“You can’t handle the truth!” – the line that echoed through theaters and cemented A Few Good Men (1992) as a Hollywood classic. But behind the sharp uniforms and courtroom tension lies a real story far darker than what is portrayed on screen. In 1986, a Marine was brutally hazed by his unit at Guantanamo Bay – an act that sparked a court-martial and inspired Aaron Sorkin’s legendary script. The film captivated audiences with its star-studded cast – Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore, Kevin Bacon – but for one of the real Marines involved, the story didn’t end with the credits. Years later, David Cox – a decorated Marine and the man whose experience helped shape the movie – was found murdered in a remote area outside Boston. This episode explores the origin of A Few Good Men (1992), the aftermath, and the unsolved murder of a man beloved by so many.

Primary Sources:

• Baltimore Sun (1994)
• Variety (1994)
• Unsolved Mysteries, Season 8, Episode 15 (1996)
• New York Times (2011)
• Boston 25 News (2014)
• The Mystery of David Cox (2017)
• The Atlanta Journal Constitution (2019)
• Ranker (2024)

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Theme: DARKNESS (feat. EdKara) by Ghost148