Platoon Leader
Released: 1988
Drama, War
West Point graduate lieutenant Jeff Knight meets cynicism when taking command of sergeant Michael McNamara's tour veterans platoon in a Vietnamese trench camp. Unlike his predecessor, who hid till the end of his tour, Jeff takes charge, experiences the manual doesn't allow coping with all realities and gets wounded. He returns, now fully respect by men and superiors. Besides the Vietcong, the platoon wrestles with the inscrutable villagers, which the G.I.'s officially protect, but also fear as some collaborate with them, other covertly with the Cong, either way subject to bloody reprisals.
Starring: Michael Dudikoff, Robert F. Lyons, Michael DeLorenzo, Jesse Dabson, Rick Fitts, Tony Pierce, Daniel Demorest, Brian Libby
Directed by: Aaron Norris
Written by: David L. Walker, Andrew Deutsch, Rick Marx, Harry Alan Towers, James R. McDonough
Language: English
Scenes
Sergeant Roach (Brian Libby) breaks in insubordinate new guy Private Pike (Michael Rider) by taking him out mine sweeping. While teaching him how to disarm a mine, Roach claims that the tension of the task is making him have to piss, so he wanders off to take a leisurely piss, leaving a nervous Pike alone with his hand on a live mine, warning him not to let go or it could go off. Roach takes his time before he relieves Pike by returning and finishing disarming the mine.