For the Marines.

[dep_baumy]

Have any of you Marines ever served with or got to meet R. Lee Ermey?

[Seeley]

My SMI got to see the first screening of FMJ with R. Lee Ermey. He has an autographed picture of the barracks scene from FMJ. Ermey paid for my SMI's entire platoon's dinner and travel out of his own pocket. Says he sat down and talked with him for a while at the dinner and he's a really nice guy.

[yellowwing]

I think his best line in that movie was, "to me you're all equally worthless!" It's bizzarre that to Marine's the first half of FMJ is a comedy. :D

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

You mean not everyone sees the comedy in the boot camp seens of Full Metal Jacket?

[Sixguns]

I met R. Lee Irmy at MCRD San Diego in May 2002. I just happened to be there when he was made an "honorary" gunnery sergeant. I shook his hand after the morning colors ceremony. I have mixed feelings about his "honorary" appointment to gunnery sergeant, but he is a good man.

Sixguns

[namgrunt]

I wish I had met "Gunny" R. Lee Ermey. He tickles the s*** out of me. Before his performance in FMJ, the only half accurate depiction of Boot Camp and Drill Instructors, was by Jack Webb, in "The D.I." Webb had actually filled that billet at P.I. in real life. However, he couldn't use the actual colorful language, nor be shown physically striking a recruit, back in the 1950's. There was no such restriction in Full Metal Jacket.

R. Lee Ermey's D.I. portrayal -IS- the most accurate one to have emerged from Hollywood, bar none. He reprised the same role several years ago, in a now defunct Sci-Fi TV series titled "Space: Above and Beyond". He trained Space Marines, for both ground and winged combat, against invading ET alien hordes. I'm tempted to order one of his "motivational guide" action figures, just for chuckles. He has quite an extensive filmography, including the role of President of the United States. Think about that!

I hope he lives to be a hundred, and stays as crusty as he is now.

namgrunt

[DanBO]

I just this last weekend had the privilage of meeting the Gunny at the Classic Auto Show in Chicago. Stood in line for three hours just to get to shake his hand and get His autograph. Great Guy!!! Took the time to talk to everyone in line, didn't just sign pictures like most of the big name people do.

"Semper Fi Mac"

[Super Dave]

For Christmas my daughter, a Marine, gave me an autographed picture of him and a picture of her with him..a GREAT gift!!

Ohh Rahh

[Soon2BkidTx]

GySgt Ermy.....Im a 0621 for Delta Co Tracks....29 palms, Ca....Gy was suppose to come to 29 to view our tracks for cax, but he instead went to Camp Pendleton to report them on floats.....but he everywhere and know everythings....for Marines and Poolees, he is a great role model....knowledge is power Devil Dogs....so in PFT and Rifle Score....OOHRAH

[Das Behaelter]

I would have gone to 29 Stumps to see that.

Have you seen his series "Mail Call" on the Sci Fi channel?

[USMC-FO]

I watch FMJ several times a year just for the hoots in the first half of the film. Ermy WAS my PI experience in 62. I love it and just howl with laughter--at least up to the point "Pvt Pyle" shoots Gunny Hartman.

I would have loved to see Pyle, "animal mother" and the gunny all hunkered down in a fighting hole "takin care o business" That would have been an interesting twist on the film.

[TracGunny]

I missed the episode where he was given "honorary" status as a Gunny; can anyone give me the skinny on that? No problem with his using the honorary title from my end, I can think of worse (actual and implied) "role models."

[dep_baumy]

"have you seen his series "Mail Call" on the Sci Fi channel?"



Sir dont you mean on the history channel?

[mrbeeans]

i met him at soi in oceanside san diego and got his autograph. he a cool son of a *****. he loves to meet any marines. he just like he is on his show.

[MAJMike]

Sooo...this has been bothering for a while - "Gunny" Ermy was a Staff Sergeant in the Corps, isn't that correct?

What the h*ll is wrong with being "Staff Sergeant Ermy" or "Sergeant Ermy" on Mail Call? Why does he need to be an honorary "Gunny?" Seems to me that being a Staff Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps ought to be a good enough title for just about any one, right?

I'm sure the Staff Sergeants on this forum would agree with me.

And what about the gunnys checking in here - are you p*ssed that he got his second rocker "honorarily" and you earned yours?

Your thoughts are appreciated, gentlemen.

[USMC-FO]

Nothing at all wrong with being a Staff Sgt. The 'honorary' second rocker was passed on as an obvious bow to his role as "GySgt Hartman" in FMJ. I am sure had that role been ID'd as a Staff Sgt slot we'd be hearing nothing of all this today. 99.9% of the world has never known him as anything but "The Gunny".

Semper Fi !

[jdfairman]

I have mixed feelings on the subject myself sir. He has contributed to the Corps' image in a good way, so I could see presenting him with a prestigous award. However, I'm not sure that an honorary appointment to GySgt is in order.
I am relieved that it went to someone who is a Marine who performed his job well while active. When Jim Nabors was given the honorary title of LCpl, I was a little disappointed.

[TracGunny]

And what about the gunnys checking in here - are you p*ssed that he got his second rocker "honorarily" and you earned yours? No problem here; as I said, I have seen worse "role models" wearing the second rocker in Hollyweird AND in the Corps. His bio (historychannel.com) says he is a 'Nam Vet and was medically discharged... yup, here we go again, okay "Gunny,” break out the service record...

Honorary is just that; honorary. I kind of look at it the same way I look at the title Marine being bestowed honorarily upon civilians, usually through the Make a Wish Foundation or other worthy charitable organizations (apples to oranges?). As long as the “Gunny” upholds traditions and maintains an honorable image, I am willing to go along.

I do not endorse a “blank check” to pass out honorariums to anybody and everybody, this idea I will have to take on a case-by-case basis.

I have serious doubts that the "appointment" will ever make it into his OMR, or will affect his medical retirement pension (if he draws one).

[namgrunt]

Maj. Mike
Sir! There no disgrace being a SSgt., or a clean sleeve private, for that fact. Such as they have earned the CMH in our Corps' history. I'm just an E5, but I've had folks where I used to work call me Gunny when they discovered I was a Marine (inactive). I believe it was because of my carriage and demeanor. My loud voice may have helped. I corrected their mistake, but smiled inside when they assumed I was a Gunny. In my estimation, Gunnery Sergeant E7 is the quintessential Marine rank. None of the other branches of the service have that name for their equivalent E7 rank in heirarchy. It IS Marine all the way.

SSgt. Ermey is one of the most publicly recognized persons connected to the image of the Corps. Inasmuch as he is still contributing to our cause of highlighting Marines, I have no problem with him being "honorarily" promoted to that revered rank, Gunnery Sergeant. Besides, he is a riot.

namgrunt
Javier Cascos
Sgt E5, USMC - Inactive ...Sir!:marine:

[jfreas]

It is my understanding that CMC made him an Honorary Gunny. Saw him on the AVA awards the other night and he was only wearing two hash marks, and with Gunny chevrons damn that looked funny.

[tophor]

Yes, R.Lee Ermy was a SSgt when he got out of the CORPS, he was given GySgt Honorary, I saw the promotion on the History some time ago, when he pinned on Gunny at MCRDSD by I belive the Comandant himself.

[Sixguns]

Major,

I think it was some type of PR move. As a former Public Affairs Marine I do not think he deserved a promotion. He was given a promotion based on his contributions to the Marine Corps through his roles and characters in Hollywood. Boys of Company C, Firebase Gloria, Full Metal Jacket, Mail Call et al. He is given the priveledge and courtesies associated with the rank of gunnery sergeant, which I think is a slap in the face to everyone who remained on active duty long enough to earn that promotion, whether regular or meritoriously. I never earned that rank. Should I ask CMC to promote me when I earn my first million? or become the head of a large corporation? Or make a few movies? Don't get me wrong, I like the guy. I just think we should not compromise the rank, the promotion system and the honor of the position by giving it away in the manner in which it was. It would be the same as making someone an honorary Marine (which I have heard has happened). If we bestow our title on anyone who has not completed our rite of passage, we are degrading the title Marine. All it says is if you are wealthy enough, popular enough or know the right people, we can still give you the title. Is that what we want America to believe? Anyone can become a Marine or get the title? I THINK NOT!!!!

Sixguns

[TracGunny]

It would be the same as making someone an honorary Marine (which I have heard has happened). Sixguns, FYI:

http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12522

This still doesn't explain the giving of honorary promotions; I'm still searching....

[usmc4669]

Damn it took me 20 years to make Gunny.LOL

[Toby M]

I wasn't in long enough to make Gunny but R.Lee Ermey has been nothing but a positive influence for the Marine Corps so I say Yes, by-all-means, represent the Marine Corps that we all love and care about so much. He is a national figure and has been nothing but exemplary in his actions. At least he hasn't gone to an island for t.v...

[Keth]

I have always admired GySgt Ermy. I think that a promotion for him was not a bad idea. I'm sure if he had not been medically discharged that he would have gotten the rank. Don't get me wrong I also admire all the Gunnys that have earned the rank too. I only hope that I can someday attain that rank if I stay in long enough. It takes a lot of work.

[Super Dave]

I'm going to be meeting Gunny and having lunch with him this Sunday 2/15..ohhhh rahhhhh