Dispatches | Teaching Key Figures

Character Descriptions

This section provides a short description of all the major characters in the book. This can be printed out as a study guide for students, used as a "key" for leading a class discussion, or you can jump to the quiz/homework section to find worksheets that incorporate these descriptions into a variety of question formats.

Characters

Michael Herr - He writes his dispatches from Vietnam for Esquire magazine.

Grunts - Enlisted Marines who fight the major battles of the Vietnam War.

Lurps (LRRPs) - These patrols consist of Special Forces Green Berets.

Cav - The nickname for the air cavalry, those units that fly helicopters.

NVA and VC - These are the two armies of the Vietnamese.

Colleagues - These are correspondents who receive special attention in the book.

Helicopter Pilots and Gunners - These men transport correspondents throughout Vietnam.

Marine Officers - These upper status men often...
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