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R. Lee Ermey
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鈥樷�橸ou can take a man out of the Corps, but you can’t take the Corps out of the man.鈥欌��  R. Lee Ermey

Top 10 Amazing Facts about R. Lee Ermey

Ronald Lee Ermey was an American actor and Marine drill instructor. He acted as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in the 1987 film Full Metal Jacket. His role there-in earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Lee was born on 24th March 1944 in Emporia, Kansas. His parents were John Edward and Betty Ermey. He had five brothers. They were raised on a farm outside Kansas City in Kansas, but the family moved to Zillah in Washington when Lee was 14.

Here are 10 facts about him.

1. A Choice Between Jail and Military

Lee didn鈥檛 graduate from high school. As a teenager, he was a troublemaker and often clashed with the authorities. After his second arrest at the age of 17, a judge gave him a choice between the military and jail. He chose the military.

On court order, the Marines took him. He was very athletic because he grew up doing hard work on the farm.

2. He Was a Real Marine Corp

Members of the advanced infantry training battalion fire from a vehicle-mounted, MK-19 grenade launcher Photo By US Marines –

Lee doesn鈥檛 just act as a marine, he is one. In 1961, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and went through recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California.

After his pass out, he served in the aviation support field. After which he worked in different posts including a tour as a drill instructor and 14 months in Vietnam.

It is in Okinawa, Japan, where after two tours he was promoted to the rank of United States Marine Corps Staff Sergeant. In 1972, he was medically retired for injuries he received during his service. He was in the Marines for 11 years.

3. Owning a Bar and Fleeing from Japan

After being discharged from the Marines, he remained in Okinawa and bought a run-down bar and brothel. He gave the servicemen on the island an 鈥渉onorary membership鈥� if they helped him renovate the run-down building.

Lee caught the attention of the Okinawan FBI because most of his business came from the 鈥渂lack market.鈥� He was forced to leave his business behind and flee to the Philippines.

While in the Philippines he enrolled in the University of Manila, where he studied Criminology and Drama. A lot of Vietnam War films were being filmed in that country at that time, so he was able to get involved as a military technical advisor.

 4. Family

Lee married his first wife Dolores M Janshen in 1962. Their marriage did not work, and they divorce in 1969. Together they had two children.

While in the Philippines, he met and married his wife Marianila (Nila)in 1975. With Nila, he had four daughters and nine grandchildren. He was a devoted family man who was married to his wife till his death in April 2018. 

5. Full Metal Jacket

All these rounds are full metal jacketed projectiles. Photo by unknown-

Full Metal Jacket is a 1987 war drama film directed and produced by Stanley Kubrick. The story is about a platoon of U.S. Marines. It follows them through their boot camp training primarily focusing on two privates nicknamed Joker and Pyle. They struggle under their abusive drill instructor Gunnery Sergeant Hartman played by Lee Ermey.

The film creates a very disturbing and “real” picture of the Vietnam War and the film’s title refers to the full metal jacket bullet used by military servicemen. The film was shot in England and not Vietnam.

Initially, Lee wasn鈥檛 intended to be an actor in the film. He was hired as a technical advisor for the actor who was to play the drill instructor. Having understood his assignment, he did such a good job at it that he was hired for the part.

Interestingly, Lee wrote the 150 pages of insults he hurled at the Marines in the film. It is his role in this film that had him nominated for a Golden Globe. He won the best supporting actor award from The Boston Society of Film Critics.

6. Broken Ribs

Lee was involved in a jeep accident during the making of the Full Metal Jacket. At 1:00 am one morning, he skidded off the road, breaking all the ribs on his left side. In some scenes in the movie, he does not move his left arm at all.

He has acted in many more films, television shows, video games and commercials over the years.

7. Awards and Decorations

Lee earned awards and decorations for his service. His U.S. Marine Corps awards and decorations include Meritorious Unit Commendation, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with bronze service star, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device, Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Good Conduct Medal with two bronze service stars, Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar, and Sharpshooter Badge with Pistol Bar.

8. Promoted After Retirement

Actor and Marine Corps icon Gunnery Sgt. R. Lee Ermey speaks to Marines and sailors aboard the USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) in the Arabian Gulf in 2008. Ermey visited the USS Iwo Jima as a Moral, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) event for deployed troops during the holiday season. Photo By U.S. Marine Corps

On May 17, 2002, Ermey received an honorary post-service promotion to gunnery sergeant (E-7) from the Commandant of the Marine Corps General James L. Jones in recognition of his continuous support to Americans in military service.

He did motivational speaking for the troops and visited numerous bases. He also worked closely with charities, such as Toys for Tots, as well as helping veterans in need.

It was the first and only time the Corps has promoted a retiree. (E-7) is the rank he became so well-known for over the years.

9. Killing Wildlife in Africa

While African lions are not considered an endangered species, their numbers continue to decline from various human threats, including trophy hunting that claims the lives of hundreds of lions each year.

Lee sparked outrage after posting photos of lions he shot. The gun-toting actor proudly posed by the bodies of two lions, a male and female, gunned down in an African hunt. He boasted of killing Cape buffalo, lion, lioness, and wildebeest on earlier trips.

10. Death and a Funeral 8 Months Later

Arlington National Cemetery Photo By Dudva –

Lee died on 15^th April 2019 at a hospital in Santa Monica, California. The cause of death was pneumonia-related complications. He was 74 years old. His funeral was held in Arlington National Cemetery on Friday 18th January 2019, eight months after his death.

His burial at Arlington was delayed due to the backlog of funeral services there. The number of eligible veterans to be buried there is so great that even a veteran of his stature, a Vietnam War-era Marine, must wait several months before he is buried.