<P> During patrol, Crazy Earl, the squad leader, is killed by a booby trap, leaving Cowboy in command . The squad becomes lost and Cowboy orders Eightball to scout the area . A Viet Cong sniper wounds Eightball and the squad medic, Doc Jay, is also wounded while attempting to save him against orders . Cowboy learns that tank support is unavailable and orders the team to prepare for withdrawal . The squad's machine gunner, Animal Mother, disobeys Cowboy and attempts to save his comrades . He discovers there is only one sniper, but Doc Jay and Eightball are killed when Doc Jay attempts to indicate the sniper's location . While maneuvering toward the sniper, Cowboy is shot and killed . </P> <P> Animal Mother assumes command of the squad and leads an attack on the sniper . Joker discovers the sniper, a teenaged girl, and attempts to shoot her, but his rifle jams and alerts her to his presence . Rafterman shoots the sniper, mortally wounding her . As the squad converges, the sniper begs for death, prompting an argument about whether or not to kill her . Animal Mother decides to allow a mercy killing only if Joker performs it . After some hesitation, Joker shoots her . The Marines congratulate him on his kill as Joker stares into the distance, displaying the thousand - yard stare . The Marines march toward their camp, singing the "Mickey Mouse March". Joker states that despite being "in a world of shit", he is glad to be alive and no longer afraid . </P> <Ul> <Li> Matthew Modine as Private / Sergeant James T. "Joker" Davis </Li> <Li> Vincent D'Onofrio as Private Leonard "Gomer Pyle" Lawrence, an overweight, slow - witted recruit who becomes the focus of Hartman's attention . D'Onofrio was required to gain 70 pounds (32 kg), which broke the record for the largest weight gained for a role, set by Robert De Niro for Raging Bull . </Li> <Li> R. Lee Ermey as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman, a Parris Island drill instructor; Ermey served as a U.S. Marine drill instructor during the Vietnam War and used this experience to ad lib much of his dialogue . </Li> <Li> Arliss Howard as Private / Sergeant Robert "Cowboy" Evans </Li> <Li> Adam Baldwin as Sergeant "Animal Mother" </Li> <Li> Dorian Harewood as Corporal "Eightball" </Li> <Li> Kevyn Major Howard as Private First Class "Rafterman" </Li> <Li> Ed O'Ross as Lieutenant Walter J. "Touchdown" Schinoski </Li> <Li> John Terry as Lieutenant Lockhart </Li> <Li> Bruce Boa as Marine Corps Colonel (at massacre site) </Li> <Li> Kieron Jecchinis as Sergeant "Crazy Earl" </Li> <Li> John Stafford as Doc Jay </Li> <Li> Tim Colceri as a helicopter door gunner; he was initially cast to play Hartman, a role which ultimately went to Ermey . </Li> <Li> Peter Edmund as Private "Snowball" Brown </Li> </Ul> <Li> Matthew Modine as Private / Sergeant James T. "Joker" Davis </Li>

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