Holocaust victim

Ronald Lee Ermey enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1961 at age 17. He went through recruit training at MCRD San Diego and initially served in the aviation support field.

In 1965, he became a Marine Corps Drill Instructor with India Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, MCRD San Diego, serving on the drill field for about two years. That experience would eventually make him famous decades later.

He subsequently served with Marine Wing Support Group 17 on Okinawa and deployed to Vietnam in 1968, spending approximately 14 months in-country. He later returned to Okinawa and advanced to Staff Sergeant, E-6.

Unfortunately, injuries he suffered during his service eventually forced him out of the Corps. He was medically retired in 1971/1972 as a Staff Sergeant. Marine Corps sources generally describe the retirement as occurring in 1972, while Ermey's own biography lists 1971.

May 17, 2002, Ermey had become famous worldwide for playing Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Full Metal Jacket. But the Marine Corps recognized that his relationship with the Corps went far beyond acting.

On May 17, 2002, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James L. Jones presented Ermey with an honorary promotion to Gunnery Sergeant (E-7).

It was extraordinary because Ermey became the first Marine retiree in the history of the Corps to receive such a promotion.

The Marine Corps' own article described him as having been “recently honorably promoted to gunnery sergeant” and noted that he continued dedicating himself to the Corps even after medical retirement.

And Ermey himself had a great attitude about it. He reportedly didn't consider himself finished with the Marine Corps. He joked that he didn't put “RET” after his name, instead calling himself:

“Gunnery Sgt. R. Lee Ermey (Very Active).”

One thing I think Marines will appreciate

He earned the respect of the Corps before Hollywood ever made him famous.

He had been a Marine, a Vietnam veteran, a Drill Instructor, and a Staff Sergeant before he ever put on the campaign cover and played Hartman.

April 15, 2018 — the day the Marine Corps lost one of its most recognizable voices.

“Gunny” Ermey died from complications of pneumonia at the age of 74.

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The Last Judicial Hanging in The United States

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