A Catholic priest and former boxer serving as a military chaplain in Iraq. He attempts to minister to men in a high-casualty unit known for ignoring the rules of engagement. He questions how to offer spiritual comfort to soldiers immersed in continuous violence.

A Marine in Charlie Company who struggles with erratic behavior and intense rage. He is deeply affected by the combat environment in Ramadi and carries heavy guilt over the actions performed by his unit. He increasingly views his surroundings as inherently evil.

An Iraq war veteran who suffered severe burns and the loss of his ears after his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device. He meticulously writes out his memories of the attack to preserve the facts before they degrade. He accepts his physical injuries with dark humor.

An Egyptian Coptic Christian veteran who specialized in psychological operations in the Army. Because of his skin color, he faces assumptions about his religious background. He uses language and provocation as weapons, both during his deployment and in civilian arguments.

A student at Amherst College who recently converted to Islam. She holds firm anti-war convictions and confronts her veteran classmate over his military service, assuming he actively targeted Muslims out of personal hatred.

A frail, aging Labrador retriever suffering from severe health issues. He acts as the strongest emotional anchor to home for his returning owner, offering unconditional acceptance that contrasts sharply with the awkwardness of human reunions.

A Marine who agrees to take public credit for a fatal shooting actually committed by his friend. Initially enjoying the resulting bump in status, he eventually seeks counsel as the psychological weight of the incident bears down on him.

A Marine who shoots a young boy during a brief firefight and begs his squadmate to claim responsibility. He is haunted by the presence of the boy's family and struggles with insomnia in the aftermath.

A young civilian worker attempting to manage a water plant restoration project in Iraq. He faces constant bureaucratic roadblocks and absurd requests from politicians back home, eroding his initial desire to make a meaningful impact.

The head of the Civil Affairs Company in Iraq. He manages the absurd demands of American politicians, working through the bureaucracy with a mix of pragmatism and outright fabrication to keep the unit functioning.

A Marine in Charlie Company who liked the local Iraqi people. His combat death serves as a catalyst for the psychological unravelling of his squadmates and prompts a broader investigation into the unit's tactics.

A military officer overseeing Charlie Company. He refuses to investigate the tactical choices of his subordinates, prioritizing the high number of enemy casualties his units produce over ethical considerations.

An aggressive company commander who encourages his men to eliminate as many insurgents as possible. He completely ignores the rules of engagement and fosters a culture of violence within his unit.

A seminary mentor back home. He provides practical, sobering advice to the deployed chaplain, advising him to accept the inevitability of suffering and focus entirely on preventing the soldiers from facing it alone.

A squad leader in Charlie Company who carries immense guilt over the death of Fujita. His inability to cope with his battlefield decisions leads him to take desperate measures.

A tall actress collaborating on an anti-war play with the Iraq Veterans Against the War. She seeks authentic accounts from veterans but frequently interrupts to steer the conversation toward details that fit her preconceived narrative.

A woman who is on complete disability and has only four fingers on one hand. She visits the bar with Sarah and provides a comfortable, low-pressure presence for the veterans compared to the more demanding actress.

A Marine and close friend of Jenks who died instantly when their vehicle struck an IED. His memory is carefully preserved in Jenks's writings.

A Marine who died alongside Chuck when their vehicle hit an explosive device. Jenks insists on documenting his death exactly as it happened.

An Egyptian Coptic Christian who pushes his son to join the military to prove their family's American loyalty. He holds rigid expectations for his son's military career, preferring traditional infantry combat over psychological operations.

An insurgent leader targeted by Army psychological operations. He is lured out of his stronghold by highly personal, inflammatory insults broadcast over a loudspeaker.

A civilian wife attempting to ease her returning husband back into domestic life. She takes him shopping to reacquaint him with society, though she exhibits subtle signs of fear regarding how the combat experience has altered him.

A military chaplain who checks on the mental well-being of the unit's Marines. He encourages prayer and attempts to draw out the deeper anxieties affecting the men under his care.

A Marine who witnesses the aftermath of the firefight. Because Timhead denies making the fatal shot, Garza incorrectly assumes that Ozzie is the one who fired the weapon.

A hardened squad leader who attempts to put combat deaths into perspective for his men. He dismisses Ozzie's worries about the local family by bluntly stating that violence is a daily reality for Iraqi citizens.

A Marine who survives a close call during a convoy operation. He treats his near-miss as a badge of honor, constantly talking about the scar he will get, which aggravates the more traumatized members of his unit.

A civilian worker participating in the reconstruction efforts purely for financial gain and novelty. He advises his newer colleagues to avoid ambitious projects in favor of small, easily completable tasks that look good on paper.

A sincere civilian worker described as a true believer in the reconstruction mission. She successfully manages a clinic that helps local women pursue divorces and escape abuse, providing a rare example of effective aid.

A local Iraqi translator who assists the American reconstruction teams. He openly resents the military presence, frankly informing the workers that America has destroyed his country.

Nathan's boss who operates far away from the actual war zone. He attempts to manage the team's operations while balancing the political desires of congressional representatives.

A wealthy mattress businessman and political constituent from Kansas. He believes that introducing baseball to Iraqi citizens will act as a civilizing and democratic force, completely misunderstanding the realities of the war zone.

A Marine captain who returns from Afghanistan out of shape and eager to drink heavily. He relies on his subordinates to draft official paperwork but guards the actual details of his own combat experiences tightly.

A Marine who survives an attack thanks to the actions of a fellow soldier. Upon returning home, he immediately prepares to redeploy to the most dangerous available sector in Afghanistan.

A sergeant who repeatedly exposes himself to enemy fire to pull wounded Marines to safety during an ambush. His actions earn him a posthumous Navy Cross.