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 ...
Wishing I could meet the gunny downrange...
ping
The irony about Ermey is that he wasn’t actually a “Gunny” when he was a Marine—he retired as a Staff Sergeant, but I think he was a DI at one point. He was awarded a retroactive promotion to Gunnery Sergeant for his work with the troops and generally being a “face” of the USMC. Now that takes nothing away from the fact that he’s basically an American icon now. Heck, who can’t quote a few choice lines from FMJ every now and then? Ermey’s portrayal of Hartmann was amazing...more than just a profanity-spewing psycho, you can tell that he cares about his recruits and that he’s trying to get them ready to be the best Marines he can be.
}:-)4
He doesn’t do mail call anymore. The new show is called Lock-N-Load. Ck. it out.
Bump for later
He was a DI near the time period that I went through boot camp. The first time I saw FMJ and he began his spiel I closed my eyes and could clearly see my primary DI in my mind doing and saying some of the same things.
My personal favorite:
"Private Pyle you had best square your a** away and start sh****ing me Tiffany cufflinks or I will definitely f*** you up!"
I loved him firing a 76mm from a ww2 hellcat into a car.
If not for Ermey’s stellar acting in FMJ, I’d say the movie’s completely overrated. But, his acting is worth the viewing...well, at least the first half. The second half is painfully bad, imho. Ermey has done quite a few other movies as well.
its on friday nights at 21:00
I wish I had his job. His new show is great.
"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."
Hope the interview turns out better than the movie.
Gunny is good. Have enjoyed his TV series and movies.
Thanks for the ping, MrEdd!
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