Born on the Fourth of July

A detailed Summary of Born on the Fourth of July


Ron Kovic, born on the fourth of July, raised in a patriotic family and spoon-fed heroic tales left home to fight the war in Vietnam. Kovic returned from the war with a shattered body, but it took a couple of years for the damage to spread to his mind and spirit. By the time he hit bottom he was a demoralized, spiteful man who sought escape in booze, drugs and Mexican whorehouses. Then he began to look outside of himself for a larger pattern to his life, the pattern that inspired his passionate pursuit of peace. Kovic never seemed to have control over his life, during his formidable years he was influenced by his family and friends, he was ordered by the U.S Military but, as a disabled veteran of the Vietnam War, made a conscious choice to become an ambassador of peace.

On July 15, 1976, Ron Kovic pulled his wheelchair into the gleaming lights of New York City's Madison Square Garden. The eyes of the entire country were focused on this intent young man, just turned 30 but wise beyo


Kovic was raised on the films of the films of John Wayne and Audie Murphy, movies like The Sands of Iwo Jima and To Hell and Back. These films glamorized war. Kovic had learned that war wasn't all about heroism; it's about following orders. An awakening moment for Kovic was when his unit was ordered to destroy a village that was thought to be armed. It was scary and confusing, and sometimes you shot the wrong person, maybe even one of your own men. Kovic learned that just because you gave your body to your country, that country would not necessarily recognize your sacrifice.

Antiwar activist and Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic has turned his personal tragedy into a blessing by helping other people. As a young man, Kovic was influenced by people and Hollywood to think that fighting a war was a heroic, glamorous job. During his time served in the military, Kovic had no decisions to make, he simply followed orders. It wasn't until Kovic was an embittered and broken spirited man suffering from depression did he fin

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