A few years before to the production of the combat action drama Platoon, American filmmaker Oliver Stone had already put together all of the ingredients that would make the picture an international hit, based on his own experiences as a soldier fighting for his country’s liberties and democracy.

After graduating from high school, Stone enlisted in the US Army in 1967. He didn’t want to be a bystander to the war’s horrors as a battle witness. It was clear that he wanted to participate in war, and he made a specific request for it. As a result of his actions, he was wounded twice during the Vietnam War. For his service, he was awarded a Bronze Star with a “V” device and an Oak Leaf Cluster on his Purple Heart. As a result of his time in the military, Platoon was able to break new ground in cinematic achievement.