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With 46 academy awards and 68 nominations, the 1994 movie Forrest Gump is an icon in modern cinema. With a timeline that spans from the 1950s to the 1980s, there are many journeys and events that the main character, Forrest, faces throughout the film. The focus will be on Forrest enlisting with the U.S. Army and his deployment in Vietnam. Many stages of Campbell’s Hero Journey can be seen in this part of the movie such as, “Meeting the mentor”, the “Ordeal,” and finally the “Resurrection”.
A simple but well-intentioned Alabama boy grows to lead an extraordinary life through honest deeds and stumbling into big turning points through America’s history. “Stupid is as stupid does” becomes one of Forrest’s frequent sayings as he is doubted multiple times throughout the movie for his simple and somewhat oblivious demeanor. He proves himself to be the opposite of stupid by becoming a college football star, winning The Congressional Medal of Honor after his service in Vietnam, playing in the Olympics and becoming a national star, as well as founding a million-dollar shrimping business. He is joined by many companions through his adventures and struggles. Also, Forrest is no stranger to loss as he witnesses the deaths of some of the most important people in his life. Even with all his hardships throughout life, Forrest keeps his can-do, positive attitude he had when he was just a kid and becomes a very well-rounded individual after all his “Hero Journeys”.
In Forrest’s adventure to Vietnam the first scene is him and his new-found best friend, Bubba, riding in on a UH-1H helicopter. After landing, they report to Lieutenant Dan Taylor, who immediately starts to lay down the basics and law of the company for the new GIs. Lt. Dan clearly cares very much about his men due to his diligence on expeditions. As well, he puts his own safety at risk by always taking point when leading his platoon. Forrest is seen clearing “rat tunnels” next to Lt. Dan in the bush. He even acts as Forrest’s mentor after the war when they meet in New York and when Lt. Dan becomes his First Mate on the shrimping boat.
As the company’s mission through Vietnam progresses, they are encountered by a Viet Cong ambush in the jungle. It becomes clear that they are heavily outnumbered and outgunned by mortars and machine gun emplacements. They are also in a very poor defensive position as the only cover they have are a few bushes and the backdrop of a small dirt road. Lt. Dan gives the command to fall back and Forrest, along with the platoon, runs back into the jungle. Forrest is known for his running ability and quickly clears ground until he comes to a quiet clearing by a river. He finds himself alone and realizes that he has left Bubba, so he decides to turn back to try and save his friend.
With the Viet Cong closing in, Forrest only has a short amount of time to find his platoon members. He first comes across three other injured fellow soldiers and carries them out of the jungle one by one. On his fourth trip back in he comes across Lt. Dan calling a napalm airstrike on the location of the ambush. He then fights with Forrest to leave him in the jungle with his men as his legs were nearly blown off. Forrest does not listen and carries him out like the others. On his way out of the jungle, Forrest is shot in the behind by a VC soldier but keeps going. Lt. Dan orders him to stay by the water as the airstrike is inbound but Forrest still has not found Bubba, so he disobeys the order. Facing immediate danger and almost certain death with a bullet already in his behind, he runs back into the jungle for a fifth time. Finding Bubba who has been shot and is quickly bleeding out, Forrest carries him the distance to the shoreline just nearly escaping the blast from the napalm. By this time Lt. Dan has called for an EVAC and U.S. helicopters are coming in on their smoke signal. Even though Bubba dies by the river, Forrest still has saved five of his platoon members, including their leader, who would have otherwise been left for the Viet Cong or the napalm. After this, Forrest is awarded The Congressional Medal of Honor which is highest decoration any member of the U.S. military can receive.
Forrest’s deployment with the U.S. Army is a very important turning point in the film as he grows considerably as a character and he meets two of his best friends through these events. Also, at the end of his deployment, he is awarded the Medal of Honor which is his most significant award throughout the entire movie. As well, the stages of Campbell’s Hero Journey are clearly visible through this part of the movie. It is debatable which events in this movie are the most substantial as there are so many and it covers such a spectrum of American history. However, for the reasons stated above, Forrest’s journey through Vietnam is an undoubtedly central part of the movie.
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