's regiment.

Mrs. Erlich

supporting

The warm, cultured German-American mother of Claude's Lincoln friends.

Ernest Havel

supporting

Also known as Ernest

A thoughtful, intellectual neighbor boy who befriends Claude.

Mr. Royce

minor

Enid's stern, religious father who runs the local drugstore.

Nat Wheeler

supporting

Also known as Mr. Wheeler, Wheeler

Claude's father, a prosperous but unambitious farmer.

Dan

minor

A hired hand on the Wheeler farm.

Captain Maxey

minor

Also known as Maxey, The Captain

Claude's company commander in the American Expeditionary Forces.

Madame Joubert

minor

Also known as Madame

A French woman who hosts American soldiers in her home.

Mademoiselle Olive

minor

Also known as Mlle Olive, Olive

A young French girl who interacts with the American soldiers.

Captain Barclay Owens

minor

Also known as Owens, Barclay Owens, Captain Owens

A medical officer in Claude's regiment.

Tod Fanning

minor

Also known as Fanning

A local man from Claude's hometown who also serves in the war.

Bert Fuller

minor

Also known as Bert, Fuller

A soldier in Claude's company, known for his rough humor.

Mrs. Voigt

minor

A German-American woman who runs a boarding house in Lincoln.

Troilus Oberlies

minor

Also known as Oberlies

A soldier in Claude's regiment with a classical name.

Julius Erlich

minor

Also known as Erlich, Julius

One of Mrs. Erlich's sons, a friend of Claude in Lincoln.

Susie Grey

minor

Also known as Susie

A young woman from Claude's hometown.

Albert Usher

minor

Also known as young Usher, Usher

A young soldier in Claude's company.

Tom Wested

minor

Also known as Wested

A soldier who serves alongside Claude.

Dr. Chessup

minor

Also known as Chessup

A doctor in the town near the Wheeler farm.

Mr. Weldon

minor

Also known as young Mr. Weldon, Weldon

A young minister who courts Gladys Farmer.

Mrs. Farmer

minor

Gladys Farmer's mother.

Carrie Royce

minor

Also known as Carrie, Caroline Royce

Enid's younger sister.

Jerry

minor

A hired man on the Wheeler farm.

Brother Weldon

minor

Also known as Weldon

A traveling preacher who visits the Wheeler community.

Peachy Millmore

minor

Also known as Miss Peachy Millmore, Miss Millmore

A young woman from Claude's social circle.

Dell Able

minor

Also known as Dell, Able

A soldier in Claude's company.

Silent Irv

minor

Also known as Irv

A quiet, reliable soldier in Claude's regiment.

Wilhelmina Schroeder-Schatz

minor

Also known as Wilhelmina, Madame Schroeder-Schatz

A German-American woman who boards soldiers in Lincoln.

Gus Yoeder

minor

Also known as August Yoeder, Yoeder, Gus

A German-American neighbor of the Wheelers.

Annabelle Chapin

minor

Also known as Annabelle, Chapin

A young woman from Claude's hometown.

Dr. Trueman

minor

Also known as Doctor Trueman

A doctor who treats soldiers in the war.

Lieutenant Colonel Scott

minor

Also known as Colonel Scott

A senior officer in Claude's regiment.

Fritz Tannhauser

minor

Also known as Fritz, big Tannhauser, Tannhauser

A large, good-natured soldier in Claude's company.

Papa Joubert

minor

Madame Joubert's husband, a French farmer.

Mrs. Royce

minor

Enid's frail, quiet mother.

Jason Royce

minor

Enid's younger brother.

Oscar the Swede

minor

Also known as Oscar, The Swede

A Swedish immigrant neighbor of the Wheelers.

Edward Chapin

minor

Also known as Edward

Annabelle Chapin's brother, a local young man.

Mademoiselle Claire

minor

Also known as Claire, Mlle Claire

A young French woman encountered by the soldiers.

Nifty Jones

minor

Also known as Jones

A soldier in Claude's company.

Lieutenant Hammond

minor

Also known as Hammond, young Lieutenant Hammond

A young officer in Claude's regiment.

Willy Katz

minor

Also known as Willy, Poor Willy Katz

A soldier in Claude's company who dies in battle.

Ed Drier

minor

Also known as Ed

A local man from Claude's hometown.

Madame Fleury

minor

A French woman who assists the American soldiers.

Reverend Arthur Weldon

minor

Also known as Arthur Weldon

A minister who marries Claude and Enid.

Lieutenant Bird

minor

Also known as Bird

An officer in Claude's regiment.

Corporal Tannhauser

minor

Also known as Tannhauser

A non-commissioned officer in Claude's company.

Susie Dawson

minor

Also known as Susie, Dawson

Leonard Dawson's wife.

Henry

minor

A hired hand on the Wheeler farm.

Bruger

minor

A soldier in Claude's company.

Olive de Courcy

minor

Also known as de Courcy

A French woman of noble background met by the soldiers.

René

minor

A young French boy who helps the American soldiers.

Colonel Maxey

minor

Also known as Maxey

A senior officer commanding Claude's battalion.

Cousin Augusta

minor

Also known as Augusta

A relative of the Wheeler family who visits.

Brewster

minor

Also known as Amos Brewster

A local farmer and neighbor of the Wheelers.

Joe Havel

minor

Also known as Havel, Joe, Mrs. Joe Havel

Ernest Havel's brother, a farmer.

Old Mr. Smith

minor

Also known as old Mr. Smith

An elderly neighbor in the Wheeler community.

Miss Farmer

minor

Gladys Farmer's aunt or older relative.

Mr. Micks

minor

A local merchant in the Wheeler's town.

Colonel James

minor

A senior officer briefly mentioned in the war narrative.

Mrs. Dawson

minor

Leonard Dawson's mother.

Trevor

minor

Also known as Bruce Trevor, The gallant Trevor

A British officer encountered by the Americans in France.

Lieutenant Müller

minor

A German officer captured or encountered by Claude's unit.

Captain Ovens

minor

Also known as Captain Owns

A ship's officer on the voyage to France.