Code Name Rascal

by Dorothea Buckingham

Set in Hawaii at the dawn of World War II and inspired by a real-life women’s military unit, Code Name Rascal, traces the path of four very different women who joined the Women’s Air Raid Defense, a secret radar unit under the Army Air Corps.
CJ Martino, a firecracker journalist, straight out of Columbia moves to Hawaii to set the newspaper world on fire. CJ and Marine Lieutenant Joe Delano marry two days before Pearl Harbor is attacked and which challenges her career and her marriage.
Eve Russell, a Honolulu society girl, joins the unit to avoid the grip of her overbearing mother, and finds herself thrust into a world where she is measured by her performance, not her last name, and in the end, Eve must choose between wealth and love.
Ruth Elliott is “third-generation Navy” wife, who defines her life’s purpose as a mother and an officer’s wife, grapples with private grief that overshadows her self-worth. Sequestered with the other WARDs, her quiet self-destruction is exposed, and her path to resolution leads to divorce or self-acceptance.
Jane Meade, a Texas aviatrix who dreamed of being a pilot from the first time a plane landed at her family ranch, married a man who dreamed of building an aviation company that would hire only girls! But he talked and drank more than he worked.
Code Name Rascal is set against the backdrop of the first six months of the war, when land invasion by the enemy was an imminent threat, and life under martial law restricted or denied basic freedoms, a little-know historical fact, is exposed.
Told with emotional nuance and historical accuracy, Code Name Rascal celebrates the life and resilience of local civilian women thrust into military roles. It reveals the bonds of four fictional women, in unlikely friendships, as it examines the themes of duty, self-sacrifice and survival.
It is a gripping story of the reality of war and “every day” courage told from women’s perspective.

379 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 12, 2025

Reviews

[Maureen Griswold · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's likely most people are unaware of the volunteer civilian unit, Women's Air Raid Defense (WARD), which worked with the military to provide air defense for Hawaii in the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack. After directly experiencing the attack, four young women: a newspaper reporter, a pilot, a Navy commander's wife, and the socialite daughter of a wealthy newspaper owner, answer a higher calling to volunteer for WARD. After meeting strict requirements, they undergo arduous training and working conditions in a secretive, high-pressure, male-dominated atmosphere, making their dedication and contribution all the more striking. This novel reminded me of From Here To Eternity with its depiction of life in Honolulu just before the Pearl Harbor attack and the attack itself which is powerfully depicted. Each of the four women's stories poignantly brings this little-known part of WW2 history and the WARD unit to life. This is a worthwhile read to learn and appreciate the valuable work this select group of women did to support the U.S. war effort and eventual victory.

[Elaine Schroller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four fascinating characters, one terrific novel

Dee weaves together the lives of four WARDs in Honolulu: CJ, a journalist newly married to a Marine; Ruth, a Navy wife; Eve, a socialite; and Jane, a pilot grounded simply because she's a woman. All are harboring dreams, disappointments, and the desire to make a difference when their country was attacked.

CODE NAME RASCAL is a terrific WWII novel. Treat yourself and go read the book. Then treat your historical fiction loving friends.

[Carey Mundy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of WWII fiction and this story about a group of diverse women who come together after the Pearl Harbor attack intrigued me. These 4 women could not be more different, and yet they came together to form the first group of American radar staff, nicknamed the Rascals. Each is faced with challenge and opportunity in this realistic portrayal of the most of war.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-researched story of a woman's radar unit inn W.W.II. The main characters go through many crises as they go through their training on the island of Oahu.