Posted on 08/24/2009 1:47:27 PM PDT by greatdefender
Vietnam Vet, Actor and Morale Booster As part of a group of online journalists and bloggers on BlogTalkRadio, I was able to participate in a DOD "bloggers roundtable" discussion with R. Lee Ermey, the legendary Vietnam veteran and actor that played the drill sergeant in the movie Full Metal Jacket.
Ermey has received multiple military decorations for his service in the Marine Corps to include the Combat Action Ribbon for his Vietnam service. A retired Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant or "Gunny", Ermey's morale trips to combat zones often draw huge lines of service members. This year,Ermey hopes to travel to Afghanistan.
Here are some of the best excerpts from the roundtable discussion and interview questions.
When asked about his morale efforts, Ermey said, "I try to get over to Iraq and Afghanistan as much as I can. I've been to Iraq 4 times and Afghanistan 2 times. The plan is to distribute presents in Afghanistan this Christmas. For me, it's an honor for the military to ask me to go to Iraq, Afghanistan, or GITMO. I'm happy to go."
"We'll never get to the point where we don't need that grunt in the field," stated Ermey in response to a question regarding technology on the battlefield. "When we get weapons, the bad guys figure out how to defeat those weapons. It's always going to be dangerous."
(Excerpt) Read more at associatedcontent.com ...
Great article to say the least.
Drill Instructor not Drill Sergeant.
A retired Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant or "Gunny"(sic),
Incorrect. Ermey is a retired Staff Sergeant. Jones made him an honorary Gunny in May of 2002 for PR purposes; ala "Gomer Pyle" being promoted to L/CPL in August of 2001, but his monthly disability check is based on the rank of Staff Sergeant not Gunnery Sergeant.
Incorrect. Jones made Ermey and honorary Gunny as a PR move. Nothing retroactive about a meaningless honorary "promotion".
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