Frank E. Hodges

The Basics

Name: Frank Earl Hodges
Nicknames: The Truth
Age: 66 years old
Orientation: Bisexual
Desired Rank/Job: Hammel Staff/Janitor
Powers: None
Play By: Tommy Chong

Hair Color: Originally black, but it has gone gray with age
Eye Color: Brown
Any Piercings? None
Any Tattoos? He has the logo of the Marine Corps on his left arm, along with the initials "U.S.M.C" underneath it
Any Scars? Several on various locations, but the most gruesome are on his right leg
General Appearance: Frank's presence and physical appearance usually has very calming effect on people. He almost always has a friendly smile on his wrinkled face. Despite being an old hippie, he has sported a short haircut for the past decades and his originally black hair has now gone gray-white due to age. His well trimmed, thick gray full beard has become some what of his trademark and he is virtually never seen clean shaved. His brown eyes have the "limp, unfocused gaze of a battle-weary warrior," known as the "thousand-yard stare."

Standing at exactly six feet, Frank was known to be a bit of a bulky guy as a teenager and an young man in the military. Over the decades since then, he has lost a lot of muscle with age, but he is still surprisingly strong, considering his now somewhat lanky figure. His movements are noticeably some what slow due to his long drug abuse and the effects of the wounds he sustained in the Vietnam war are visible. He is unable to run or walk very fast for more than a short time and even walking normally is painful for him. Because of that he usually uses something to support him self, such as a cane.

Frank sticks to simple, some what worn-out second hand clothing such as jeans and t-shirts. A lot of people would consider him either old fashioned or even dirty, even though he never wears clothes that are unclean. Occasionally, he is seen wearing his military outfit along with his medals for special occasions.

Personality: Frank is by most people considered to be a kindhearted person. His friendly smile and calm voice and body language has very relaxing effect on people around him. The results of more than 40 years of drug abuse has taken it's toll on him and he is noticeably slow and at times appears as if he is very sleepy.

He spends most of his free time smoking marijuana and babbling about conspiracy theories, so it doesn't take people long to figure that he is not entirely sane. Most of the time he is utterly harmless and people find his presence to be amusing. How ever, something occasionally triggers sudden violent outbursts as a result of the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder he suffers from because of his experience in the Vietnam War.

If you spend some time around him, it won't take long to notice that underneath the hippie conspiracy theorist mask, lies a very sad person. His voice has a sad sounding undertone and when looking him in the eyes feels like looking into an endless, empty void.

Frank is a peace activist and thus isn't proud of his military background. He usually keeps his uniform locked in a metal box, along with his medals, photos and other belongings that remind him of his past. How ever, he still holds great respect for his fellow veterans, both young and old and as such finds it fitting to put on his uniform along with all the medals for special occasions. Despite that all, he regularly puts it on every once in a while to remind both him self and others around him of the past and the horrors of war.

Despite his crazy behavior, he is actually quite a smart and thoroughly enjoys being the sort of "wise old man" type. Although he has only been around Point Ridge for a relatively short time, students, staff and locals alike know him as a person they can turn to with virtually any problem and he's always ready to listen to them with great care and help in any way he can. He is a person that you can trust with any secret. That has made him quite well liked among the students, who often turn to him if they need to talk about something they know they can't tell the teachers or other staff members.

Likes:
1. Drugs, especially marijuana.
2. 60's music.
3. Conspiracy theories.
4. Fighting "the man."
5. Conversations.
6. Meeting new and different people.
7. Helping people.
8. His Volkswagen Type 2.
9. Meditating.
10. Good causes (Anti-war protests, nature preserving activism, etc).
Dislikes:
1. War.
2. That lying SOB Johnson!
3. Racism.
4. Politicians.
5. Massive cities.
6. That noise young people call music.
7. Bullying.
8. Seeing people feeling bad.
9. Authority.
10. Being made fun of.

Strengths:
Iron Will : Despite his somewhat broken mind and the fact that he suffers from PTSD, he's actually a very strong willed person. He's not one that can be very easily manipulated and controlled.
Experience : Frank has lived for more than six decades. He has worked in various different jobs, fought a war and been to far away countries. He has experienced a lot more than some people and is more than willing to share his knowledge.
Friendly : Although for some people he can be very annoying, there is no denying it that he is friendly and kindhearted, which in turn makes him a person that is difficult to dislike.
Weaknesses:
Running : Frank is not only aging, but he is also a wounded veteran. Running, jogging and even walking for long periods of time can be difficult for him and is downright painful.
Psychological : If one were to spend some time with him, it wouldn't take people long time to figure out that he is not entirely sane. Furthermore he suffers from PTSD as a result of his war experience.
Drugs : For the past 40 years, Frank has been regularly using drugs. He is addicted to them and can't stop, even though they have already caused some permanent damage.
Fears:
Jail : Frank regularly uses illegal substances. He is afraid getting caught and having to serve jail time.
War : Frank fears any form of war and violence. He genuinely feels bad for people who today suffer in war-torn countries and he hates to see victims of violence.
The Government : Frank truly believes that the American government is up to no good, regardless of what ever it is they are doing.
Secret: While he doesn't hide the fact that he's a Vietnam veteran, he is not willing to talk much about certain things he did. Things that would by considered war crimes by most people.

Father: George J. Hodges
Mother: Mary Hodges (née : Walsh)
Siblings: Thomas D. Hodges, Nancy Hodges, Barbara Hodges, Eric C. Hodges, Stacy Hodges and Linda Hodges
Any Other Important People:
Sarah DeBlanc (ex-girlfriend)
Daniel DeBlanc (Son he is unaware of)
Henrietta Nielsen (ex-girlfriend)
Erica & Emily Nielsen (twin daughters he is unaware of)
PFC Ryan Becker (Best friend, KIA in 1966)

Frank Earl Hodges was born in Modesto, California on the second of may, 1946. Second out of seven children, he grew up in a relatively large middle-class household. Frank's childhood was characterized by the constant threat of communism and his parent's strict Catholic values.

As an adolescent, Frank and his older brother Tommy were known pranksters in the neighborhood. Only a year apart, they were always extremely close and where ever Tommy went, Frank always followed. Frank fondly speaks of his teenage years and especially the Cadillac he and Tommy bought together. During their last years in high school, they earned them selves a bit of a reputation for being great street racers.

At an early age, he had already decided exactly what he wanted to do with his life. After high school he was going to do his duty and protect his beloved country from the reds by volunteering for any of the branches of the armed forces. After that he was going to go to the best University he could and study law.

So after graduating from high school in 1964, he immediately signed up for the United States Marine Corps. After going through basic training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, he was given the rank of Private First Class in late 1964. This was around the time the "Gulf of Tonkin incident" occurred. Following the incident, the amount of American troops in Vietnam nearly tripled in numbers at the orders of President Lyndon B. Johnson. Frank was deployed at the Da Nang Airport, Vietnam, as a part of the 3rd Marine Division, shortly after his 19th birthday in may 1965.

Over the next few months he regularly took a part in minor skirmishes against the Viet Cong just south of the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone. Furthermore he took a part in Operation Hastings, as well as the Operation Starlite, which was the first major offensive action conducted purely by the United States during the Vietnam War.

Merely a few days after Operation Starlite, he received the news that his elder brother Tommy who was also serving in Vietnam, had been killed during the operation. The news of Tommy's death, broke Frank's heart. His character completely changed and for the reminder of the war he was bitter and overly brutal towards both his enemies and civilians. Despite that, his superiors knew that he was somebody that could be depended on and towards the end of his tour he had been promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

Late '66 he was shipped back home. Still bitter and seeking vengeance for the death of his brother, Frank renewed his contract with the Marine Corps instead of going to collage. This decision disappointed his parents, whom had already lost one son in the war. Furthermore his younger siblings were starting to show some anti-war tendencies. Bitter, Frank argued that they didn't understand the war and had a major fallout with his family before being re-deployed in Vietnam mid-1967.

Returning to the 'Nam as a Sergeant, he took command of a squad of mostly fresh recruits. As the "old man with the experience" he became some what of a mentor to several of the rookies, whom knew he'd do everything in his power to get them home alive.

In January 1968, the forces of North Vietnam launched a surprise major offensive, known to Americans as the Tet Offensive. When Frank's CO went missing during the intense fighting, he assumed command of the platoon as the Lieutenant in all but name. That however didn't last for long and just over a week later, Frank was wounded in combat. Shipped back to America, the doctors declared him unfit for service and he was honorably discharged for medical reasons, ending his career in the Marine Corps with the rank of Staff Sergeant. During his time in the rehabilitation for wounded veterans, he received the following letter :

---

The President of the United States in the name of the Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to

STAFF SERGEANT FRANK E. HODGES

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as acting platoon commander, while attached to Company K, Third Battalion, Third Marines, Third Marine Division, in action against communist forces at Khe Sanh in Quang Tin Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 16 March 1968. When communist forces breached through the defenses of the Khe Sanh Combat Base, Sergeant Hodges rallied the disorganized remnants of his platoon and managed to push back and hold off the enemy. With complete disregard for his own safety, he rushed to an abandoned machine gun emplacement and single handily held off the enemy, wave after wave. His gallant initiative and heroic conduct reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and United States Naval Service.

Signed,
Lyndon B. Johnson

---

Returning home a decorated war-hero, Frank's family rejoiced as he came home to them. Although his wounds hadn't been life threatening, it permanently left him with a minor disability. He would never run again in his life, but limp around with a cane instead. But despite that, he still fiercely supported the war in Vietnam, once more putting him at odds with his siblings. Furthermore, he suffered from deep psychological wounds which occasionally resulted in violent outbursts.

His parent's couldn't bare to kick him out of their home, but were desperate to resolve the situation and end the near constant arguing at their home, for the sake of their younger children. Eventually, they talked him into using his G.I Bill and apply for a collage.

Frank got into the University of San Francisco and soon moved there in early 1969. What he didn't realize was that he was essentially moving to the stronghold of the hippie, anti-war movement. Initially he had some clashes with his fellow students, but soon enough he befriended some other veterans, who had embraced the world of love and drugs, although Frank continued to resist the peer pressure of joining them.

It wasn't until the summer of '69 which he started to change into the person he is today. His friends dragged him across half the country to attend a music festival called Woodstock. There he finally gave into the pressure and tried out drugs for the first time in his life. This first experience of drugs helped relief the physical and psychological pain he was suffering from the war.

Soon enough he was smoking marijuana every day and regularly taking hallucinogenic drugs such a LSD and magic mushrooms. As he drifted deeper into the world of the hippies, he started hiding his past as a soldier in embarrassment, only donning his uniform and medals when he attended anti-war protests and rallies. He became an active member of "Vietnam Veterans Against the War." During his time as a peace activist he became acquainted with known figures such as Abbie Hoffman, Ron Kovic and even John Kerry.

Eventually, the war in Vietnam finally ended in 1975. Along with it the hippie movement slowly died out. One by one, Frank's friends moved on and returned back to "normal life." For Frank however, he had sunk too deep and there was no return for him. Over the course of the next few decades he continued to wander around America, rarely settling down in one place for longer than a year or two. Furthermore, the near daily abusing of drugs slowly fried his brain and today he's slow and paranoid.

Where ever he goes on his Volkswagen Type 2 (Which has flowers painted all over!), he preaches about how we should all preserve the nature and love each other. While most people laugh at this lunatic with the tinfoil hat and conspiracy theories, he tends to be well liked as a kind person.

One day, he ended up in a town called Point Ridge in Vermont. Starting to seriously lack resources he decided to settle down for a while and get a job. To be specific, as a janitor at Hammel Institute.

See Richard McAuliffe!

Name: Viking.
Age: 19 next month.
Experience: Can't remember. Been at Hammel for a month or so.
How Did You Find Us? I have another character.
Ready To Play? mhm.