Forrest Gump’s most famous words about Vietnam, spoken during an antiwar rally in Washington, D.C., were: “Sometimes when people go to Vietnam, they go home to their mommas without any legs. Sometimes they don’t go home at all. That’s a bad thing. That’s all I have to say about that.” This short statement reflects Forrest's simple and honest view of the war, focusing on the human cost rather than politics or ideology.

Other Scenes and Quotes About Vietnam

• Forrest describes the Vietnam experience with innocent observations, such as: “We was always taking long walks, and we was always looking for a guy named 'Charlie.’” This shows his naïveté, as “Charlie” was the term U.S. soldiers used for the Viet Cong, reflecting the confusion and fear soldiers felt.

• Forrest also shares with Jenny, “Sometimes it would stop raining long enough for the stars to come out... and then it was nice,” giving an almost poetic view of the brief respites amidst the dangers of war.

• Regarding his personal connection, Forrest states, “I promised Bubba in Vietnam that as soon as the war was over, we'd be partners.” For him, the most important aspect of the war was keeping his promise to his friend Bubba, not the political situation.

• The movie intentionally gives Forrest a neutral, apolitical stance. At the rally, when he tries to speak about the war, his microphone is cut and much of his honest, simple comment goes unheard, which reinforces his outsider perspective on major events.

Themes in Forrest’s Perspective on Vietnam

Forrest’s comments about Vietnam strip away politics and ideology, emphasizing the personal and immediate impact of the conflict: loss, injury, friendship, and promises made and kept. The film uses his straightforward innocence to emphasize the human cost of war over any political statement.