R Lee Ermey "Gunny" passed away!!

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I always liked Ermey, he was the best thing about FMJ, and "Mail Call" was always highly entertaining.
I had two Marine uncles (Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa between them) who thought Ermey was great but the idea of an "honorary" Gunnery Sergeant never sat well with them. They said it never would have happened in the Old Corps. :cuss::D
 
Tinpig said:
I always liked Ermey, he was the best thing about FMJ, and "Mail Call" was always highly entertaining.
I had two Marine uncles (Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa between them) who thought Ermey was great but the idea of an "honorary" Gunnery Sergeant never sat well with them. They said it never would have happened in the Old Corps. :cuss::D
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Most people don't know that. His last rank was a Staff Sgt. . The Gunny stripe was a honorary thing given by the Corps. If you do a WIKI you will also find he was NEVER in combat, he was assigned to a air wing, ( wing wiper.)EVERY Marine who was in combat gets a Combat Action Ribbon, I got mine 48 hours after landing on the Laotian border.

He was NEVER a actor who played someone else. He was someone who was himself and played HIMSELF in many rolls. He was truly one of a kind.
Semper Fi ,
Luger
 
GunnyUSMC said:
No problem. I kind of found it funny and I bet Gunny Ermey would have too.
Most people think of Full Metal Jacket when think of Movies and Gunny. But I have always like him in Siege At Firebase Gloria and Saving Silverman. He was hard in Siege at Firebase Gloria and Funny as hell in Saving Silverman.
Gunny was a true Marine down to the core. He loved God country and Corps. He was a man that stuck to his beliefs. I bet he hated Snowflakes and pillow huggers.
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He made an appearance in Michael J. Fox's "The Frighteners". He was a ghost with a machine gun. What a hoot! :D:thumbup:
 
Tommygunn said:
Oh ... sorta like John Wayne?:D
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Not exactly....JW never served and after the War it was said he felt guilty about it. Gunny Ermey was a Marine DI and deserves all the respect that entails even if he didn't actually have bullets fired in his direction. Many of us didn't...but for every active trigger puller there are perhaps 15-20 support people in the background making it possible. The bullets don't get to the front, nor do the aircraft fix and maintain themselves... and while those who have done the dirty work have my undying respect, the REMF's also deserve a little love.:) Semper-Fi Gunny.
 
RecoilRob said:
Not exactly....JW never served and after the War it was said he felt guilty about it. Gunny Ermey was a Marine DI and deserves all the respect that entails even if he didn't actually have bullets fired in his direction. Many of us didn't...but for every active trigger puller there are perhaps 15-20 support people in the background making it possible. The bullets don't get to the front, nor do the aircraft fix and maintain themselves... and while those who have done the dirty work have my undying respect, the REMF's also deserve a little love.:) Semper-Fi Gunny.
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Okay, but I was thinking not so much about military service history, I was thinking about Ermey playing himself as different characters in various movies. Wayne also has been said (by some) as being, John Wayne cowboy in some movies, John Wayne fighter pilot in others, and John Wayne marine/soldier/Green Beret in yet others. In short, various "tough guys." Not a bad thing ... just perhaps a bit.... narrow.
BTW, I love his movies, and I'm not trying to be critical, just real.
 
As one that has seen the elephant I have never had a problem with REMF’s. They were the guys in the rear with the gear, where everyone else would have liked to be.
Ermey was only a Staff Sargent, but that in itself is a great accomplishment. He played the part as Gunny and did an outstanding job. He will always be remembered as Gunny.
 
lemaymiami said:
Didn't know he was "black balled by Hollywood".. if so, that was an honor we can all aspire to.

Back in 1971 I was at Dong Ha - after the marines had left and it was a very lonely feeling...
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My old grounds. Dong Ha, Quang Tri, Cam Lo, Qua Viet, Witches t*t, Vandergrift Fire Base. 68-70
 
What a neat guy. Stands out among celebrities, like Charlton Heston and Kevin Sorbo.

He got out before the S finally HTF. I don't envy young people in America, except when I pick up my reading glasses.
 
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