Richie is a 17-year-old African American recent high school graduate from Harlem. Highly intelligent with aspirations of becoming a philosopher or writer, he enlists in the army to help support his younger brother financially and avoid unanswerable questions about his future. A pre-existing knee injury technically disqualifies him from combat, but a bureaucratic mix-up places him directly into the field. He possesses a deep sense of compassion and struggles to reconcile the violent realities of the battlefield with his moral ideals.

Harold "Peewee" Gates is a young African American soldier from Chicago who forms an immediate bond with Richie. He presents a cocky, abrasive exterior and readily challenges anyone who disrespects him. He views the army favorably as the first place in his life where he receives equal treatment and standard-issue gear, unlike civilian society. Beneath his quick-witted, often humorous facade, he remains fiercely protective of his squad mates.

Captain Stewart is the ambitious leader of Alpha Company. He actively pursues a promotion to the rank of major, a goal that requires him to report high enemy casualties. To achieve this, he routinely exaggerates the body count in his official logs and volunteers his men for increasingly dangerous missions, prioritizing his career advancement over their safety.

Sergeant Dongan is a middle-aged, overtly racist white officer assigned to Alpha Company. He immediately antagonizes the squad by deliberately placing African American soldiers in the most vulnerable combat positions and openly expressing anti-gay bias.

Lobel is a Jewish soldier in Richie's squad and the nephew of a Hollywood director. He joins the army specifically to prove his masculinity to his father, who hates that his son serves in the military. To cope with the terrifying environment around him, Lobel views the war as a movie where he plays a starring role, using cinematic tropes as a psychological shield.

Monaco is an Italian American soldier who serves as the squad's point man, walking at the very front of the formation during patrols. He operates as a strong, dependable presence who typically remains calm under intense pressure. He receives a marriage proposal from his girlfriend back home, giving him a concrete reason to survive his deployment.

Judy is a young army nurse traveling to Vietnam alongside the enlisted soldiers. She and Richie share a brief, friendly connection during their transit, discussing their childhood dreams before being separated upon arrival at the base.

Kenny is Richie's younger brother back home in Harlem. Richie acts as a parental figure for him, enlisting partly to provide financial support for Kenny's needs, such as his youth basketball league fees.

Richie's mother remains in Harlem raising his younger brother, Kenny. She struggles with an alcohol addiction following her partner's abandonment. Her relationship with Richie is strained, making it difficult for him to communicate openly with her in his letters.

Richie's father abandoned the family when his children were young. His absence forced Richie into an early paternal role, shaping his decision to join the military to secure financial stability for his remaining family.

Jenkins is a terrified new soldier assigned to Alpha Company alongside Richie and Peewee. He openly admits that he only joined the military to satisfy his father's strict expectations for him to have a military career.

Jenkins's father desires a military career for his son. His expectations push Jenkins to enlist despite the young man's intense fear of the war.

Sergeant Simpson is the leader of Richie's squad in Alpha Company. Nearing the end of his tour, his primary focus is surviving the remainder of his deployment. He frequently clashes with commanding officers who place the squad in unnecessary danger.

Lieutenant Carroll is the deeply respected platoon leader for Alpha Company. He refers to the young enlisted men as "angel warriors," a term borrowed from his own military father. He demonstrates genuine concern for his soldiers, even offering to pull Richie from combat due to his medical profile.

Lieutenant Carroll's wife waits for him back in the United States, maintaining communication through letters from the front.

Johnson is a physically massive, exceptionally strong African American soldier from Georgia. He serves as the squad's M-60 machine gunner. Despite occasional clashes with other soldiers, he emerges as a natural leader who fiercely defends his squad mates against both external threats and racist superiors.

Walowick is a member of Alpha Company who bonds with Richie over chess games. He sometimes struggles with the intense stress of their environment, leading to occasional conflicts with other squad members.

Brew is a devoutly religious member of Richie's squad. He spends his free time reading the Bible and praying, providing a spiritual anchor in the barracks. He willingly lends his Bible to Richie when the younger soldier seeks comfort.

Brunner is an abrasive member of the squad who often alienates his peers. He assumes a command role when higher-ranking officers are unavailable, insisting on rigid adherence to his orders despite the squad's reluctance.

Lieutenant Gearhart is a relatively inexperienced officer assigned to lead the platoon. He struggles initially with tactical decisions, making errors that expose the squad, but he takes his responsibilities seriously and genuinely cares for the men under his command.

Lieutenant Gearhart's wife receives heartfelt correspondence from him, demonstrating his deep attachment to his family back home.

Earlene is Peewee's girlfriend back in Chicago. Her letters arrive sporadically and often carry frustrating news, complicating Peewee's emotional state while he is deployed.

An Linh is a young Vietnamese girl living in a village that Alpha Company visits on a pacification mission. She interacts warmly with the soldiers, bridging the gap between the military forces and the local civilians.

Monaco's girlfriend waits for him in the United States and actively plans for their future together by proposing marriage through the mail.

Monroe is a member of the squad who receives a marriage proposal by mail. He relies heavily on the collective opinion of his peers, asking them to vote on whether he should accept.

Rings is an African American soldier who wears three rings on his fingers. He attempts to convince Richie and Peewee to become blood brothers with him to forge racial solidarity, reacting harshly when they decline.

Jamal serves as a medic for Alpha Company. He manages administrative and medical duties, occasionally freezing under intense pressure during combat evacuations.

Lobel's father deeply disapproves of his son's involvement in what he considers an unjust war. His harsh judgment drives Lobel to enlist as a means of proving himself.