So, I guess once you've served you are allowed to just hop on a plane and have the army take you over to a country when the US is at war with them, even if you're in civilian clothes going on a private mission ? Ok, that makes sense.
shareYeah, I have always questioned that part of the movie.
shareWell, that's a legit question (and an even more legit doubt) - yet you'd also have to take into account that had you been decorated for the time in action, then I guess it's kinda easier for you to pull off such feats. In the sense that it's not the official army that makes you he favour, but individuals rather that do possess the power and the inclination to aid you with it (let's not also forget the possibility to have friends at the according places that can push some buttons for you). Last but no least, we're talking about an era that those guys were considered heroes and generally treated as such by others (officials and not only).
In other words, you saw this as being something very "easy-going" as an option (the way it was presented by the film maker. Dunno, but maybe there even were cuts that included such a scene like him going to officials, asking his wish).
Maybe you were wrong seeing it this way.
Memory is a wonderful thing if you don't have to deal with the pastshare
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Well, he certainly didn't seem like he was serving when he hopped off the helicopter in civilian clothing and then just walked around the streets looking for his friend.
If they had shown him reporting to a base or a commander at any time I would be a little less leary of the whole idea. But they didn't do that, and they essentially showed him on his own personal mission.
He was actually in uniform when he got off the chopper.
But I agree with your original point; how would he get back there especially at this time?
I don't think the how of him getting back was terribly important to the story. Just because they didn't explicitly explain it doesn't make it impossible.
"Is that your IQ or the number of dipwads your mother had?" - Car Pool Man
The whole movie - including Mike's return to Vietnam - was utter nonsense.
shareThere is no evidence to suggest that Mike was discharged. When he goes back to Vietnam he is in uniform than later puts on civilian clothes, presumably to blend in better, and not raise as much suspicion. Being in the Special Forces, he probably knew some higher ups that would do him a favor and get him on a flight back to Vietnam.