history through film mr. clark

Platoon: Characters

History Through FilmMr. Clark

Well, here I am, anonymous all right. With guys nobody really cares about. They come from the end of the line, most of 'em. Small towns

you never heard of: Pulaski, Tennessee; Brandon, Mississippi; Pork Van, Utah;

Wampum, Pennsylvania. Two years' high school's about it, maybe if they're lucky a job

waiting for them back at a factory, but most of 'em got nothing. They're poor, they're the

unwanted, yet they're fighting for our society and our freedom. It's weird, isn't it? They're the bottom of the barrel and they know it.

Maybe that's why they call themselves grunts, cause a grunt can take it, can take anything.

They're the best I've ever seen, Grandma. The heart & soul.

Pvt. Chris Taylor•Narrator•New guy (Gardner)•Volunteered for war (crusader)•Letters to Grandma•Wounded in neck•Falls asleep on ambush (?)•HEAD

Staff Sgt. Bob Barnes•“leader” of the platoon

•Veteran

•Threatens platoon after ambush

•LIFER

•Leads raid on village

Sgt. Elias Gordon

• advises new guys; opposite of Barnes; complains about going out on ambush; HEAD; fights w/ Barnes at village

Junior

•Falls asleep on ambush (blames Taylor)•Complains about food, marijuana, music•Argues with Bunny•LIFER

Rhah

•Questions why Taylor is in “underworld”•HEAD

Sgt. Red O’Neill

•Follower of Barnes (suck-up); leads group of short-timers; LIFER; questions whether Lt. Wolfe will “make it”; covers for Bunny

Bunny

•Killer (pig, villager); makes fun of Junior;•LIFER

Lt. Wolfe

•Technically leader of the platoon•Follows Sgt. Barnes lead (questions image)•Tries to be informal in LIFER barracks (awkward)•Does not stop Barnes in village

King•Short-timer•Latrine duty with Taylor•Introduces Taylor to “Heads” and the “Underworld”

Lerner•Translator

•Head

•Johnny Depp

Gardner

•new guy with Taylor•Gets killed on first ambush

Taylor Barnes Gordon

Rhah Bunny