I am wondering if Mac from 1975 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest movie set in Sep.-Dec. of 1963 was a WW2 veteran? He was 38 years old, born in 1925. Was he a veteran of that war probably?(He wasn't really crazy, either)
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Wikipedia fictional biography does only mention that he was a korea-war vet., i guess if he had been also in ww2 it would be mentioned there. But because i dont know how reliable this article is, i only post it as comment:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randle_McMurphy– kl78Oct 6, 2015 at 22:42
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1 Answer
No. MacMurphy was a Korean War vet, who was dishonorably discharged for insubordination. In fact, Nurse Ratched runs down his history when she reads his chart:
McMurphy is interred at the hospital for "diagnosis and possible treatment," reads Nurse Ratched, who continues: "Thirty-five years old. Never married. Distinguished Service Cross in Korea, for leading an escape from a Communist prison camp. A dishonorable discharge, afterward, for insubordination. Followed by a history of street brawls and barroom fights and a series of arrests for Drunkenness, Assault and Battery, Disturbing the Peace, repeated gambling, and one arrest — for Rape." (taken from the Cliff's Notes page)
While it's true that the Korean War succeeded WWII by 5 years and RPM would have been old enough to have fought in it, there is no indication anywhere that he was involved in anything other than Korea.
answered Oct 7, 2015 at 15:13
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2You should probably mention that you're talking about the book. Unless my memory fails me, I don't think McMurphy was a veteran of any war in the movie.– WaltOct 7, 2015 at 16:43
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2True, they don't delve into his past at all in the movie. Since the movie was based on the book, I'd say that it's understood that RPM is a Korean War vet, though that's never specifically stated. I believe they do say that he's in prison for statutory rape, which is consistent with his prison sentence in the book. Oct 7, 2015 at 19:06