What are the motifs in An American Requiem by James P. Carroll?

James Carroll and his heroes is a recurring idea.James' childhood heroes on Air Force bases are his father's fellow generals. James is a would-be flyboy on the side of anyone in blue. He worships warmonger General Curtis LeMay in the early sixties. He is an Air Force Academy cadet prospect because he is a general's son. General Chess is chief of chaplains modeling an alternative career path. Caddying for his father and the chaplain on a golf course lets James envision himself and his father as priests. At Georgetown University he wins the Outstanding Air Force ROTC Cadet award and a prize stainless-steel model B-52 bomber. James enters seminary to become an Air Force chaplain with General Chess' help.