Caroline Kava: Mrs. Kovic

Born on the Fourth of July

Mrs. Kovic

Ron Kovic: We went to Vietnam to stop communism!... We shell women and children!
Mrs. Kovic: You didn't shoot women and children! What are you saying?
Ron Kovic: That was the war, communism, the incidious evil! They told us to go.
Mrs. Kovic: Yes, yes that's what they told us.
Ron Kovic: Thou shalt not kill, Mom. Thou shalt not kill women and children! Thou shalt not kill! Remember? Isn't that what you taught us? Isn't that what they taught us?
Mrs. Kovic: Stop it! Stop it!

Mrs. Kovic: [enters the room, beaming] You're right, Ronnie. You're doing the right thing! Communism has to be stopped! It's God's will that you go. I'm proud of you.
[gently pats his shoulder]
Mrs. Kovic: You know, be careful, that's all.
Infantry Colonel: [in the background, on the TV] Up there in Hanoi, they don't allow magazines and newspapers and televisions to cast doubts on the system - the military system.
Ron Kovic: Don't you know what it means to me to be a Marine, Dad? Ever since I was a kid I've wanted this. I've wanted to serve my country. And I want to go. I want to go to Vietnam. And I'll die there if I have to.

Ron Kovic: They burned the flag and they demonstrated against us; it's on the cover of the paper today. They have no respect. They have no idea what's going on over there, Mom - the men that are sacrificing their lives. People are dying every day over there, and nobody back here even seems to care. It's a bunch of goddamn shit if you ask me!
Mrs. Kovic: Ronnie, don't take the Lord's name in vain - not in front of the children. I agree with everything you say!
Ron Kovic: I served my country - and they just want to take from it - just take, take! Love it or leave it, that's what I think.

Mrs. Kovic: Win or lose - in school, in sports, in *life*, as long as you do your best, that's what matters to God. Win or lose, we're still here, we still love him.

Mr. Kovic: [Young Ron gets a Yankee baseball cap for his birthday] Ain't he a little 4th of July firecracker in that hat?
Mrs. Kovic: Yeah. He's my little Yankee Doodle boy.

Mrs. Kovic: Ronnie, where'd you get this?
Ron Kovic: Mom, what are you doing in my room, anyway?
Mrs. Kovic: Don't change the subject. You know I don't allow Playboy magazine in this house.
Ron Kovic: Stevie gave it to me. I was holding it for Stevie.
Mrs. Kovic: You have filthy, impure thoughts. God is going to punish you. God is going to punish you for this.
Ron Kovic: I haven't even looked at it yet, all right?
Mrs. Kovic: Wait a minute. Wait a minute. I want you to go to confession. I want you to tell Father McKenna. You hear me? And I don't ever want to see this filthy magazine in my house again. Now, take this away!

Mrs. Kovic: He's hanging around with those creepy longhairs who take drugs. They smoke pot!

Mrs. Kovic: I had a dream, Ronnie. You were speaking to a large crowd, and you were saying great things.