Starship Troopers Character Analysis

Johnnie Rico

Johnnie Rico was born into a wealthy Filipino family on Earth in the Terran Federation of the future. His upbringing is normal, if privileged: his family are law-abiding, upstanding legal residents of the Federation, but… read analysis of Johnnie Rico

Sergeant Zim (The Sergeant)

Sergeant Zim instructs recruits as a company commander at Camp Arthur Currie. He’s been there for long enough to have trained Captain Frankel when he was a recruit. Zim carries himself with dignity and style… read analysis of Sergeant Zim (The Sergeant)

Johnnie’s Father (Mr. Rico)

Johnnie’s Father runs a successful family business that’s been passed down for generations because the family hasn’t bothered with Federal Service. He dotes on his son and gives Johnnie expensive presents, like a helicopter for… read analysis of Johnnie’s Father (Mr. Rico)

Mr. Dubois

Mr. Dubois served in the M.I. and achieved the rank of lieutenant-colonel before retiring and becoming an instructor of History and Moral Philosophy. He served with Mr. Weiss and Sergeant Zim; both still hold… read analysis of Mr. Dubois

Colonel Nielssen

Fleet General Nielssen serves as the Commandant of the Officer Candidate School on Sanctuary, having taken a temporary pay cut and rank assignment of colonel to qualify. Because of this he exemplifies the ideal soldier—one… read analysis of Colonel Nielssen

Captain Blackstone

On the Tours, Johnnie serves under Captain Blackstone of Blackie’s Blackguards during his apprenticeship cruise. Blackstone serves as an important father figure to Johnnie, lavishing attention and advice on him to help shape him… read analysis of Captain Blackstone

Sergeant Jelal (Jelly)

Sergeant Jelal is Lieutenant Rasczak’s platoon sergeant and right-hand man until the Lieutenant’s death, when he is promoted to platoon commander. Jelly is of Finnish and Turkish descent, and he was born on one… read analysis of Sergeant Jelal (Jelly)

Ace

Ace serves in Rasczak’s Roughnecks. He’s a career infantryman with the rank of corporal and he cares fiercely about his men, risking his life to pick up Dizzy Flores when he’s wounded on a mission… read analysis of Ace

Ted Hendrick

Ted Hendrick volunteered for Federal Service because he wanted to earn his franchise and go into politics so he could make some changes to the way the military and government run things. In basic training… read analysis of Ted Hendrick

Major Reid

Major Reid, a disabled combat veteran, teaches History and Moral Philosophy class at Officer Candidate School on Sanctuary. Although he’s blind, he can point his face toward and call on cadets by name as if… read analysis of Major Reid

Captain Frankel

Captain Frankel commands the battalion at Camp Currie, where he once did his own basic training under instructor Sergeant Zim. He’s good at hand-to-hand combat and performs his actions with style. Yet he’s overworked… read analysis of Captain Frankel

Carl

Carl and Johnnie are childhood best friends who share “everything” from Carl’s engineering lab to Johnnie’s helicopter. Carl is a science whiz, and Johnnie enjoys taking his direction on engineering projects. His decision to serve… read analysis of Carl

Al Jenkins

Al Jenkins is a recruit at Camp Currie with Johnnie; on the first day, he sneezes during morning exercises and Sergeant Zim sends him to run around a distant building to “warm up.” Although he’s… read analysis of Al Jenkins

Carmen Ibañez

Carmen is a classmate and friend of Johnnie’s who volunteers for service on her 18th birthday, along with Carl. Johnnie’s decision to enlist is partially inspired by Carmen, whom he wants to impress… read analysis of Carmen Ibañez

Fleet Sergeant Ho

Fleet Sergeant Ho is the face of Federal Service at the recruiting office where Johnnie, Carl, and Carmen volunteer. He’s a proud combat veteran of the M.I., where he lost both his legs… read analysis of Fleet Sergeant Ho

Breckenridge

Private Recruit Breckenridge steps forward first to answer Sergeant Zim’s challenge of hand-to-hand combat on the first day of basic training. He’s large, tall, broad, and a former football player; he has a thick… read analysis of Breckenridge

Carruthers

Carruthers is a 35-year-old “geezer” who attends Camp Currie. Despite his Harvard education, he’s fully committed to his Federal Service, refusing a medical discharge even after being so badly injured he can’t finish basic training… read analysis of Carruthers

Supply Sergeant

One of the instructors at Camp Currie, the Supply Sergeant’s fatherly manner belies the extensive military experience that the ribbons on his uniform spell out for those who can read their code. When he advises… read analysis of Supply Sergeant

N. L. Dillinger

N. L. Dillinger volunteered for Federal Service but deserts after just two days of basic training. He then kidnaps a young girl, Barbara Anne Enthwaite, demanding a ransom and mistreating her until he finally… read analysis of N. L. Dillinger

Lieutenant Rasczak

Lieutenant Rasczak embodies the ideal qualities of an officer in the M.I., and his men—including Johnnie—look up to him adoringly. To his soldiers, he’s like a distant father or demigod, somewhat aloof in formal… read analysis of Lieutenant Rasczak

Cadet Hassan (“the Assassin”)

Cadet Hassan, “the Assassin,” was field commissioned as a first lieutenant, but he still attends Officer Candidate School with Johnnie, because his lack of formal education would otherwise impede his further promotion. Colonel Nielssen… read analysis of Cadet Hassan (“the Assassin”)

Cadet Byrd (“Birdie”)

Cadet Byrd is one of Johnnie’s classmates at Officer Candidate School; he, Johnnie, and Hassan are all given their temporary assignments together. He’s very small and quite young; Johnnie estimates he could be as… read analysis of Cadet Byrd (“Birdie”)

Lieutenant Spieksma

Lieutenant Spieksma works at Regimental Headquarters when Johnnie is at Camp Currie; he presides over Hendrick’s field court-martial. Like Captain Frankel and Sergeant Zim, he understands the seriousness of Hendrick’s crime, but wants… read analysis of Lieutenant Spieksma

Kitten Smith

“Kitten” Smith earned his name at Camp Currie when Corporal Jones criticized his hand-to-hand combat skills, claiming a kitten would punch harder. He goes to Seattle with Johnnie and Pat Leivy, where they end… read analysis of Kitten Smith

Johnnie’s Mother

Johnnie’s Mother is a doting woman who is upset when Johnnie volunteers and worries about him when he’s at Camp Currie. She writes him a letter reminding him of her maternal love and letting him… read analysis of Johnnie’s Mother

Mr. Weiss

Mr. Weiss once served in the K-9 corps. As the placement officer at Johnnie’s local Federal Service recruiting office, he gives Johnnie placement and aptitude tests that reveal little aptitude or skill. But he’s… read analysis of Mr. Weiss

Pat Leivy

Pat Leivy grew up in Seattle. He and Johnnie are recruits together at Camp Currie—where he was one of the witnesses to Hendrick’s insubordination—and Camp Spooky Smith. It’s his idea to go revisit Seattle… read analysis of Pat Leivy

Brumby

Brumby has been leading one of the 1st platoon sections for a few weeks when Johnnie joins the Blackguards. Bolstered by the recommendations of Lieutenant Silva and Captain Blackstone, Johnnie promotes him to full… read analysis of Brumby

Shujumi

Shujumi is one of Johnnie’s fellow recruits at Camp Currie. His name and use of Japanese words indicate his heritage. His extensive martial arts training allows him to nearly best Sergeant Zim in hand-to-hand… read analysis of Shujumi

Minor Characters

Migliaccio

Migliaccio wears several hats in Rasczak’s Roughnecks, embodying the M.I.’s “everyone works, everyone drops” ethos. He is first section leader, the platoon’s chaplain, and he’s responsible for suit maintenance. He dies covering a pickup shortly before Johnnie goes to Office Candidate School.

Dizzy Flores

Dizzy Flores serves in Rasczak’s Roughnecks as a cap trooper. He’s in Ace’s squad, and when he’s wounded in an action against the Skinnies, Ace, Johnnie, and Jelly risk their own lives retrieving him, even though he dies on the way back to the Roger Young.

Captain Deladrier

Captain Deladrier is the talented, respected, and beloved skipper of the Roger Young. She’s an able pilot, and she demonstrates her skill when she recalibrates her orbit on the fly to pick up the boat on a botched retrieval.

Major Malloy

Major Malloy is the Regimental Commander when Johnnie is in basic training, and he presides over the administrative punishment for actions Johnnie took contrary to doctrine while on a drill at Camp Currie.

PFC Dutch Bamburger

When Johnnie is assigned to Willie’s Wildcats, Dutch Bamburger is his section leader. Bamburger dies on Klendathu in “Operation Bughouse” when he and Johnnie are caught unawares by a Bug.

General Diennes

General Diennes leads the first assault on the Bugs’ home world, Klendathu, where he dies leading the diversion that covers the rescue of those infantrymen who were able to escape from the failed operation.

“Red” Greene

“Red” Greene is the leader of Johnnie’s squad when he joins the Roughnecks. He beats Johnnie in a boxing match to reinforce Roughneck discipline after Johnnie talks back to him.

Lieutenant Silva

Lieutenant Silva led the 1st platoon of Blackie’s Blackguards under Captain Blackstone. Because he came down with “twitching awfuls,” he’s in the hospital and unable to mentor Johnnie on his apprenticeship cruise, allowing Blackstone to take over that job.

Jimmie Bearpaw

Jimmie Bearpaw travels with Rico’s Roughnecks under Johnnie’s command as a temporarily commissioned officer-in-training.

Heinreich

Heinreich is a German recruit with Johnnie at Camp Currie who fights with Meyer and still loses hand-to-hand combat with Sergeant Zim on the first day.

Meyer

Meyer is a German recruit with Johnnie at Camp Currie who fights with Heinreich and still loses hand-to-hand combat with Sergeant Zim on the first day.

Barbara Anne Enthwaite

Barbara Anne Enthwaite is the “baby girl” whom Dillinger kidnaps and eventually kills. She symbolizes what the M.I. recruits are preparing to protect, not to ruin.

Johnson

Johnson is the first cook and second section leader of Rasczak’s Roughnecks.

Madame Ruitman

Madame Ruitman is a friend of the Ricos’ who doesn’t understand that civilians aren’t exempt from wartime violence.

Miss Kendrick

Miss Kendrick is Colonel Nielssen’s civilian personal assistant at Officer Candidate School. She’s extremely knowledgeable and efficient and understands that her place is outside of the military hierarchy.

Captain Jorgenson

Captain Jorgenson is the skipper of the Tours. She’s formal and aloof but isn’t too strict a disciplinarian. She takes over tutoring Johnnie in math and wants his homework to be perfect every time.

Second Lieutenant “Rusty” Graham

Lieutenant Graham commands the 3rd platoon in Blackie’s Blackguards and serves as Johnnie’s first math tutor aboard the Tours.

Corporal Bronski

Corporal Bronski is one of the instructors at Camp Currie.

Corporal Jones

Corporal Jones is one of the instructors at Camp Currie.

Corporal Mahmud

Corporal Mahmud is one of the instructors at Camp Currie and one of the witnesses to Ted Hendricks’s insubordination.

Aunt Eleanora

Aunt Eleanora is Johnnie’s Mother’s sister, and she’s the one who ultimately informs Johnnie of his Mother’s death.

Second Lieutenant Khoroshen

Lieutenant Khoroshen is commander of the 2nd platoon in Blackie’s Blackguards

Major Xera

Major Xera is the battalion commander of the battalion that includes Blackie’s Blackguards.

Cunha

Cunha is a section leader serving under Johnnie in Blackie’s Blackguards.

Navarre

Navarre is a cap trooper serving under Johnnie in Blackie’s Blackguards.

Naidi

Naidi is a section leader serving under Johnnie in Blackie’s Blackguards.

Bjork

Bjork is a cap trooper serving under Johnnie in Blackie’s Blackguards.

Malan

Malan is a cap trooper serving under Johnnie in Blackie’s Blackguards.

Hughes

Hughes is a cap trooper serving under Johnnie in Blackie’s Blackguards.

Angel

Angel is one of Johnnie’s roommates in Officer Training School, and the only one to greet him on his return from his apprenticeship cruise.

Mr. Salomon (“Sally”)

Sally is one of Johnnie’s classmates at Officer Training School.

Clyde Tammany

Clyde Tammany is one of Johnnie’s classmates in Officer Training School.