Platoon Leader (1988)

Platoon Leader is a 1988 war film set in the Vietnam War and directed by Aaron Norris; it stars Michael Dudikoff and Michael DeLorenzo and was filmed in South Africa. It is loosely based on James R. McDonough’s memoir of the same name. It is the only movie directed by Aaron Norris not to star his brother Chuck Norris. The film is about a newly commissioned infantry lieutenant who arrives in Vietnam to take over his first platoon. He finds he has to prove himself and earn the trust of the enlisted men if he is to lead them.

Plot

Lt. Jeffrey Knight, a new officer from the United States Military Academy, is airlifted to an outpost in Vietnam, where he meets his platoon, a group of tough-witted veterans of the war. Platoon Sergeant McNamara explains to Knight that the platoon does not need a leader that follows rules. Lt. Knight’s actions are also frowned upon by all of his men except for Pvt. Parker, the radio operator. On one of his first patrols, Knight stumbles carelessly over a trip mine and is nearly killed. Parker then radios for an evac and McNamara orders the troops to move to an LZ for an extraction. Later, while Lt.

Knight is recovering from his wounds in an Army hospital, Major Flynn asks him if he is able to take command again and Knight agrees. Knight is airlifted back to his platoon’s outpost but is not greeted by his men and finds his gear missing from his quarters, as they did not expect him to return. When they realize Knight has returned, the soldiers rush to return his property outside his office before he comes back out. Knight realizes that he must take a different approach to have his men’s respect.

Missing in Action III (1988) Plot, Development, Filming, Box office, Trailer.

Cast:

Michael Dudikoff as Lieutenant Jeffrey
Robert F. Lyons as Sergeant Michael
Michael DeLorenzo as Private Raymond
Jesse Dabson as Private Joshua Parker
Rick Fitts as Sergeant Robert Hayes
Tony Pierce as Private Jan Schultz
Daniel Demorest as Private Duffy
Brian Libby as Sergeant “Roach”
Michael Rider as Private Don Pike
William Smith as Major Flynn
Al Karaki as Private Kemp
Evan J. Klisser as Private Larsen
Evan Barker as Captain Klinski
A.J. Smith as Lieutenant Riley
Dean Raphael Ferrandini as Medic