Talk:R. Lee Ermey

Old comments

As of July 2010, Ermey is appearing in a Gieco insurance commercial as a Drill Instructor turned psychologist.

On the new Ministry (band) album "Rio Grande Blood" track 3 contains a voice that sounds very much like R. Lee Ermey. The CD sites "Sgt. Major" as the voice so I am unsure as to whether or not Mr. Ermey should be credited. Thoughts or confirmations? NezzerX 19:30, 16 May 2006 (UTC)

Excellent observation NezzerX, I visited several forums for the band and that is indeed Ermey's voice. --Theelectricchild 17:24, 21 May 2006 (UTC)

• As a side note, Ermey's "You will not kill!" from Full Metal Jacket is sampled in Ministry's song "Thieves." Willbyr (talk | contribs) 16:02, 25 May 2006 (UTC)

• Also (FWIW) just about everything he says in that movie has been sampled by Combichrist and Grendel. 00:02, 10 March 2007 (UTC)

someone said the 30 cal is a heavy machine gun in the page its not its a light machine gun. dont change it back because there is absoutly no way it can be classifed as a heavy mayby a meduim at best but defityl not a heavy. im taking the thing out/changing it

"Initially, he was only intended to be the technical advisor, but Kubrick changed his mind after putting together an instructional tape with Ermey, where Ermey went on an extended hair-raising DI tirade while being pelted by oranges and tennis balls, all without repeating himself, stopping, or even flinching."

Heh...I'd really like to see that video. ;-)

Why aren't all of his films listed in the filmography section? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.218.70.182 (talk) 04:22, 3 September 2007 (UTC)

Ermey's appearance in ACTION (1999)

It's worth noting that Ermey appeared in several episodes of the television series Action (1999), playing the grizzled veteran film director "Titus Scroad". In the series storyline, Scroad comes out of reclusion to direct a new action film being produced by the series lead "Peter Dragon", played by Jay Mohr. Scroad is said to have consumed every drug know to man over his long career, but ends up dead in a swimming pool before he can direct the film. One of his tics is to keep grabbing and squeezing men by the genitals, to see if they have "the balls" to get the job done.

Can some please add this listing to the main article? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Tony Ventresca (talk • contribs) 17:05, 1 November 2007 (UTC)

DI

I see this used twice in the article, and I have no idea what it means. Dxco (talk) 04:28, 15 December 2007 (UTC)

"Drill instructor". 67.87.115.207 (talk) 06:24, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

Ermey w/gun

I know there seems to be a mentality on Wikipedia that "If there's a free picture available, it should be used in the article." But we already have a decent free picture, and the user who has edited it into the article is putting it one of the worst possible positions. Show me any other decent article cramming the picture on the opposite side of the main one at the beginning.--CyberGhostface (talk) 19:57, 26 December 2007 (UTC)

• Must be your display; on my screen, it's in the middle of the article and quite unobtrusive. Regardless, the solution to an ill-placed photo to is to move it around, not to delete it without an edit summary. Moreover, it's a decent image. Deltabeignet (talk) 23:31, 29 December 2007 (UTC)
  • Its not a bad image (compared to the blurry crap that passes for free images) but its not necessary. With my browser, I can barely tell that its Ermey as he's wearing a huge helmet and he's looking downwards. There are probably much better images of Ermey with a gun that can be freely licensed than this one.--CyberGhostface (talk) 20:12, 1 January 2008 (UTC)
    • He's on board a C-130 SPECTRE gunship, which makes it a unique photo. 66.122.184.21 (talk) 21:35, 22 September 2010 (UTC)

Tupperware

Does anyone have a citation for this? Either Ermey has a sense of humor when taking on these assignments, or someone who is not a fan of Glock edited it in for laughs. Well, either that or it's a coincidence, but a Google only reveals articles that have copied this article. --Joffeloff (talk) 15:58, 13 January 2008 (UTC)

• I'd have to guess that you're correct and someone injected it as a reference to Glock as "Tactical Tupperware", reliable, accurate, and dishwasher safe. As such it should be removed, but ya gotta admit. It's humorous. Humorous, but harmful to Wikipedia. --Thistledowne (talk) 00:09, 21 October 2008 (UTC)

Honorary Promotion

If the Commandant promoted him (and I understand that Ermey was recalled to active duty for one day by the Commandant in order to be promoted), then he holds the ACTUAL permanent rank of Gunnery Sergeant. Also note in the picture in the table, Ermey is wearing the full uniform and rank of a USMC GnySgt. Wearing of the uniform without holding the rank would be a violation of both USMC regulations and federal law. MARINE CORPS ORDER P1400.32C Subj: MARINE CORPS PROMOTION MANUAL, VOLUME 2, ENLISTED PROMOTIONS (SHORT TITLE: MARCORPROMMAN, VOL 2, ENLPROM) 1203 5. There are no provisions to issue a temporary, honorary or probationary enlisted appointment. I have therefore amended the table. NDM (talk) 02:40, 14 October 2008 (UTC)

Staff NCO promotions (Staff Sergeant through Sergeant Major) are executed at the discretion of the Commandant of the Marine Corps. A Marine Corps Order (MCO, as you cited above) derives its authority from the Commandant as well. Basically, an MCO cannot overrule the Commandant, because the Commandant gives the MCO it's authority. Plain english: the Commandant can do what he wants, he could promote me to Sergeant Major tommorrow if he wanted to, there is nobody that can tell him "no," as far as enlisted promotions go.

Now, I don't have a reference here (I need to research this) but I beleive that GySgt Ermey was promoted by LtGen (at the time MajGen) Jan C. Huly at the time that he was in command of MCRD San Diego. Whether or not the promotion was approved by the Commandant, I'm not sure. Windyjarhead (talk) 04:59, 15 October 2008 (UTC)

This is certainly an interesting point. According to Ermey's website, which may or may not be written by Ermey: On May 17, 2002 he received an honorary promotion to Gunnery Sergeant (E-7) by Commandant James L. Jones, becoming the first retiree in the history of the Marines to be promoted.

I read somewhere that the Commandant actually called Ermey back to active duty for a single day to promote him. (I wish I could remember where I read this!) An honorary "promotion" would not require a return to active duty, but a legal, formal promotion would require a return to active duty, as persons on the retired list are by law not promotable. By the same standard, persons on active duty could not receive honorary promotions.

Other former Marines have received so-called honorary "promotions" (Jim Nabors has received two honorary promotions, but these were not done by the Commandant, and so would not be comparable to a promotion from the CMC himself...it seems that Gomer Pyle is now a full corporal!), but I have never seen pictures of anyone wearing the full uniform after having received such a PR promotion. Furthermore, the picture of Ermey in his dress uniform present in the wikiarticle which shows him wearing the rank of Gunnery Sgt. in the USMC base on Okinawa 4 years after his promotion would constitute a violation of 18 USC Sec. 702 if he were not truly authorized to wear the rank, and I doubt honorary "promotions" would count as "authorization". I also doubt that R. Lee is the kind of fellow who would knowingly dishonor the uniform of the USMC by breaking such a law.

In short, while I agree completely that CMC has great latitude in this regard, it would seem to me that any promotion by the CMC must carry full weight, especially when the servicemember receives it while on active duty. I guess the only thing that would settle this matter would be to see a copy of the order itself! I think we will need a platoon of lawyers to sort out the finer points here! Cheers! NDM (talk) 08:26, 21 December 2008 (UTC)

A deciding fact, if it could be ascertained, would be whether Ermey's retirement pay was increased to that of an E-7. If it were, it would be a material advancement and not merely 'honorary.' I do think that Ermey's wearing of two rockers suggests that this was an official, if unconventional, promotion.Solicitr (talk) 16:27, 16 November 2009 (UTC)

I think this interview might help clarify the issue: http://www.ugo.com/channels/filmtv/features/rleeermey/ Aldis90 (talk) 19:14, 29 April 2010 (UTC)

The "Early Life..." paragraph reads: "On May 17, 2002 he received an honorary promotion to Gunnery Sergeant (E-7) from Marine Corps Commandant James L. Jones in recognition of his role as Gunnery Sergeant Hartmann in the film Full Metal Jacket." Was the honorary promotion really for his GySgt Hartmann portrayal? Or for his acting in general, and things like his support of our troops via visits to deployed servicemen, and popularizing military history on Mail Call, etc... Reason I ask is that Full Metal Jacket does not portray the USMC in a positive light. I find it hard to believe they'd "promote" him for that one - after all, the Corps withdrew support for Eastwood's Heatbreak Ridge back in the 80s due to the language. Of course things have changed, and FMJ is a classic now, but still...?? Engr105th (talk) 23:50, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

I've changed the name of the Marine Corps Commandant from James Earl Jones (actor) to James L. Jones (Marine General) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.181.102.242 (talk) 07:52, 11 June 2009 (UTC)

Gay Scene

I was curious why there was only mention of his "manly" and "macho" achievements, and nothing of the one film where he acts as a homosexual and lip locks with another male character? 07:02, 22 August 2009 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by MPA (talk • contribs)

• Possibly because this is a biography and not a recap of every film role he's done. Niteshift36 (talk) 21:56, 19 September 2009 (UTC)

It could be listed under the films he has been in Beast and the Harlot (talk) 17:25, 1 December 2009 (UTC)

Appearing in the film "Life"

R. Lee Ermey appeared in the movie "Life" as the older sheriff that killed Winston Hancock (Clarence Williams III), which caused Ray (Eddie Murphy) and Claude (Martin Lawrence) to go to prison for life. Beast and the Harlot (talk) 17:25, 1 December 2009 (UTC)

Death

He's not dead, and this article keeps getting edited saying he is. 24.14.25.231 (talk) 16:48, 2 June 2010 (UTC)

Because a great many people are gullible or stupid or both. 64.184.254.54 (talk) 19:38, 11 June 2010 (UTC)

Retirement vs. Medical Discharge

I've been confused about the continual reference to R. Lee Ermey as 'retired'. He served from 1961 to 1972, at which time he was [discharged] for unnamed injuries. That's only 11 years. Retirement from the military requires a minimum of 20 years' active duty service or a combination of active duty and reserve service. —Preceding unsigned comment added by SeamusCraic (talk • contribs) 19:35, 25 June 2010 (UTC)

Untrue. A servicemember found by an medical examining board to have suffered a permanent 30% or greater disability is placed on medical retirement, with a pension determined based on the higher of two computations: Disability rating times retired pay base; or 2.5 x years of service x retired pay base. Solicitr (talk) 20:31, 2 October 2010 (UTC)

Decorations

The image of his decorations does not represent the service star that the paragraph says accompanys his Drill Instructor ribbon —Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.195.202.21 (talk) 22:37, 15 July 2010 (UTC)

You are correct, the decorations depicted do not match the text. The problem is that they are a static image File:ErmyMeds.jpg, instead of an editable block of ribbons and devices, like on Robin_Olds#Awards_and_decorations. This does need to be corrected. — MrDolomite • Talk 04:09, 16 July 2010 (UTC)

Also, why does the article state he has a Combat Action Ribbon (CAR) but it isn't displayed on him in his 2007 picture? The CAR is an award Marines are very proud of and if you don't wear it, you don't rate it. He has said he rates it but why doesn't he wear it? It would also be one of the last awards a Marine would forget to put on. I see his awards changed from the National Archive version here.--NortyNort (Holla) 13:23, 1 August 2010 (UTC)

I once reviewed Ermey's actual service record, circa 2002 for a Freedom of Information Act inquiry and he was never awarded the CAR according to his records. In fact, he was never in combat according to this records and was discharged becuase of a medical problem with his leg, if I remember correctly. Anyway, I'm pretty sure R. Lee Ermey isnt walking around telling people he earned ribbons that he didn't - I think this crept into the article somehow becuase there are a lot of people who spread stories about him that he was a decorated combat veteran. I've seen sites stating he has both the Purple Heart and Silver Star which clearly isnt true. -OberRanks (talk) 17:11, 2 August 2010 (UTC)

Ok, well I looked at the picture of him in his blues, the current ribbon stack .jpg and the one you originally created in 2005. By the way, I didn't pick up on your user name change and wrote on your talk page by accident. The article also lists 10 awards and the one missing from the current ribbon stack and which he is wearing is the Republic of Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation. I think at a minimum the CAR should be replaced with the Republic of Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation. Unless you still have his DD-214 around somewhere. --NortyNort (Holla) 22:51, 2 August 2010 (UTC)

Well, I'm going to clean up this awards issue soon unless someone a record proving otherwise. I can't find a single picture with him wearing a Combat Action Ribbon. The user who uploaded the current display has been active since 2005 and only made 9 edits. Wikipedia needs to be accurate.--NortyNort (Holla) 08:29, 14 August 2010 (UTC)

He doesn't have the Combat Action Ribbon per official records - the site that is cited for that information is very dubious and obviously a private website. He might have been retroactively awarded the Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation very recently (there have been a lot of retroactive unit awards in the USN and USMC since 2004) but even that is very questionable. The only retroactive award I know for certain that he is entitled to is the Drill Instructor Ribbon which didn't exist when he got out but was presented in later years after his fame in FMJ. -OberRanks (talk) 08:42, 14 August 2010 (UTC)

Thanks, now it makes sense. You really know your stuff. Ermey is a Marine that loves Marines and if I know them well, they would never wear something they don't rate.--NortyNort (Holla) 10:54, 14 August 2010 (UTC)

I know a little about medal etiquette, so here goes...He's not wearing the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Unit Citation (in gold frame), which he is entitled to, but he's wearing the individual medal for the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry. The Drill Instructor ribbon should be worn on his left, not right, but perhaps it can be worn on the right if medals are worn on the left. The Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation could have been awarded retroactively, but I thought it was awarded to American forces only in 1954. Perhaps it's the American Presidential Unit Citation (Navy/Marine Corps version) he should be wearing (his unit was awarded one). He may have been awarded a Vietnam Civil Actions medal. He should have more than one campaign star on his Vietnam Service Medal since he went in 1968 and served 14 months in Vietnam and there were 5 campaigns in 1968, each conferring a campaign star (there were 17 campaigns in the war altogether). He may have 3 or 4 campaign (battle) stars due him. If he was at Da Nang, they'd have been rocketed practically every day. Da Nang was known as "Rocket Alley". He would have seen combat, maybe he met the requirements for a Combat Action Ribbon. I wonder what his Expeditionary Medal is for? A lot of awards aren't given until one has left one's unit or the service, so the DD-214 is not reliable. Medal etiquette is confusing, because it's so varied and differs from service to service. Interesting note: medal collectors can acquire the actual Crimean War Medals with the Balaclava clasp awarded to members of The Charge of the Light Brigade. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.122.184.21 (talk) 22:10, 22 September 2010 (UTC)

Edit request from Chandraalmond, 23 July 2010

{{editsemiprotected}} |Scrubs ||"A Man" (Janitor's father) ||guest star
episode "My Old Man"
TV series Chandraalmond (talk) 19:50, 23 July 2010 (UTC)

Sorry, I don't quite understand; but anyway;

Requests to edit semi-protected articles must be accompanied by reference(s) to reliable sources. If you can supply such a reference, please reinstate your request. Thanks,  Chzz  ►  02:34, 27 July 2010 (UTC)

 Not done

GEICO commercial?

Is it noteworthy enough or at all, to note Ermey's role in a recent GEICO ad currently on TV where Ermey plays a former drill instructor who "makes a terrible psychologist"? Only wondering.98.209.57.0 (talk) 14:45, 3 August 2010 (UTC)

The ad is certainly a minor classic (though I wish he actually hit the patient with the Kleenex box) and this seems worth mentioning. WilliamSommerwerck (talk) 12:41, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

What's going on in his mind?

Politically left-of-center Marines are uncommon (John Glenn being a rare example), and Ermey seems well-right of center. But it seems odd he's willing to appear in films that don't portray the armed forces positively. Is there an "official" interview anywhere that would shed light on his personality and values? The article also says nothing about his marital status. Though he's referred (possibly jokingly) to "Mrs. Gunny", the ring on the third finger of his left hand seems like a weapon designed to break jaws. WilliamSommerwerck (talk) 12:41, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

imdb says "Has four children with wife Nila and two daughters from a previous marriage. Has nine grandchildren."[1] -- Bovineone (talk) 22:15, 30 August 2010 (UTC)