Robert Duvall credited as playing...
Lt. Colonel Kilgore
- Kilgore: [49:10] Smell that? You smell that?
- Lance: What?
- Kilgore: Napalm, son. Nothing else in the world smells like that. I love the smell of napalm in the morning. You know, one time we had a hill bombed, for 12 hours. When it was all over, I walked up. We didn't find one of 'em, not one stinkin' dink body. The smell, you know that gasoline smell? The whole hill. Smelled like... victory. Someday this war's gonna end.
- [He reflects on this for a moment and frowns. Then he gets up and walks away. Willard stares at him in disbelief]
- Kilgore: [recorded message playing from speakers on helicopters flying overhead] I will not hurt or harm you. Just give me back the board, Lance. It was a good board and I like it. You know how hard it is to find a board you like.
- Colonel Kilgore: [Explaining why the helicopters play music during air assaults] I use Wagner. It scares the hell out of the slopes. My boys love it!
- Kilgore: [after the Red Team gunship spectacularly knocks out a heavy AA artillery unit] Outstanding, Red Team, outstanding! Get you a case of beer for that one.
- Kilgore: All right, let's see what we have. Two of spades. Three of spades. Four of diamonds, six of clubs... there isn't one worth a jack in the whole bunch. Four of diamonds...
- Kilgore: Mike, you know anything about this point at Vin Drin Dop?
- Mike from San Diego: That's a fantastic peak.
- Kilgore: Peak?
- Mike from San Diego: About six foot. It's an outstanding peak. It's got both the long right and left side, with a bowl section that's unbelievable. It's just tube city.
- Kilgore: Well, why didn't you tell me that before? A good peak. There aren't any good peaks in this whole shitty country. It's all goddamn beach break.
- Kilgore: [looking at a map] That village you're pointing at is kind of hairy, Willard.
- Willard: What do you mean "Hairy", sir?
- Kilgore: It's hairy. Got some pretty heavy ordinance. I've lost a few recon ships in there now and again. What's the name of that goddamn village, Vin Drin Dop or Lop? Damn gook names all sound the same.
- Kilgore: [giving his canteen to a wounded Vietcong holding his guts in with a pot lid] Any man brave enough to fight with his guts strapped on him can drink from my canteen any day!
- Kilgore: Lance Johnson the surfer?
- Lance: Yes, sir.
- Kilgore: Well, it's an honor to meet you Lance. I've admired your nose riding for years. I like your cutback, too. I think you have the best cutback there is.
- Lance: Thank you, sir.
- Kilgore: You can cut out the "sir" crap, Lance. I'm Bill Kilgore. I'm a goofy foot.