Popular Culture Review Vol. 8, No. 2, August 1997 | Page 68

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Changes in the Myth of the Soldier
The romantic view of the soldier was rejected by many
Americans following the Vietnam war. The film Born on the Fourth
of July illustrates this shift of public opinion. The mythic view
depicts soldiers as strong figures who see the world in Manichean
terms of right and wrong, good and evil. This heroic image, a common
element of earlier war films, was undermined by images of American
soldiers involved in the slaughter of Vietnamese citizens at My
Lai.^^ The infallibility of soldiers was also brought into question by
the "friendly fire" deaths of American soldiers.
The aftermath of war is portrayed in grisly scenes from the
V.A. hospital where wounded soldiers suffer in hideous facilities
which are unsanitary, understaffed, and under-equipped. But the
final proof that the romantic vision of the American soldier has
changed is found in the contrasting reactions of the public who turn
out to greet the returning soldiers. The Fourth of July parade which
opens the film is filled with respect for veterans of previous wars.
This is juxtaposed against a later parade which welcomes home
Vietnam veterans. Kovic and his fellow veterans are greeted by
silence, stares, and even angry hecklers. The patriotic image of the
American soldier has become a nightmare for the American people.
The public response to Vietnam veterans exemplifies the
failure of moralism which occurs when society is unable to accept
responsibility or guilt for their actions. In this case, Americans were
unable to admit responsibility for the prolonged war in Vietnam and
the deaths of innocent civilians. Vietnam veterans served as a
reminder of that guilt.
The shift away from the romantic image of soldiers is also
illustrated when Kovic attends an anti-war rally with his high
school sweetheart, Donna. At the rally, a Vietnam veteran rejects
his participation in the war. In a symbolic gesture, the soldier
removes a medal of honor from his chest, and throws it into a crowd of
young people, who cheer him on.
The eagerness of American soldiers to defend their country
turns to anger when they recognize that their government has
betrayed them. Fisher contends that the materialistic myth is
subverted when "those who have tried to live by it" discover that "it
is flawed by favoritism and corruption."^^ Thus, while Kovic's
transformation does not stem from entirely altruistic motives, he is