If I Die in a Combat Zone

by

Tim O’Brien

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Major Callicles Character Analysis

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 the soldiers in Vietnam don’t have “guts” and aren’t manly enough. Major Callicles—and thus O’Brien, as his employee—is placed in charge of investigating the My Lai Massacre that occurred the year before when an American platoon massacred hundreds of unarmed Vietnamese civilians. The investigation and the journalists that follow it infuriate Major Callicles, since he remains convinced that the U.S. Army is morally superior and always right, and that whichever civilians were killed brought it on themselves. However, as he continues the investigation, he becomes disillusioned with the military and takes to heavy drinking. Callicles becomes obsessed with rooting out marijuana and prostitution from LZ Gator—in a drunken fit, he sets fire to a “whorehouse” and is promptly stripped of his command.

Major Callicles Quotes in If I Die in a Combat Zone

The If I Die in a Combat Zone quotes below are all either spoken by Major Callicles or refer to Major Callicles. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
The Evils of the Vietnam War Theme Icon
).
Chapter 16 Quotes

Courage is nothing to laugh at, not if it is proper courage and exercised by men who know what they do is proper. Proper courage is wise courage. It's acting wisely, acting wisely when fear would have a man act otherwise. It is the endurance of the soul in spite of fear—wisely.

Related Characters: Tim O’Brien (speaker), Captain Johansen, Major Callicles
Page Number: 136
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 22 Quotes

“When you go into My Lai you assume the worst. When you go into My Lai, shit, you know—you assume—that they’re all VC [Viet Cong]. Ol’ Charlie with big tits and nice innocent, childlike eyes. Damn it, they’re all VC, you should know that.”

Related Characters: Major Callicles (speaker), Tim O’Brien
Page Number: 196
Explanation and Analysis:
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If I Die in a Combat Zone PDF

Major Callicles Quotes in If I Die in a Combat Zone

The If I Die in a Combat Zone quotes below are all either spoken by Major Callicles or refer to Major Callicles. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
The Evils of the Vietnam War Theme Icon
).
Chapter 16 Quotes

Courage is nothing to laugh at, not if it is proper courage and exercised by men who know what they do is proper. Proper courage is wise courage. It's acting wisely, acting wisely when fear would have a man act otherwise. It is the endurance of the soul in spite of fear—wisely.

Related Characters: Tim O’Brien (speaker), Captain Johansen, Major Callicles
Page Number: 136
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 22 Quotes

“When you go into My Lai you assume the worst. When you go into My Lai, shit, you know—you assume—that they’re all VC [Viet Cong]. Ol’ Charlie with big tits and nice innocent, childlike eyes. Damn it, they’re all VC, you should know that.”

Related Characters: Major Callicles (speaker), Tim O’Brien
Page Number: 196
Explanation and Analysis: