Tim O’Brien
Tim O’Brien is the author, narrator, and protagonist of the memoir. In 1968, while he is home from university, O’Brien receives his draft notice, enlisting him into the U.S. Army to fight in the Vietnam…
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Captain Johansen
Captain Johansen is the commander of Alpha Company, in which O’Brien serves as an infantryman. Captain Johansen is a capable warrior and excellent leader. The men in Alpha Company love him and are deeply loyal…
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Erik
Erik is a young man who is drafted into the Vietnam War, just as O’Brien is. Erik befriends O’Brien during basic training at Fort Lewis in Washington, and they bond over their ethical objections to…
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Major Callicles
Major Callicles is O’Brien’s commanding officer in LZ (Landing Zone) Gator. Major Callicles idolizes tradition and discipline and despises the long hair, marijuana, and prostitution that their base is rife with. He believes that…
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Captain Smith
Captain Smith replaces Captain Johansen as the commander of Alpha Company. Captain Smith is short, pudgy, and obviously inexperienced, making him the polar opposite of Captain Johansen. Due to Captain Smith’s incompetence and inability to…
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Get the entire If I Die in a Combat Zone LitChart as a printable PDF.
Mad Mark
Mad Mark is a platoon leader in Alpha Company. Mad Mark earns his nickname by being unnaturally calm under pressure. O’Brien describes him as an excellent warrior who neither shies from combat nor seeks it…
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Sergeant Blyton
Sergeant Blyton is a drill sergeant at Fort Lewis. Erik and O’Brien meet Blyton during basic training and instantly hate him, regarding him as a living embodiment of the military and all of its evils…
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Chaplain Edwards
Edwards is a military chaplain at Fort Lewis. O’Brien approaches Edwards with his ethical objections to serving in the Vietnam War, hoping for counsel. However, Edwards becomes furious that O’Brien would question America’s judgment. He…
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Colonel Daud
Colonel Daud is a battalion commander over Alpha Company. The officers in Alpha Company despise Daud for being inexperienced and sending them on reckless missions. After Daud orders Alpha Company to do several dangerous Combat…
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Minor Characters
Li
Li is an officer in the North Vietnamese Army, though O’Brien meets him while studying abroad in Czechoslovakia. Li explains to O’Brien that the North Vietnamese view America as a foreign invader and that they are fighting to push out such invaders and unify their country.
Barney
Barney is a young soldier in Alpha Company and O’Brien’s friend. Barney is absurdly optimistic and never lets anything get him down, though this also makes him careless.
Bates
Bates is a soldier in Alpha Company and O’Brien’s friend. Bates is one of the few soldiers who appears to share O’Brien’s sense of conscience and discomfort at what they do to civilians. However, like O’Brien, Bates never protests or stops any of it.
O’Brien’s Father
O’Brien’s father fought in World War II, leaving O’Brien with a childhood sense of patriotism and duty.
O’Brien’s Girlfriend
O’Brien’s girlfriend writes occasional letters to him. In her last, she announces that she’s found a new boyfriend while traveling in Europe.
Chip
Chip is a popular soldier in Alpha Company and O’Brien’s close friend. A mine explodes and kills him and Tom together, and their deaths affect everyone in Alpha Company due to how well-liked they were.
Kline
Kline is a helpless young recruit at Fort Lewis whom Sergeant Blyton bullies because he is an easy target.
The Kid
The Kid is a young soldier in Alpha Company known for being an excellent shot. The Kid enjoys killing Viet Cong more than most, and excitedly recounts stories of enemies he shot down.
Arizona
Arizona is a soldier in Alpha Company. When he tries to make a heroic charge like Captain Johansen, a Viet Cong soldier shoots him in the chest, killing him.
Reno
Reno is a squad leader in Alpha Company.
Tom
Tom is a popular squad leader in Alpha Company. He dies alongside Chip when a mine explodes.
