- Maj. John D. 'Mac' McGillis: Gunny, you were a teenage girl once.
- Gunnery Sgt. Alva 'Gunny' Bricker: Not by choice, sir.
- Gen. Marcus C. Craig: For Pete's sake, man, you've been in combat. Give me a hero's welcome!
- [refering to doing a re-write of his speech]
- Maj. John D. 'Mac' McGillis: Well, sir, I, uh, served three tours of duty in 'nam. About the closest I came to a hero's welcome was when got back stateside in the hospital plane. Just after we touched down, a public affairs officer came aboard with some civilian clothes, and said, "Corporal, there's a group of protestors out here. Maybe you better put these on. We'll slip you out the back way. Welcome home".
- [awkward chuckle]
- Gen. Marcus C. Craig: [in a very serious and reflective tone] I see. Major, I'm gonna leave now... I want you to sit down... and write the speech that wounded corporal should have received 20 years ago.