Perry In Faulkner's Fallen Angels

In the book Fallen Angels, Perry is often found in the grey lining of right and wrong. What makes you a good guy or a bad guy in war? This is a question often asked during the course of the Vietnam War, but was Perry a good guy or a bad guy? First what makes Perry good? Perry is described in text as a young teenager fighting, not a man. He’s not fighting for the cause of the war, but more for the cause of his family which is to help his mother, and his brother. This is not straightforward but is implied in pages fourteen and fifteen of chapter 2. Which we can also imply that he doesn’t want to kill but has to if he wants to go home to his family. In chapter 2 Perry is thinking about what his mother said regarding his brother stating, “ Mama …show more content…
Perry and Charlie Company Four fired upon Charlie Company One without hesitation or any proper identification. Not only did they fire blindly but they broke the rules’ of engagement. According to ArmyStudyGuide.com, “Leaders will take steps necessary and appropriate for unit’s self-defense, Use minimum force necessary to control the situation and accomplish the mission” (Samuel). Charlie Company One did not follow the first rule, neither the second but how does this apply to Perry? Well all Trainees’ are trained to know what to do in this situation, and this makes him just as guilty in the murder of Charlie Company One. One speculation was that in the Vietnam War Trainees’ received less training compared to current days’ training which his false.
So with all things considered Perry would still be labeled a bad guy in the Vietnam War, although fighting for the right reasons. The wrongs he committed just outway any good he did. He failed to follow the Rules of Engagement, as well as frequently killing Viet Cong mercilessly. So in the end of the day Perry killed his own men, almost killed his own guys with a misplaced claymore. As well as the obliteration of many Viet Cong but the worst being his first up close