In the few years between leaving home and returning for Troy’s funeral, Cory has been promoted to Corporal in the United States Marines. It is clear that while this advancement is relatively new to his family, this at least being the first time seeing him since gaining his stripes, he is comfortable in the position. He even expresses an interest in leaving the military to pursue other possibilities for his life. In conclusion, Cory is a hero in his own right by caring for those in his family, most notably his mother, affected by the abuse from Troy and pursuing his ambitions until they are taken from