Don Draper’s 7 Best And 7 Worst Mad Men Scenes Ranked

Dick Whitman was never meant to be a solider. In the flashbacks we see of his time in Korea in Season 1’s “Nixon vs. Kennedy,” he’s terrified and bumbling, to the point that he drops a lighter. This mistake causes an explosion that kills his superior officer, Donald Draper (Troy Ruptash). While this is obviously an accident, what follows is not. Dick switches dog tags with the dead man, essentially swapping identities, and takes Don Draper’s place. Soon after, he’s sent home.

This is the defining moment of the former Dick Whitman’s life. It cements the lie that becomes who he is, leading to so many other tragedies, triumphs, and trials. The anguish he causes Anna Draper (Melinda Hamilton), though they eventually become close, is indefensible. He also creates a life for himself that requires he continually deceive his wife, children, and co-workers. In one impulsive moment, he ensures he will never feel completely safe or comfortable for many, many years to come.