Operation Invisible Briefing Book — Michael Brown

This book is a companion to Operation Invisible: A Tall Tail of the American Revolution. It contains the purpose and description of the mission, Looking-Glass evaluations and psychological evaluations of relevant historical figures.

As for the tall tale, do you remember reading your history of the American Revolution? Come on, you do remember Brooklyn, White Plains, Trenton, Saratoga, Valley Forge and Yorktown. Remember Saratoga, where Daniel Morgan's sharpshooters or tomahawks waxed Burgoyne's Indians and then double tapped British General Simon Fraser and Frances Clarke. Morgan's Rangers were satisfied with that achievement, no way. The Old Wagoner just had to tear Banastre Tarlton a new one at Cowpens.

Read on in your American military history. Go to World War II, where, rather than use the South African term of commando, the U. S. Army chose to use Ranger. Remember reading about Pointe du Hoc and Cabanatuan. They are still around you know. They train and follow in a tradition that goes back to Major Robert Rogers. Hell, when James Fenimore Cooper created the character of Natty Bumppo he had the U. S. Army Rangers in mind. You do remember Natty, Uncas and Chingachgook, under fire and skulking through enemy lines, don't you? You might say, Mr. Cooper created the legend, before the U. S. Army created the men.

Have you ever asked the question, what would happen if a modern Ranger met one of their forefathers? I did, but how do the two meet? I got it. Use some science fiction and the war on terror to make the hook up. Now that they are together, what do they have in common? But, wait, you just don't throw a modern soldier into the 18th century. Life is very different in the 18th century and a good ranger should to be prepared. The good ranger must have the proper equipment, background cover, vaccinations and understand how to act without drawing undue attention. How much hell and mayhem can a modern Ranger make in the American Revolution?

Philadelphia, when was the first time the city turned out for a city wide celebration? It wasn't the bicentennial or centennial. It was the going away party for General Billy Howe. Good by and good riddens, general.

Baltimore, do you think the name Poe is only associated with booze, literature and football? Did you know the Poes of your fare city raised money and made clothes for the revolution. At seventy-one, one of them saw the Star Spangled Banner from the defensive earthworks around your fare city.

Virginia, I'll bet you think Robert E. Lee taught you how to resist an invader and fight a war. Wrong! It was a crusty old Prussian general who introduced you Virginians to warfigthing.

Do you remember when the National Gallery of Art cleaned up Rembrandt's The Mill. When all of that 19th century varnish was removed, they found lively colors and new people. Not only did the Victorians coat great works of art with varnish, they put a coat of thick varnish on the American Revolution. What are the founding fathers really like, when the Victorian lense is removed? Boys, don't tell your mother how lively the 18th century was. Forget the time out, she'll wash your mouth out with soap.

These are the questions which can only be explored in an American tall tale. Yes, these questions need some sort of answer, which will stretch the imagination, just a touch. To sort things out, I wrote Operation Invisible. I not only wanted to explain warfighting in the 18th century, but how we Americans lived and some of the common thoughts and opinions out colonial forefathers and foremothers held. I wanted to explore how the country and environment have changed.