LTJG Daniel A. Kaffee Quotes

“You’re like seven of the strangest women I’ve ever met.”

“You don’t need to wear a patch on your arm to have honor.”

“I think you thought you were gonna walk in here and flash a badge and that was gonna mean something. I eat breakfast seventy yards away from three thousand Cubans who are trained to kill me. Danny, believe this. I’d kill you. I’d kill everyone in this room. I’d kill anyone to protect what I am paid to protect.”

“You can’t handle the truth. You can’t handle the sad but historic reality.”

“You don’t even know me. Normally it takes someone hours to discover I’m not fit to handle a defense.”

“We live in a world that has walls. And those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who’s gonna do it? You? You, Lieutenant Weinberg? I have a great responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. The luxury of the blind. The luxury of not knowing what I know: That Santiago’s death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and uncomprehensible to you, saves lives. You can’t handle it. Because deep down, in places you don’t talk about, you want me on that wall. You need me there. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as a backbone to a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it. I’d prefer you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I’d suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post.”

“We live by a Code, sir. Either we were right or we were wrong. We don’t make deals.”

“I’m not going to trip him. I’m gonna lead him right where he’s dying to go. ”

“Sir, a Code Red is a disciplinary action brought against a Marine who’s fallen out of line.”

“I want a Yoo-Hoo, is that such a big deal? He asks for a Yoo-Hoo and it’s like he’s asking for the correct time. I ask for a Yoo-Hoo and the world is coming to an end. I’m gonna get myself a Yoo-Hoo, okay? Can we drop it now? I want a Yoo-Hoo.”

Kaffee “Do you disagree?” Jessup “Certainly not in principle. I disagree only inasmuch as I disagree that a paraplegic is entitled to foxtrot. It’d be nice, it just ain’t possible.”