Tarnished Brass Curtain explores the sibling themes of conscience and responsibility. The thoughts of two men –one, young, innocent and practical; the other, older, experienced, and unrealistally idealistic—are examined. In the frame of the present, the main story deals with US Nay Senior Chief DAN LEVIN, His relationship with the Navy, his doubts about his leadership abilities and the feelings of a Jew in an alien world, along with his concern about the way the command’s top brass is handling the apparent desertion of the admiral’s son, a combat helicopter pilot and Dan’s friend, LT(JG) ALFRED THAYER HETHERINGTON JR.