Deliberate mistake: While recon platoon is marching in their modified pt uniform, Gunny has "Cojones" call a cadence. Meanwhile Sgt. Webster maintains control of his formation, but from the wrong side. No platoon leader ever marches their unit from the right side of the formation.
Heartbreak Ridge (1986)
1 deliberate mistake - chronological order
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Everett McGill, Marsha Mason, Moses Gunn
Factual error: At the very beginning of the film, Gunny Highway learns that he's being reassigned to the 2nd Marine Division. The 2nd Division, located at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, is situated on the NC coast; there are no mountains in the immediate vicinity. However, when the Gunny trains his platoon, he does so in the hills of another Marine training camp located in California. There is a big difference between California and North Carolina.
Gunnery Seargant Thomas Highway: The United States Marines is lookin' for a few good men - and you ain't it.
Question: Towards the end of the movie when Gunny Highway's men first learn that he is a Medal of Honor recipient they are all suitably impressed. Yet when he first reports to take over the platoon he is wearing parade uniform with all of his medal ribbons displayed. The very first ribbon looks like the one appropriate for a MoH - surely the young marines should have been able to recognise it? Is the MoH insignia able to be noticed on his uniform?
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Chosen answer: I can personally attest, when you see someone in dress uniform, the first thing you look at is their rank. No one really pays much attention to the ribbons, and not many people know what more than a handful of them mean. When you add the fact that Highway put the fear of Gunny into them at the first meeting and that none of them are all that bright, it could easily be overlooked. One thing that is wrong, is as an MOH recipient, Gunny Highway is entitled to a salute from anyone short of the President. Granted he is not the type to point out his awards either.
Grumpy Scot