It is eventually revealed to Teasle that Rambo was a member of an elite Special Forces unit in Vietnam; he has extensive experience in guerrilla warfare and survival tactics, and received the Medal of Honor for actions above and beyond the call of duty while in Vietnam. Since his discharge from the Army, he has been unable to hold down a job, thus forcing him to live as a drifter. Despite knowing that his abuse of Rambo is largely responsible for the latter's actions, Teasle stubbornly refuses to call off the manhunt or try to reason with Rambo.