Don’t Go Near the Water

A steady, career-minded naval officer who runs the island's public relations unit. He navigates duty and personal desire, becoming entangled in Melora Alba's life and in schemes to help his sailors. He even pretends to date Lt. Alice Tomlen to give Adam Garrett a chance to spend time with her, showing his willingness to bend rules for others. By the war's end, his love for Melora leads him to choose island life over a NYC future.

A local schoolteacher whose affection for Siegel anchors the romantic arc. She believes she is needed on the island rather than moving to New York, valuing the community and her work over glamour. Her choices reflect a commitment to the island's wellbeing and to those she cares about. Her relationship with Siegel ultimately faces the tests of time and distance.

A loud, tattooed sailor selected to boost morale on a public relations mission. He clashes with the polished image Nash hopes to project, revealing the gap between reality and PR. Siegel is tasked with smoothing his rough edges, but success is limited. His rough persona becomes a lens on wartime image versus persona.

A Navy yeoman who falls for Lt. Alice Tomlen, creating a breach of Navy regulations. Siegel's arrangement with Tomlen gives Garrett time with her, illustrating the lengths people go to pursue love within strict rules. His relationship tests the boundaries of rank, order, and desire. His arc highlights the personal costs of romance during wartime.

A nurse and officer whose romance with Garrett drives a slice of the island's romance subplot. She balances professional duties with personal affection, reflecting the difficulties women face in wartime service. Her relationship becomes a focal point for discussions of rules and loyalty. She remains a steady presence amid the island's romantic tensions.

A shapely war correspondent who boards a heavy cruiser, pushing the boundaries of command and media access. Admiral Boatwright disapproves of her intrusion, highlighting tensions between journalistic ambition and naval control. Her presence magnifies the theme of media involvement in wartime operations. She embodies the flirtation with danger that press and public image can entail.

A high-ranking naval officer who embodies discipline and authority. He disapproves of Deborah's stunt and guards the boundaries between media and the fleet. His decisions emphasize the weight of command and the cost of bending rules for publicity. He represents the hard-line stance on order during war.