A Glimpse Into the Story

History has a way of hiding the most daring battles in the least expected corners of the world. Bandits Below by LtCol David B. Brown, USMC (Ret.) brings readers back to the late 1920s, when U.S. Marines faced off against Augusto César Sandino’s rebels in Nicaragua. But this isn’t just about battles fought on the ground—it’s about the birth of something new: Marine aviation proving its worth in combat. Readers are taken from international air races to jungle warfare, where the sky itself becomes a battlefield.

The story pulls you into the world of young aviators risking everything to support their brothers on the ground. From bombing runs to daring rescues under fire, Bandits Below is less about war as numbers and dates, and more about courage, camaraderie, and the bold men who helped shape modern Marine air-ground tactics. The book paints the picture of a Nicaragua torn apart, a rebel leader who refuses to bow, and Marines learning that the skies could change the outcome of war.

About the Author

LtCol David B. Brown served 21 years in the U.S. Marine Corps as an infantry officer, advisor, and commander in Vietnam. He later instructed at the U.S. Naval Academy and headed the Marine Corps Procurement Budget. His service earned him the Silver Star Medal, the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars with Combat V, five Air Medals, and more. After retiring, he continued serving as a consultant, author, and leader in Marine associations, publishing books and articles on training, logistics, and military history. Brown has been recognized by the Military Writers Society of America, receiving a Gold Award for his earlier novel Battlelines.