Richard Perry

Richie Perry is the narrator of Fallen Angels. Although he had dreams of becoming a writer, his poverty has limited his options. Right after graduating from high school, Perry enlists in the army.

Perry hopes that his knee injury will keep him safe. Unfortunately, a delay in processing his medical profile causes a few complications for this young soldier. While other members in his troop go elsewhere, Perry is ordered to Vietnam.

During his first weeks there, we see that he is worried about his brother Kenny. One of the reasons why Perry enlisted in the army was to help support his younger brother. He does not want his family to worry about him unnecessarily. He does not want to shock his family or worry them.

He finds it difficult to communicate directly to his mother. Perry is introspective—he is a thinker. Perry is compassionate and very concerned about how people perceive the actions of the US military in Vietnam. Although Perry had hoped that the war would conform to some rational plan, the sudden death of Jenkins opens Perry's eyes to the senselessness of war.

Harold Peewee Gates

Peewee is Perry's closest friend in Vietnam. Peewee does not understand why Perry would enlist in the army. After all, Perry is a graduate, and Peewee is a high school drop-out. Peewee thinks that he does not have the same opportunities to succeed that Perry has.

Peewee is a cocky young black man from a poor community in Chicago. He was interested in the army because he thought it was an orderly place, where no rowdy people were allowed. Peewee sees that the army has something to offer him—a sort of equality. For the first time, Peewee has what everyone else has—the same boots, the same food, the same weapons.

In spite of his tough talk, we can see the gentle side of Peewee. Peewee comes from a good home, and he has high expectations for himself. He is concerned about the people that he has left behind, and he is especially concerned about his girlfriend Earlene, who writes him a letter informing him that she is considering marrying someone else.

Peewee deals with things internally. He is introspective, tough, but vulnerable. He is a man of action. He is loyal and protective of Perry. We watch as the horror and the killing start to slowly wear him down.

Lobel

Lobel is another soldier on the squad. Lobel is a big fan of the movies and he sees everything through the eyes of a Hollywood movie director. He sees everything in black and white, good guys vs bad guys. In fact, Lobel imagines that he is not really participating in the war, but rather playing a part in a movie about Vietnam.

Lobel struggles to understand the purpose of the war, and he is able to distance himself from the reality of war by taking this approach.

Lobel wants to prove to his family that he is a real man. As time goes by, Lobel is unable to sustain his view of war as a Hollywood production because the horror intrudes upon his fantasy.

Brew

Brew is a compassionate, caring, religious man. We watch as he struggles with the issues of religion and war.

By the end of the novel, Brew begins to let go of his old beliefs. He becomes more cynical and he questions our notions of bravery. He starts to reconsider the actions of the draft dodgers.

Brew represents faith. The other soldiers hope that Brew's connections to God will help to keep the group safe.

Lieutenant Carroll

Lieutenant Carroll is Perry's platoon leader. Lt. Carroll is the one who says the line that inspires the title of the book—he calls the soldiers "angel warriors," referring to the young age of the soldiers.

When Lt. Carroll is killed, Perry writes a letter home to Carroll's wife. The replacement for Carroll is Lieutenant Gearhart - a man who has been in the army for a mere two months. Gearhart's first time out with the squad ends in the death of Turner.