For most of the novel, Waddy is seen as a sniveling coward, first as a combat officer in World War II and then as a life-long communist who fears being outed by the McCarthy committee. A Yale University graduate, Waddy is a captain in the U.S. Army in 1943, aided by WOJC Barnabas "Barney" Wolkowicz. "Force Jessup" is a crack team of killers and linguists, who use stealth and cunning behind Japanese lines, rather than throwing themselves suicidally onto the beaches. In Burma, commanding twenty Kachin guerrilla fighters, Waddy wears an Australian bush hat and a Yale track shirt, carries a samurai sword, and affects a British accent. Waddy twice abandons Barney to his fate with the Japanese. He is rescued, flown to Ceylon, promoted to major, decorated for bravery, and becomes acting commanding officer. When Barney reaches Ceylon, he prepares a detailed written report highlighting Waddy's shameful cowardice. Waddy breaks down at the thought of court martial, but prepares incentives to let bygones to be bygones. In return, Barney demands posting to Germany after the war.
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