Did You Know These Behind-The-Scenes Facts About "Cast Away"?

Bubba and Forrest Were Placed Together Due to Low IQs

During the Vietnam War, the US Army allowed soldiers with low IQs to enlist, as long as they were all placed in the same unit together. In the original script, they kept this part of Bubba and Forrest's relationship historically accurate. However, since the film had been in production, the Army had discontinued this practice and didn't like how it was being depicted in the movie. So they cut it, and the script was changed so Forrest and Bubba were the only two soldiers with low IQs in the platoon.