HOW IT ALL GOT STARTED: A book about real-life military spouses inspired the series. The source was journalist and army brat Tanya Biank's popular 2006 nonfiction book Under the Sabers: The Unwritten Code of Army Wives. (It's been retitled Army Wives for the new paperback edition; buy it at Amazon.com) "I wrote the book because I wanted to humanize our military and military families," says Biank, now the wife of a lieutenant colonel and a show consultant. Most of Army Wives' characters are based on the book's actual subjects. "When I was doing a radio interview recently, I got a call from the real Roxy," says Sally Pressman, who plays irrepressible newlywed Roxy LeBlanc. "She said that she was crying hysterically watching the first episode because it was so moving to see her life on the screen. We're not enhancing things at all."MAIN CAST:Claudia Joy Holden: Played by Kim Delaney, Claudia is the poster model of the military wife. She is strong, svelte, smart, sophisticated and a natural leader. Married to Colonel Michael Holden, one of the highest-ranking men on the post, she effectively manages the concerns of her fellow army wives as well as the growing pains of her own daughters. She is a staunch fighter for justice, which often ruffles the feathers of those around her and tends to put her husband’s career in hot water.Private First Class Trevor LeBlanc: Played by Drew Fuller, Trevor has always dreamed of becoming a United States Army paratrooper and a family to call his own. Having met and married Roxy, he has become an instant father to her two sons and has found the family he has always longed for.Pamela Moran: Played by Brigid Brannagh, Pamela is a former member of the Boston police force, who gave up her career to become a full time army wife and mother. She is as skilled with a gun as Chase, her Delta Force husband, and despite her soft and feminine beauty, is a tough and enterprising woman willing to do what it takes to support her family. >Roland Burton: Played by Sterling K. Brown, Roland is a brilliant and fast-rising psychiatrist who gave up his lucrative private practice to become a military husband to Lieutenant Colonel Joan Burton. Although he has become highly-respected at Fort Marshall’s Mercer Army Medical Center, the constant relocating has started to take a toll on Roland’s career and marriage. When his wife returns home from her latest assignment, with a bout of post-traumatic stress syndrome, Roland is faced with saving her from a breakdown while keeping his own marriage and practice afloat.> Roxy LeBlanc: Played by Sally Pressman, Roxy is a sexy, independent, single mother of two boys, who works as a bartender at a local hangout. When she meets, falls in love and marries Army Private First Class Trevor LeBlanc, Roxy initially finds it hard to adjust to the rules, regulations and class system rankings of military life, but finds a support system in the company of her fellow army wives. Denise Sherwood: Played by Catherine Bell, Denise is an army brat who has known the army all her life. Her father comes from a long line of military men and she herself, married Major Frank Sherwood, an army man who has given her security and happiness. Smart, well-bred but inherently shy, Denise is confronted with loneliness and the task of raising a troubled teenaged son when her husband is sent to Iraq. With the support of her fellow military wives, she finds her inner strength and rises to the challenge. Colonel Michael Holden: Played by Brian McNamara, Colonel Holden is a well-decorated and highly respected soldier. He is a tireless and devoted officer who always strives to do his best, even in the face of wrongful accusations and the loss of his rightful command. He is husband to Claudia Joy and father to their two daughters, Amanda and Emmalin Lieutenant Colonel Joan Burton: Played by Wendy Davis, Colonel Burton is a dedicated and determined officer who struggled with her troubled youth and rose through the military ranks to become the first African-American female lieutenant colonel at Fort Marshall. Coming from the tough streets of Chicago's South Side, Joan is no stranger to the hard life but when the ghosts of her past are stirred up during her tour in Afghanistan, she succumbs to post-traumatic stress syndrome and must take on the fight of her life to save her marriage to Roland from falling apart.FULL LIST OF 'ARMY WIVES' CAST:Catherine Bell (1) played Denise Sherwood (2007 - 2008) •Wendy Davis played Joan Burton (2007 - 2008) •Kim Delaney played Claudia Joy Holden (2007 - 2008) •Sally Pressman played Roxy LeBlanc (2007 - 2008) •Brigid Brannagh played Pamela Moran (2007 - 2008) •Drew Fuller played Trevor LeBlanc (2007 - 2008) •Brian McNamara (2) played Michael Holden (2007 - 2008) •Chloe J. Taylor played Katie Moran (2007) •Melissa Ponzio played Angie (2007 - 2008) •Kim Allen (1) played Amanda Holden (2007 - 2008) •Richard Bryant (1) played Jeremy Sherwood (2007) •Jeremy Davidson played Chase Moran (2007) •Caroline Pires played Herself (2007) •Patricia French played Betty (2007) •Rhoda Griffis played Lenore Baker (2007) •Terry Serpico played Frank Sherwood (2007) •John White, Jr. played Finn (2007 - 2008) •Sterling K. Brown (1) played Roland Burton (2007 - 2008) •Katie Kneeland played Marilyn (2007) •Michael Harding (1) played General Ted Baker (2007) •R. W. Smith played Eddie (2007) •Cal Johnson (3) played Redneck #3 (2007) •Jake Johnson played Lucas (2007) •Darren Preston Lane played Dr. Qua A. Lude (2007) •Robert Pralgo played Sgt. George Polarski (2007 - 2008) •Gigi Rice played Marda (2007) •Troy Sims played Monroe (2007) •Jason Wiles played Sgt Peter Belgrad (2007) •Katelyn Pippy played Emmalin (2008) •Lori Beth Edgeman played Candace •Jennifer B. Hagan played Jenny - Bar Patron •R. Keith Harris (1) played Gabriel Dumaine •Kyle Jones played Army Soldier •Roxzane T. Mims played Nurse Joyce •Lynnanne Zager played Newscaster •Susan Crosby played Tea Party GuestSeason 1 inside scoop of each character!