Oliver Stone is one of the most successful and respected directors in Hollywood. He has won multiple Academy Awards, directed numerous blockbuster films, and written some of the most famous scripts in movie history. But so many creative people draw on very real experiences to bring us the art we love so much. Stone is definitely one such person.
A Vietnam veteran, Stone enlisted in the United States Army in 1967 and specifically requested combat duty. During his service, he was wounded twice in battle and was awarded a large number of medals and honors, including a Purple Heart. Stone used his wartime experience to write and direct the 1986 anti-war film, Platoon, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Sound, and Best Film Editing. Stone also won the award for Best Director.