During the cafe scene, when David Mann is in the bathroom wiping his face, you hear him talking in his head and he says, "It's like there you are, right back in the jungle again."
Could this imply that he was a Vietnam war veteran and thats what he meant by being back in "the jungle" ?
Probably, yes. Right generation, and at the time this film was made, that war was still very much ongoing and in everyone's minds.
shareNah.
He meant he was in a savage and dangerous situation. It could be anywhere.
His dialog before saying that indicates he was using "jungle" as a metaphor.
Akin to saying "It's a jungle out there" etc.
This was 1971. The Vietnam war had not ended yet and David Mann (Dennis Weaver) was too old.