Harold Gates Character Perry

Characters: There are four main important characters in the novel, Perry, Harold Gates (mainly known as Peewee), Sergeant Simpson and Johnson. Besides some of the secondary characters are Brunner, Lobel, Monaco, Lieutenant Carroll, Walowick, Captain Stewart, Jenkins, Brew, Sergeant Dongan , Lieutenant Gearhart, Turner, and lastly Richie’s little brother Kenny and his Mother. The list of the secondary characters id so long because, the novel revolves around the story of a Company of soldiers in the Vietnam War.

Perry (Richie) - Perry is the main character in the story, as well as the narrator. He is a seventeen year old Afro-American boy who got enrolled in the army just after graduating from High School, and lived on the streets of Harlem, New York. Perry once harbored dreams of being a writer like James Baldwin after graduating from college. He was good in studies and played basketball very well, he got his knee injured while playing hoops during his basic training, and was given a profile that he won’t be getting an opportunity to see real combat in Vietnam, however to his surprise and ill-luck he ends up in

Gates had grown-up in a poor family, and joined the army because every soldier started out on equal footing. Hailing from the brutal “ghetto” streets of Chicago, Peewee had learned to face his fears and every time responded with brash and pejorative humor which would either disarm or infuriate anyone who met with him. In the terms of his demeanor, he was arrogant, flippant and slightly insane. However after sharing his experience with Perry about wars, Perry realized that Gates was indeed loyal, caring and tender. But he never stopped cracking jokes, blusters and his tawdry and showy talks. His attitude and larger-then- live bravado helps him to cope with the fears of wars. He and Perry form a deep bond when they are separated from others, and nearly face