Stevie is not a born warrior, he is nothing like the Punisher, the young Frank Castle, in love with war. He just wants to go home, to have a family and to live his life far away from the war mistake.
He is a young idealistic man who believes in a true and great America, not the warrior America.
He does not hesistate to fight for the life of his friend Angel, when he is in trouble with heroin and the drug dealer Coltrane on the base.
Stevie witnesses Castle’s second murder of McDonald, the rapist. It makes him very scared of his captain whereas Castle opens up to him, saying he doesn’t have to be scared, explaining him that he only wanted to punish McDonald for what he had done. He also tells him about his family and his life in America.
Goodwin dies during the final attack on the base, dreaming he takes a plane back home. He dies smiling.