Code Name: ORION'S EYE

Code Name: ORION’S EYE by Tom Gauthier

Second Edition

In June of 1943, Major Amos Mead, USMC, is an OSS agent in London charged with tracking the spies of the Third Reich. What he uncovers starts only as a suspicion, and a lot of questions, about why the German High Command is so interested in something called ‘Auge Orion’. As the answer unfolds, Mead is swept into the challenge of figuring out if there is a plot, what the plot is, and where it will be carried out. He learns what ‘Auge Orion’ is, where it is, and why it’s so important to German leaders, and is assigned, with urgent authority from the highest levels of government - the President himself – to uncover and stop the people who are already on the mission to steal it. He sets out on a journey from London, to Washington, DC, and on to Los Angeles, California, where he meets Chief Harmon Wetmore, USN. Wetmore turns out to be much more of a military and spy player than he seems. Mead is surprised when Wetmore adds a strong and beautiful woman to the team. She is Betty Jean Williamson, called BJ, who is a childhood sweetheart of Major Meads from Vermont, now married to a Navy pilot. The pilot is missing in action in the south Pacific.

Mead and Wetmore find the Army Air Corp unit that has the secret radar the Germans wanted. They also discover that there may be an American officer who has turned spy for the Third Reich. They have no idea which branch of service, or if he even really exists. When Mead finds out that the Army unit and its equipment is traveling to war in the Pacific on the troopship, S.S. Cape San Juan, he discovers that a maritime officer on the ship is an old friend of his. The officer, Lieutenant (jg) Donovan Gochais, former Los Angeles police officer, is recruited by Mead into the team. Gochais will be the eyes and ears of the OSS if the targeted equipment actually reaches the ship and sets sail. Gochais must also pick up the hunt for the suspected rogue American officer.

In the meantime, the full forces of the Nazi Third Reich are drawn on by the best spies of the SS. Their tentacles have a global reach, and a deadly sting. Mead and his team are tasked with fighting this force, even though the have no idea who, where or what it is.

Tom Gauthier has woven a history-based story with twists and turns worthy of the best action writers. His crisp, visual writing keeps the reader engaged throughout this multilayered story of World War II military action and personal bravery that culminates in an unsuspected and deadly violent clash of three warring powers.

He is sensitive to the real life war-time service of many of the book’s characters, and offers the story as a celebration of their brave and selfless service to our county in World War II.