Mark Wilkins was a former U.S. Army soldier, Vietnam War veteran and security guard employed by the SCUTUM Security Service in Raccoon City. He was married and had a teenage son, who he had a strained relationship with due to being unable to "connect" with him. He was a tall and strong individual, his strength mostly deriving from his time as a soldier.
History
Vietnam War (c. 1964-1973)
At some point as a young man, Wilkins became a soldier in the U.S. Army and was deployed to Vietnam as part of the U.S. invasion force sent to South Vietnam to protect it from the North. During the war he witnessed many atrocities, including the use of napalm gel. He gained a wide variety of military skills, and his training and experience shaped him into a strong, military-minded individual. However, he also viewed his experiences in the war with regret and cynicism.
After returning from the war, Wilkins led a family life in Raccoon City and became employed as a security guard of the SCUTUM Security Service.
Raccoon City Destruction Incident (Sep. 23-Oct.1, 1998)
On September 24, 1998, Wilkins casually went to J's Bar after work for a meal alongside fellow security guard and close friend, Bob. At that time, he was caught up in the t-virus outbreak. He noticed Bob becoming weak and collapsing, and became worried for his well-being. As Zombie creatures attempted to break into the bar, Wilkins led Bob up to the roof in an attempt to get to safety. There, Bob acknowledged that he was becoming a Zombie, and Wilkins witnessed his death. Teaming up with other survivors that he met in the bar, he attempted to try and escape the doomed city. His experience as a war veteran allowed him to survive in the chaos of the city, and he also began to refer to the other survivors he was grouped with as "unit", "platoon", or "recon team", although being forced to participate in a similar survival situation to his time in the Vietnam War left him jaded. His family were out of town during the incident.