When PFC Thomas finds Stryker dead drunk on the floor, he announces "now I know how he lost those three stripes." The audience is left to assume that at some point in the past Stryker was found drunk in past and disciplined for it by being reduced in rank.
I'm watching the Sands of Iwo Jima on AMC right now and was looking for this line. Unless Stryker shows up drunk again later in the movie, he never specified the number of stripes, he simply said "now I know how he lost those stripes."
shareYeah.
Thomas never specifies how many stripes (or, more accurately, "rockers") Stryker lost. He just says that now he's figured out why Stryker was reduced in rank back to a "buck" Sergeant (E-5 grade).
As to why he was busted, his drinking clearly had something to do with it. Either he was drunk on duty, or got drunk and failed to return from leave, etc.
It is mentioned in the movie by Thomas (Forest Tucker) that Stryker (Wayne) had to have "done something pretty cute to get busted down to three stripes", not that he had lost three stripes. However, he did actually loose three "rockers" (which is how the lower stripes are referred to), since at the time the insignia for a USMC Sergeant Major was the same as a for a present day Master Sergeant.
Courage is being scared to death- and saddling up anyway
In the movie, we learn how Sgt Stryker likes to use his fists. I suspect that is the reason for his reduction in rank. Also, he could have been guilty of multiple infractions at different times and not lost all those stripes at the same time.
No wonder why when I first saw him in the movie, I thought he sure looks old for an E-5 sergeant.
Early in the movie, after Stryker talks to the replacements, Forrest Tucker is asked if he knows Stryker. He says they were stationed in China before the war and Stryker caused him to get busted from corporal. He says Stryker was a Sgt Maj then.
"We're paratroopers lieutenant. We're supposed to be surrounded"
Captain Winters, Bastogne, 1944