Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk

by

Ben Fountain

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk makes teaching easy.
Though Crack's actual last name is Koch, he's known to Bravo Squad only as Crack. He torments Sykes in the lead up to the halftime show but seems just as shaken by the show as the rest of Bravo. Later, when a group of drunk young men try to ask Crack how he feels about gay men in the military, Crack puts a man named Tyler in a headlock and nearly kills him.
Get the entire Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk LitChart as a printable PDF.
Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk PDF

Crack Character Timeline in Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk

The timeline below shows where the character Crack appears in Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
1. The Thing Begins
Class, Power, and Money Theme Icon
The Absurdity of War Theme Icon
...Returning his attention to the car, Billy listens to Albert talk into his cellphone and Crack read the sports pages of the newspaper so that Holliday and A-bort can bet on... (full context)
Fantasy vs. Reality in the Media Theme Icon
Class, Power, and Money Theme Icon
The Absurdity of War Theme Icon
...rescue story. Albert gets back on the phone, and Bravo listens to his foul banter. Crack returns to the sports pages, and Sykes impersonates Beyoncé, wondering aloud if she'd go to... (full context)
2. A Private in the Infantry
Class, Power, and Money Theme Icon
Family and Brotherhood Theme Icon
...seats, as Billy chats with Mango. Next to Mango is A-bort, then Holliday, Lodis, Sykes, Crack, Dime, Albert, and finally, Major Mac. Billy looks at the sky through the open dome... (full context)
3. It is Mostly in Your Head But We Have Cures for That
Fantasy vs. Reality in the Media Theme Icon
The Absurdity of War Theme Icon
Family and Brotherhood Theme Icon
...a solemn tribute to Shroom's spirituality but instead was a "freak show of Christian wingnuts." Crack asks Albert to make sure that all goes in the movie, but Albert insists that... (full context)
4. The Human Response
Fantasy vs. Reality in the Media Theme Icon
The Absurdity of War Theme Icon
...it is the hard part, as she won't read without an offer from a studio. Crack asks if they have a studio, and Albert says they don't. He confirms that this... (full context)
Fantasy vs. Reality in the Media Theme Icon
...are like innocent children, and he pities them. When Bravo is able to move again, Crack insists that one woman was grinding on him until he suggested they keep in contact... (full context)
5. By Virtue of Which the Many Become the One
Class, Power, and Money Theme Icon
The Absurdity of War Theme Icon
Heroism and Humanity Theme Icon
...but Dime calls Billy's attention back to lunch. Albert declares that he'll miss Bravo, and Crack urges Albert to visit them in Iraq. Albert objects and admits that the only reason... (full context)
7. We Are All Americans Here
Fantasy vs. Reality in the Media Theme Icon
The Absurdity of War Theme Icon
Heroism and Humanity Theme Icon
A-bort and Crack approach Billy minutes later with crazed looks, insisting that they want to have sex with... (full context)
9. Jamie Lee Curtis Made a Shitty Movie
Fantasy vs. Reality in the Media Theme Icon
...of Bravo, and Norm conducts his own phone call on the other side, Lodis and Crack discuss what they'll buy with their money and who will play them in the movie.... (full context)
Fantasy vs. Reality in the Media Theme Icon
The Absurdity of War Theme Icon
Mango, Lodis, Sykes, Crack, and A-bort join in, and Bravo plays a loose version of tackle football with no... (full context)
13. Raped By Angels
Fantasy vs. Reality in the Media Theme Icon
The Absurdity of War Theme Icon
Heroism and Humanity Theme Icon
...when fireworks start going off. Billy tries to calm Lodis, but he sees that even Crack looks clammy. Billy thinks that this is the perfect PTSD trigger, but Bravo has no... (full context)
14. If In the Future You Tell Me This Is Love, I Will Not Disappoint You
Class, Power, and Money Theme Icon
Heroism and Humanity Theme Icon
...normal is anymore. The roadie foreman snaps at Bravo again to leave but stops when Crack asks where they're supposed to go. Crack insults the foreman, and all of a sudden,... (full context)
15. Temporary Sanity
Class, Power, and Money Theme Icon
Family and Brotherhood Theme Icon
Heroism and Humanity Theme Icon
...someone was supposed to bring them to a pre-arranged meeting point. Josh is shocked when Crack mentions the fight, but all of the Bravos assure Josh that they're fine. When Day... (full context)
Fantasy vs. Reality in the Media Theme Icon
The Absurdity of War Theme Icon
As Lodis, Crack, and Mango tend to their injuries in the bathroom, everyone else calls home. Patty answers... (full context)
16. Will Slay Vampires For Food
Class, Power, and Money Theme Icon
The Absurdity of War Theme Icon
Heroism and Humanity Theme Icon
...the freezing rain, and she asks the others if the Army even gives soldiers coats. Crack assures her that they're too dumb to care about the weather, and Mango demonstrates how... (full context)
18. The Proud Good-Bye
Fantasy vs. Reality in the Media Theme Icon
Class, Power, and Money Theme Icon
The Absurdity of War Theme Icon
Family and Brotherhood Theme Icon
Heroism and Humanity Theme Icon
...bottles of alcohol. Though the couples try to deter them, one man, Travis, loudly asks Crack how he feels about Don't Ask Don't Tell and gays in the military. Crack says... (full context)
Class, Power, and Money Theme Icon
The Absurdity of War Theme Icon
Heroism and Humanity Theme Icon
...declares that he doesn't care whom the Bravos have sex with; they're true American heroes. Crack declines to give Travis a high five, and when Travis sits back down, Crack leans... (full context)