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The first part of the movie takes place on Parris
Island in South Carolina at the Marine boot camp. A new group of recruits has just arrived
for their training, which lasts several weeks. Gunnery Sergeant Hartman is the Marine
Senior Drill Instructor (SDI) while they are there. He's strict and demanding who, from
the recruit's viewpoint, seems set in his harsh ways. There are
three Marines that become friends and are central to the story. 'Joker' is a witty and
sarcastic recruit who stands for what he believes in and can talk his way out of almost
anything. 'Gomer Pyle' is a recruit who’s fat and foolish qualities come to hurt him
very badly. The third is 'Cowboy'. He is a true Marine who goes by the book and knows what
to do and when to do it.
Hartman gets on Joker and Pyle (especially) in the movie. Joker earns
Hartman’s respect because of the way he stands by his beliefs and the fact that he
has good reason for doing the things he does. Pyle, on the other hand, does not get the
same respect. He is constantly put down and embarrassed by Hartman who seems to have no
compassion towards him (but, notice that he carries Pyle's rifle for him during a forced
march). One night, towards the end of training, Hartman is inspecting the health of the
Recruits and their lockers when he finds Pyle’s lock to be unlocked. He gives him
hell about it, particularly when he finds a jelly doughnut in the locker. He starts making
the other Marines pay for Pyle’s mistakes. This goes on for several days until one
night the recruits get up in the middle of the night, hold Pyle down with a blanket and
beat him with soap wrapped in towels. After this, Pyle is never the same. Not only does he
have Hartman against him but his fellow recruits as well.
It is winding down to the last days of training and they have almost
earned the title, 'Marines'. After going through weeks of hell, they seem ready for
combat. Hartman gives each one their job specialty. Most get Infantry (03), which means
certain duty in Vietnam. Joker is assigned to be a military journalist.
On the last night on the island Joker draws fire watch. He hears a noise
coming from the head and finds Pyle inside with a fully loaded M-14. Pyle starts sounding
off and pretty soon Hartman comes in. He tells Pyle to give him the rifle and Pyle replies
with a bullet into Hartman’s chest. Pyle then sits down and pulls the trigger on
himself.
The second part of the movie concentrates on the war itself. Joker is
working as military reporter in DaNang (the HQ for the Marines in Vietnam). It is the eve
of the great Tet Offensive in February 1968. He and his friend, 'Rafterman', are sent to
Hue City, (The old Imperial Capital of Vietnam where the heaviest fighting of the war took
place.) to get a story. When he gets there he meets with the first platoon, 'Hotel'
Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines. His old friend Cowboy is part
of the platoon. They get reacquainted and meet with the other Marines and then they have
to move out. They are on the outskirts of the city when incoming fire suddenly come down
around them. Heavy fire is exchanged between both sides. The tanks then move in and, after
securing a portion of the city, they set in for the night.
The next morning they get word that the NVA have supposedly withdrawn
during the night. The Marines start to move in on the city. Joker and Rafterman join a
patrol with Cowboy's squad. After a while, the Marines realize that they have made a
mistake in direction. They send Eightball (a black Marine) in to see if the area is
secure. It isn't - he gets shot. Doc J then goes in to try and rescue Eightball and he is
shot too. Animal Mother (a big, bad Marine) goes in after them. He figures out that there
is just one sniper. Cowboy, Joker, Rafterman, and three other Marines then go in. Once
they have closed in, Cowboy gets on the radio to report the situation but chooses a bad
place to stand. The sniper shoots him down too. He dies soon after.
The Marines move in on the building that they think the sniper is in.
Once inside they split up. Joker stumbles upon the sniper, a Vietnamese girl no older than
a teenager, who opens fire. He fumbles with his weapon and is saved by Rafterman who
shoots her. The other Marines come in and they stand around the girl. She starts saying
prayers and then asks for one of the men to shoot her (to put her out of her misery). They
are at first reluctant, but Joker finally does it.
The Marines move out and head down to the Perfume River. While they walk
they all sing the Mickey Mouse song.
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