Going After Cacciato

Cacciato is young. He has a large, round face and is always smiling and often whistling. He’s friendly to Paul when Paul first joins the squad, making sure he keeps up with the march and offering him gum. Paul thinks of him as brave. The other soldiers, however, think that he’s dumb or simple-minded. They often yell at him as they would a child, for making too much noise or bouncing a basketball. Regardless of whether it’s bravery or stupidity, however, he is always willing to do the hard thing, such as going into the tunnel or cleaning Buff’s helmet.

On a symbolic level, Cacciato represents peace, innocence, and escape. He literally runs away from the war, something that all soldiers must dream about doing, even if the reject the idea as impossible. He doesn’t even try to hide his escape; he is too naïve (or, arguably, stupid) to realize he’s doing something wrong. In Paul’s imagination, he appears as a monk, a symbol of peace and tranquility. Cacciato is the anti-soldier.

Sarkin is a major character who is entirely a figment of Paul’s imagination. She becomes a love interest for Paul on the road to Paris, and she is the only person with whom we see Paul repeatedly spending time. In real life, Paul has never had a girlfriend, so it makes sense that his fantasy includes a romantic figure.

Sarkin is more than just a girlfriend, though. She continually pushes Paul to go to Paris, regardless of what’s happening with Cacciato, and once there, she convinces him to get an apartment with her. She represents the part of Paul that desperately wants to run away from the war and to prioritize himself and his personal dreams over his obligations as a soldier.

Lieutenant Corson has grown too old for the life he lives. He once had a promising military career, and was twice promoted to the rank of captain. But he was twice demoted as well, thanks to his bad luck and problems with alcohol. He looks back on the past sadly, still carrying the captain insignia and wearing his wedding ring. He is not a strong leader—at the end of the trip to Paris, he gives up entirely. But he is a kind leader, and his soldiers love him because he doesn’t follow the rules to the letter if it will put their lives at risk. 

Lieutenant Martin is Corson’s foil. He doesn’t care about the men individually, only about procedures and protocols. He is a good soldier in the technical sense, but in reality, his insistence on formal protocol results in the deaths of at least two of his men. Because of this, the soldiers decide to murder him. Though his death isn’t shown, they presumably carry out the plan. 

Oscar is the de facto leader of the soldiers. He orchestrates the Sidney Martin plot and takes over on the road to Paris when Lieutenant Corson grows too tired. As far as the reader knows, he’s the only African American soldier in the squad. He adopts a tough exterior, roughening his speech and telling the other soldiers he’s from Detroit. Paul wonders whether this is an act, though, as Oscar’s mail goes to Bangor, Maine.

Doc (whose real first name we never learn) is a somewhat unconventional medic, dispensing M&Ms and other placebos—whatever comfort he can. He does provide solace to the men, though, and wisdom. He’s reliable and steadfast in his duties, and he gives a great deal of advice along with medicine. As a child, he was fascinated with how things work.

Stink is brash and impulsive. He talks offensively about the Vietnamese. He shoots without thinking when they walk into the clearing with the water buffalo, and he laughs while he’s doing it. He jumps into the water when they see the police on the Athens pier and disappears from the search. Paul admires his toughness. He cares deeply about his sisters. Despite his crude behavior, he’s somewhat naïve about people.