The Boys in Company C (1978)

James Canning: Alvin Foster

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Quotes 

• Alvin Foster : So, how did you get this game set up sir?

  Lieutenant Archer : General Sloan was so impressed with what we did that he set it up. Foster, do you realize that we took out a communication outpost, captured an enemy stronghold and wiped out an entire company of NVA regulars?

  [pauses] 

  Lieutenant Archer : Do you believe everything I just said Foster?

  Alvin Foster : Well, yes sir.

  Lieutenant Archer : Well then, I guess they should make you a General, too.

• Alvin Foster : January 30th, 1968. I don't know why I should even bother to write in this journal anymore because after today, who the hells ever gonna believe it? We actually had a chance to get out of this Goddamn war. All we had to do was throw the game and walk away. But for some reason we just couldn't. For some reason, winning that stupid game was more important. So I guess we'll just go on marching into one bloody mess after another, until someone figures out that living has got to be more important than winning.

• Alvin Foster : August 27th, 1967, we took the oath this morning. Tyrone Washington - Chicago, Illinois. Billy Ray Pike - Galveston, Texas. Me, Alvin Foster - Emporia, Kansas. Vinnie Fazio - Brooklyn, New York. Dave Bisbee - Seattle, Washington and a bunch of other guys from all over the country. I decided to keep a journal and write about our experiences in the Marine Corps. Maybe I can get it published someday, that is if anyway wants to read about what happens to a bunch of guys they're gonna send to Vietnam.