The United States Army are minor characters in the 1999 film, The Iron Giant. They serve as the primary military of the United States and are led by General Rogard. They initially believe the Iron Giant is a threat to society after Kent lies to Rogard that it killed Hogarth, but eventually realize they had been duped all along by Mansley when they realize it's not a threat.
Biography[]
The United States Army first appears in the climax of the film, as Mansley had called them along with their leader, General Rogard, to investigate the Iron Giant, believing it to be a threat when he realizes that it's in Dean McCoppin's junkyard. Upon arrival, the moment that Mansley, Rogard, and the soldiers go inside the big room where Dean stores his works of art, they find out that the Giant is being used by Dean as an art sculpture (mostly to protect him from being a threat). As a result, Rogard furiously scolds Mansley for spending a million dollars just for nothing and wasting his time, even telling him he'll be fired from his position and to be demoted as a toilet cleaner, believing he isn't worthy to be in that position. As the army and Kent leave with Hogarth mocking Kent's phrase, Dean tells Giant he can finally move now since the military had left. As Hogarth and the Giant play, the Giant believes Hogarth is a threat when he sees the toy laser gun he is currently holding. As a result, Dean scolds the Giant for nearly putting an innocent child in danger, causing the Giant to feel remorseful before realizing that the Giant only reacts defensively if he sees a weapon.
While the remorsful Iron Giant unexpectedly saves two innocent boys from falling to their death's and winning the townspeople, Mansley, alongside the rest of the Army while attempting to leave Rockwell, see the Giant in Rockwell and tells the army that it's "attacking" the town, causing the military and Rogard to believe him and unaware that Mansley lied to them. The army soon arrived with their tanks and jeeps and fired bullets at the Giant, causing him to flee. Rogard tries using his pistol to fire at him alongside a tank, but Dean orders the military to stand down and stop shooting since its protecting an innocent life. As Kent and Dean argue that the Giant is not a threat with Dean telling Kent that the Giant has Hogarth with him and Kent reluctantly agrees to take care of it, Kent, however, uses the opportunity to lie to Rogard that the Giant has killed Hogarth and must stop it at all costs. As Rogard decides to go to Code Red, this results the President of the United States being involved, resulting the Air Force being deployed to hunt the Giant.
As the Iron Giant began flying with Hogarth in his hand, they are suddenly attacked by F-86 Sabre fighter jets. The Giant tries to obliterate one of them, but decides not to. After evading them, he is unexpectedly shot by a jet, causing him to fall on the ground. The Giant, still alive, believes Hogarth had been killed. As the military arrive and realize its still alive, Kent angrily tells the military to start shooting at the Giant, causing the robot to finally get angry and regain his memories and attack Kent and the military. Shocked and horrified, Mansley, Rogard, and the military flee while the Giant uses his weapons against them. Rogard's soldiers and tanks try opening fire on the Giant, but its immense durability makes it immune to bullets, and the Giant destroys the tanks with its advanced weaponry. Rogard orders the United States Navy to fire on the robot, but to no avail. As Rogard and Mansley argue that the Giant can't be stopped with anything, Mansley admits they haven't used a nuclear missile; the intent being to lure the Giant away from the town before launching the missile. Rogard then orders a nearby soldier to contact the USS Nautilus, which will be the one to launch the missile.
While Dean and Anne try to bring Hogarth to a nearby hospital, they are suddenly blocked by a patrol of Army soldiers, who have them out of the car since they're evacuating the town. As Dean protests they're trying to bring Hogarth to a hospital for recovery, Hogarth suddenly runs and tells the Giant to stop firing on a nearby ship. Hogarth then soon gets the Giant back to his original senses, while Dean argues to Rogard about the Giant's self defense mechanism with Rogard learning that the Giant is actually friendly, but Mansley still tells Rogard to not listen to Dean as they want to destroy the monster while they still have the chance. As the soldiers ready their aim once they hear the Giant's footsteps, Dean continued to argue to Rogard as a nearby soldier tried to receive orders. The Giant, however, finally reveals itself with Hogarth on its hand, and Mansley finally realizes that he had his lie has been exposed all along. Mansley ordered Rogard to launch the missile, but tells his soldiers to stand down. As Rogard tried ordering the Nautilus to stand down, Mansley, still believing that the Giant is a threat to the town, snatches the walkie talkie to Rogard, ordering the missile launch and thus putting Rockwell at stake. Rogard furiously tells Mansley that the missile is locked on the giant's current position since it will not only destroy the Giant, but the town of Rockwell as well. Mansley suggests they take a fallout shelter, but Rogard angrily tells Mansley that survival is impossible and they will all die for their country thanks to Mansley's foolishness. Mansley angrily renounces his patriotism and begins throwing a nearby soldier off a jeep as he tried to escape with it, only for the Giant to stop him. This results the soldiers finally apprehending him at gunpoint as Rogard orders them to hold him and to make sure he stays there like a "good soldier" before the Giant decided to sacrifice himself to save Rockwell. After this, Rogard and the soldiers accept the Giant's heroic act and somberly ordered his men to go home, knowing it wasn't worth the trouble and Mansley is presumably removed from his position permanently and imprisoned for his crimes and treachery after this.