R. L. Ermey: Lock and Load

I am enjoying the new series hosted by R. Lee Ermey on the History Channel. I saw two shows, the one with the chronological development of handguns and the chronology of tank development.

What disturbs me is that gunny, when firing these weapons or is with someone who is firing these weapons, sometimes wears eye protection, sometimes doesn't, and DOESN'T WEAR HEARING PROTECTION when he fired the handguns or the tanks or the cannons! I noticed the onsite owner/collectors always wore hearing protection, but old gunny did not with the handguns, tanks, or artillery pieces!

As a role model, he should be utilizing eye and ear protection, always.

He still seems to have optical acuity but I suspect he is experiencing audio degradation (mild to moderate hearing loss). I've read just being exposed to one gunshot without hearing protection is enough to damage the "hearing hairs" in our inner ear (cochlea).

Have other viewers of this program made similar observations?

Thomas:beerchug:

Yes, I frequently notice him with cartridge casings or cigarette butts in his ears. If nothing else, the producers should compel him to wear both eye and ear protection as an example to others.

R. Lee Ermey is an actor. A 'gunny' he wasn't. Staff SGt.

the corps did make him an honorary gunney

FWIW, he shot the JCG at the Nationals last year a couple of Points down from me on Viale and was wearing the same flesh-tone custom-made ear-plugs I do. Just because you don't see muffs or have hunks of yellow sponge-rubber sticking out of his ears doesn't mean he isn't wearing VERY effective hearing protection!

Let's not debase EVERY person who claims they won the Vietnam War. The Gunny is no Medal of Honor winner like John Kerry. But he DID SERVE his country more than a few months.

Here is a short bio of him...................


Full name: RONALD LEE ERMEY
Born: 24 March 1944, Emporia, Kansas, USA.
Service : United States Marine Corps 1961 - 1972
Rank: E-7 Honorary Gunnery Sergeant
Status: Retired



As a Golden Globe nominee and Boston Society of Film Critics Award-winner for Best Supporting Actor in director Stanley Kubrick's "Full Metal Jacket (1987)", R. Lee Ermey is one of the most successful and talented actors working in film and television today.

His numerous roles in feature film include: "Switchback (1997)", starring opposite Dennis Quaid and Danny Glover, "Seven (1995)", "Leaving Las Vegas (1995)", "Murder In The First (1995)", "Life (1999)", "The Frighteners (1996)" and "Sommersby (1993)" as well as his critically acclaimed role opposite Jared Leto in "Prefontaine (1997)". He continues doing numerous voice over roles which span from "The Simpsons" to "Toy Story (1995)" and "Toy Story 2 (1999)".

Ermey spent eleven years in the Marine Corps, Two of which were spent as being a Drill Instructor at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, India Company 3rd Recruit Training Battalion 1965-67, Arrived in Vietnam in 1968 spending 14 months attached to Marine Wing Support Group 17 and 2 tours in Okinawa. He rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant and was medically retired for injuries received. 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. Using G.I. Bill benefits, Ermey enrolled at the University of Manila in the Philippines, where he studied drama. Francis Ford Coppola was filming "Apocalypse Now (1979)" in the area and cast Ermey in a featured role. He has since gone on to star or appear in approximately sixty films.

Ermey is no stranger to prestigious television either. He has starred in numerous telefilms including HBO’s "Weapons Of Mass Distraction (1997)", TNT’s "Rough Riders (1997)", and TNT’s "You Know My Name (1999)", starring Sam Elliot, as well as Showtime’s "The Apartment Complex (1999)".

Recently, Lee starred with Elizabeth Pena in the feature "On the Borderline (2001)". Just before that, Lee was in the feature film "Skipped Parts (2000)", with Jennifer Jason Leigh and Drew Barrymore. He also had a recurring role on FOX’s critically acclaimed "Action", starring Jay Mohr and Illeana Douglas.

Watch Lee each week on his NEW show, LOCK N' LOAD on History. Lee most recently starred in "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006)". Lee has appeared opposite Jeff Bridges in "Scenes of The Crime (2001)", Harvey Keitel in "Taking Sides (2001)" and Crispin Glover in "Willard (2003)".

And, it looks like he shot a respectable 259-1 in the 2009 Garand Match last Saturday. http://clubs.odcmp.com/cgi-bin/repor...rdID=2&alpha=Y

I funny it strange how quickly we are too savage our own. Perhaps we should be supporting and protecting one another.

Don't get me wrong I'm not suggesting that we blindly give every conservative a free pass for any crime they commit, but it would seem sometimes we go overboard critizing ourselves just to prove how noble we are.

Where the left and the anti's remind one of a cat in a litter box.

KTK

Ken, where did this come from??? Nobody has savaged anyone here. A very good point was brought up about the merits of hearing and eye protection and some information about the man. You turned it into a conservitive/left issue. I do not want to see this again.

Lee is a great guy. A little hard of hearing as you might figure but a great guy. I also think he should wear hearing and eye protection on camera.

At the 2003 MVPA convention in Alameda, CA he and one of the shows producers, Rob Lehaney (spelling), had a History Channel display complete with the History Channel jeep that is owned by Rob. He kicked it with us most of the day while we showed him all the different military vehicles that were there. Very down to earth, very friendly. That is the hood of my jeep and my g503.com sign board he is autographing. He wanted to do the under side of my jeep hood but I said no thanks. I wish I would have let him do it now. My son Jeffrey is kneeling down next to Lee.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...g503sign-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...3rleg503-1.jpg

If I remember correctly, Ermey was the helicopter pilot during the attack on the village so they could surf.

Forgot to add, as if you didn't know, that was "Apocalypse Now" I was referring to

In "Apocalypse Now" that is

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ken The Kanuck

I funny it strange how quickly we are too savage our own. Perhaps we should be supporting and protecting one another.

Don't get me wrong I'm not suggesting that we blindly give every conservative a free pass for any crime they commit, but it would seem sometimes we go overboard critizing ourselves just to prove how noble we are.

Where the left and the anti's remind one of a cat in a litter box.

KTK

Ken, where did this come from??? Nobody has savaged anyone here. A very good point was brought up about the merits of hearing and eye protection and some information about the man. You turned it into a conservitive/left issue. I do not want to see this again.

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Bill,

Obviously you missed the intend of what I wrote. Let me try to explain it in a different way.

Why do we ( the pro-gun folks, conservative in the majority ) find it nessecary to be critical of others who share our passion? The initial post was critical of the man for not wearing eye/ear protection. Why do we need to be critical? As someone else pointed out they wear flesh coloured ear protectors.

So back to my point, " Lets be less critical of one another ".

But you Sir, have demostrated by your statement in red, especially the dictatorial " I do not want to see this again ". That no opposing views will be tolerated.

So since I believe in treating other with more respect, rather than less I will not let the screen door hit me in the ***.

KTK

Let's all keep a cool head now. This ain't the Politics page. Here no one runs anybody off.

I was going to correct the original post because, as I have told I am a very observant person, the Gunny DOES wear hearing protection. I looked for it, especially when he was firing those 105's out of that tank.

In looking up that bio of the Gunny, when I came back I clean forgot to support the fact that he does wear hearing protection.

So, it's all MY FAULT. Go ahead. Run ME off.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kirk

And, it looks like he shot a respectable 259-1 in the 2009 Garand Match last Saturday. http://clubs.odcmp.com/cgi-bin/repor...rdID=2&alpha=Y

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Having never shot competition what do those scores mean? I know the last is is everything added together. How do they figure the scores?: Thanks

I watched the pistol and tank episodes last night as well, and I have to say, when they fired that M10 Hellcat tank destroyer, it may well have been the 1st time I ever saw the Gunny speechless!!! The look on his face when the muzzle blast and recoil blew his cover off, revealing his "really" white head (not just the white hair, but the place where, apparently on the gunny, the sun never shines!), two pie plates for eyes, and an open mouth reminiscent of the Grand Canyon! Took him a few seconds to regain his composure from that one!! He IS one of us and I'm proud to have him represent us. Check out his promo videos from the Knob Creek Gun Range on YouTube....

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Originally Posted by A. F Medic

Having never shot competition what do those scores mean? I know the last is is everything added together. How do they figure the scores?: Thanks

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Never shot competition? WOW!

OK, in this case, the total possible score for the match is 300 points. The 259 is the aggregate score of three shooting stages in the Match (Prone-10 shots Slow Fire @ 200 yds; Prone-10 shots Rapid Fire with a magazine change from standing in a time limit of 70 sec @ 200 yds.; Standing-10 shots, Slow Fire @ 200 yds). The "1" is the X-count used to break ties. The Course is fired on a standard CMP/NRA "SR" 200 yd target.

A 258 ain't bad, ain't gonna win the match (a 293-6 did)

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Originally Posted by 0311Shooter

Let's all keep a cool head now. This ain't the Politics page. Here no one runs anybody off.

I was going to correct the original post because, as I have told I am a very observant person, the Gunny DOES wear hearing protection. I looked for it, especially when he was firing those 105's out of that tank.

In looking up that bio of the Gunny, when I came back I clean forgot to support the fact that he does wear hearing protection.

So, it's all MY FAULT. Go ahead. Run ME off.

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It wont be ME running you off, or KTK either for that matter.
This is still (Maybe not for long) a free country and we can wear what we choose, or not, as the case may be. I started shooting a long time before it was known to be detrimental to the hearing (or if known, not publicized).
These days I usually wear ear protection and glasses, even though it is much too late to really worry about my hearing. (Sometimes being half deaf is advantageous.) I also saw the Pistol episode and it appeared to me he was wearing ear protection. I especially liked the part where he drilled the target from astride his Harley. I try to catch the program whenever I can.

I have some problems with that show, as with his previous programs, but lack of hearing protection is not one of them. I don't like his attitude (I am not a "maggot", I am not in Marine "boot camp" and I don't want someone screaming at me like I am) and his many errors in fact and belief. While the show is informative for the weapons most of us will never see, let alone use, I prefer to get my knowledge of small arms elsewhere.

Jim

I watched the show and I liked it. When he fired the .44 mag, he almost got knocked on his can. I'd like to have a video of that. Admit, he's a pretty good shot and enjoy his shows.

I saw a repeat of the handgun episode and DID notice "something" in his ear that I missed the first time I saw it. I was looking for earmuffs and not ear inserts. I apologize for my lack of observation. BUT, during one handgun scene I didn't notice eye protection. My eyesight is less than 20/20 but I will not use that as an excuse for errors in observation.

To Ken the Kanuck, criticism can be a good thing if done as constructive. I hope mine was, at least, I meant it to be constructive. I am concerned for his safety and well-being as well as for that of all shooters.

Because of the post I made, I learned more than I ever thought possible about the man (R. Lee) via the many responses.

Thank you, all!

Thomas

And I and thousands of others shoot using Knobloch's. They are great for higher scores with aging eyes.....but while providing "rule-compliance" as "eye protection", have nearly nothing in the way of functional protection from flying debris...and I'm not worried about it!

Just for fun....does anyone that's been to "Summer Camp" remember anyone in the food-chain getting their panties in a wad over eye protection? It never came up where I was.....my son either

You guys all have very good points but don't you think that some of the youngsters out there watching Lee and seeing he has A) shell casings in his ears, B) flesh tone customs or C) nothing at all protecting his hearing, is wrong. At least the flesh tone customs are proper.

Do kids, and even grown men idolize Lee? I think they sure do. I personally like Lee. He is nothing like his characters he portrays in film. I don't blame Lee but more the producers and director for not seeing that "proper" hearing and eye protection are used during the filming of his shows. If for nothing else so new shooters see Hollywood being somewhat responsible. The way it is now Lee and the show are telling kids and adults that are not so bright, that it is okay to go without the proper hearing and eye protection. Just because WE didn't use proper hearing and eye protection as we should have doesn't make it right that our kids shouldn't either. How many of you shooters out there let your kids shoot without? Show our youngsters the right way.

I've been a rangemaster for a number of years and I can tell you a shooter would not be allowed on the range without both.

Thanks for all your input fellas.

Not to keep harping on such, what I perceive, a trivial issue, but....

Look, those of us who do shoot at a range know darn well that hearing protection is a MUST. Has anyone been shooting at a match and when the "Fire Away" command is given and you are fidgeting with sights or ammo and, OH SHEITE, forgot to put hearing back on?!?!?!?!!? YIKES!!!!!! Ears HURT!!!!

So, we know, WE KNOW that it's important. And WE KNOW that it's important to the Gunny.

Face it, those who don't shoot or never have, like kids, are NOT looking at his ears. They wouldn't know an ear plug from a spark plug. They are looking at that BLAST from that 44 Mag.

When the day comes and they are at the range with a RESPONSIBLE adult, they WILL have the proper protections. Unlike when they get to be teenagers with their first girl friend. We hope like hell they have "protection" then.

Case closed.

Fair enough Shooter.

Would have been nice if the army believed in hearing protection in the mid 1950's when they gave me an M1, Or better yet the air force had given out decent headsets when I was working on F100's and A7's (they finaly did , but by then......)

I watched both shows and liked the one on tanks and learned a few things. From the episode on small arms I got the impression that R. Lee is not nearly as gun savy as he'd like us to believe.

Bill, et all, have an excellent point. Remember the Marlboro man on tv of the fifties or sixties? It gave the message that a real man, a REAL MAN, smokes cigarettes and wears a cowboy hat. Well, the cowboy hat didn't cause the lung cancer.

The younger generation who sees a very respectable figure on tv not utilizing protective hardware will have the proclivity to mimic the person they idealize.

Had I known the hazards of not wearing ear protection when I first shot a firearm while in high school, I would have worn it from day one. I didn't learn about the consequences until I was in college. At least, I saved what hearing I have left. My hearing loss is moderate; can't hear high frequencies, according to the audiologist.

The good news is my wife knows about my moderate hearing loss and I take FULL advantage of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :0)

Thanks, guys, for the great input and for the education.

Thomas

Bill I agree, but I shared the ranges with a platoon firing away back in 55 without either, so I won't say anything unless there's a child involved. But then I've never been Rangemaster.

If everyone is so interested in correcting Gunny's shooting habits, why not go over to his website, and write to him directly. Debating the points on this website is pointless. Gunny won't see it, and we're wrapped around the axle on this subject. This horse is dead. Pls, let's move on. Best regards to all, KarlKW

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Originally Posted by tmark

Bill, et all, have an excellent point. Remember the Marlboro man on tv of the fifties or sixties? It gave the message that a real man, a REAL MAN, smokes cigarettes and wears a cowboy hat. Well, the cowboy hat didn't cause the lung cancer.

The younger generation who sees a very respectable figure on tv not utilizing protective hardware will have the proclivity to mimic the person they idealize.

Had I known the hazards of not wearing ear protection when I first shot a firearm while in high school, I would have worn it from day one. I didn't learn about the consequences until I was in college. At least, I saved what hearing I have left. My hearing loss is moderate; can't hear high frequencies, according to the audiologist.

The good news is my wife knows about my moderate hearing loss and I take FULL advantage of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :0)

Thanks, guys, for the great input and for the education.

Thomas

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If you had known back in high school you probably would have ignored it anyways just like any other teenager since we had all the answers.:p We listened to loud music and shot guns and had our heads under the hoods cars with loud engines.:super: We went through boot and no they didn't issue ear protection to us in Basic at Lackland in the late 60's.:nono: Since then I have had 40 years of being shot at and shelled, more large loud machinery then you can shake a stick at and pounded on heavy steel with a big hammer than I care to admit too. All without ear protection.:banghead: And if I had it to do all over again I probably wouldn't do anything different because I would still be the same smart a$$ed know it all teen I was then.:super:

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Originally Posted by TDH

And if I had it to do all over again I probably wouldn't do anything different because I would still be the same smart a$$ed know it all teen I was then.:super:

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Folks.....15 minutes at an "Oz-Fest" generates more dB than a lifetime of shooting....and ain't NOBODY wearing muffs or plugs! Heck, the only tinitus I've every had was from a "James Gang" concert back in 1971!

"Made loud to be played loud!" P. Spector

FWIW, after watching the first couple of episodes of Ermy's new series, I did go to his web site and comment on unnecessary and fairly egregious errors of fact and methodology - that was about ten days ago, and I've never received anything in reply.
I admit it's a fun show, but there is really no reason for putting out bad information when the correct stuff is readily available.
In the machinegun episode, for instance, Ermy took a (deservedly) unfavorable look at the Chauchat LMG which France furnished to U.S. troops, but forgot to mention that the French also made many thousands of them (just as unreliable) for the U.S. in our own 30-06 caliber. He also did not mention that, until the belated advent of the 1917 Browning MG, the French supplied U.S. troops with the Hotchkiss MG, which was both effective and dependable, and fairly well-liked by our machinegunners (yes, I know it wasn't so good a gun as the Browning, but it wasn't junk, either). When he did mention the Browning, he credited it as having a great advantage over French MGs using the 8mm Lebel cartridge (which his show identified as '8.5mm Labelle') and the German 8mm as used in machineguns because of its (the .30-06's) boattailed bullet which, he said, outranged the other two types. In that he was absolutely, 100% wrong. Both the 8mm Lebel Balle D and the German 8mm sS ball ammunition actually DID have excellent (and nearly equivalent) boattailed bullets which greatly outranged the U.S. standard 1906 ball ammunition. The U.S. became aware of this during the Great War, but didn't actually adopt a long-ranged boattail bullet to compete with the French and German types until 1925 (M1 ball).
There were other howlers in this and the other episodes I've watched, so I'd guess neither he nor his producers are spending much effort on getting the facts straight.
As I said, it's fun, but not much as a source of accurate information on the weapons discussed.
mhb - Mike

Hmmm....considering the target audience, what you are doing can be defined as "picking nits"....the principal disease of "experts"!

Hell, most of the world still thinks a Corvair is "Unsafe At Any Speed!", just because a half-a$$ed "expert" lawyer said so!

Sorry you feel that way. This forum, and others I participate in, is aimed at sharing factual information (and opinion, when properly identified) about topics of common interest - firearms. If you don't think facts matter, you need not be bothered by them, or take them personally. But there is already enough BS out there (my opinion) without encouraging it, or allowing it to pass unremarked, when the topic is addressed here.
mhb - Mike

sour grapes--Gunny is a Hollywood actor !!--He is making a few buck's off his much appreciated service in my glorious Marine Corps--he is nothing like
his DRILL INSTRUCTOR persona,,you will not find a more gracious person,,only those who stood on those yellow foot prints understand the bit

that he's nothing like his DI persona, and that he IS a Hollywood actor: both of these things became credible when I watched him put a juicy liplock on another guy in one of his big-screen roles... so I certainly can't argue those points with you, if I cared to.
But none of that has anything to do with the topic under discussion, really.
mhb - Mike

Sir.....it's ENTERTAINMENT, not a friggin' class with weekly quizzes and a test at the end of the term! Keep things in perspective!

Sir:
I agree that the program is entertainment, and already acknowledged as much in my first post, which was not addressed to you and did not have any bearing (so far as I can tell or intended) on what you had said in your earlier comments at all.
By all means let us have perspective, but make it clear whose ox is being gored, lest folks suspect you're just having a hemorrhoid flare-up.
mhb - Mike

Mike your points are correct and noted, but I still enjoyed the show, even tho or maybe because like most of the crew here I enjoy a little BS.
Bob

Thank you. I enjoyed watching them, too, never said otherwise, and will undoubtedly watch them all, when they're shown.
The one thing which I enjoyed most, so far, was the firing of the 24 pound Coehorn mortar - it rang like a bell every time it was discharged (though R. Lee didn't mention it), and I didn't even care that the purpose of the mortar was NEVER to drop solid iron balls on the enemy's heads, but explosive shells, which were not mentioned at all (IIRC) in the program about the history of artillery.
There is a place for BS, and I give full credit to the honest practitioners of the sport, but it really adds little or nothing of value to 'educational/entertainment' TV programming - there's plenty of BS on the tube already (opinion).
mhb - Mike

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Originally Posted by KarlKW

If everyone is so interested in correcting Gunny's shooting habits, why not go over to his website, and write to him directly. Debating the points on this website is pointless. Gunny won't see it, and we're wrapped around the axle on this subject. This horse is dead. Pls, let's move on. Best regards to all, KarlKW

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Two points I'd like to make:

1. I sometimes enjoy piontless debates. :slap:

2. I sometimes like the comfort of riding a dead horse. :dunno:

The subject of R. Lee Ermie of Lock and Load has generated 41 replies and 746 views. :cheers: Not bad stats. :beerchug: Participants contributed many points of views.:bash: Long live jouster (Culver Website)!:super:

And that's all I gotta say about that! I'm moving on!:super:

Thomas

I was pleased to have a brush with fame at Perry. Dennis DeMill and Ermy shot the target next to me during the Hurst Double. There was no fanfare or starstruck attension for the "Gunny". He was just another shooter, just like me. I said "Let's have a smoke on it".... He replied " I don't mind if I do" He took a smoke from my pack and we chatted briefly on the ready line. He commented that he liked my Garand and prefers the 30 cals over the AR.
I agreed. Then it was time to shoot. God, I love Camp Perry.

I am a long time fan of Ermie, my problem is with the information in the show. As a former Army Armor crewman in Vietnam I never served on anything but M48 Tanks. The show bypassed them completely and said they used M60's in Vietnam. Did the Marines use M60's? I saw M60's used by the ROK Army in South Korea in 1970 but not by us.

The Marines used m48's in Vietnam. IIRC they were the A3 model.

The Marines had the M60A4 in "Gulf War I". Used them quite effectively at the Battle of Khafji, marking the last great ride of the M60!

Ermey was, as you might have guessed, signing autographs at the Glock booth. Had to wait an hour and a half to get through the line, but it was worth it. He addressed everyone as "Mr ------" by our name tags, and was courteous and grateful for all the compliments he received on his THC show of the time (Mail Call). He didnt strike me as proud or arrogant at all. I'm not sure how much combat he saw in Vietnam, he was in a Marine air wing, but he does not claim to be a war hero. Kids love him and overall, I think he is a pretty good ambassador for both our veterans and for the shooting sports. We have one of his talking dolls here at work (its the version with the "salty" language) on a little wood podium in the center of the desk quad, and everytime someone needs motivation, the button gets pressed.

I also had the pleasure of meeting Maj. John Plaster. He was just standing outside the entrance to one of the halls where he was repping for a sight manufacturer (I want to say it was Meprolight). He had his wife with him but no one else seemed to be notiving him. I didnt have my glasses on so at first from across the hall I thought it might be Gordon Liddy, but once I realized who it was I couldnt resist trying to meet him. I know what a pain in the arse it must be for these guys to constantly put up with being "bumped into" but the Major was a really gracious fellow and didnt give the impression he was annoyed with you at all. I had the pleasure of speaking with him and his lovely wife for about 10-15 minutes. Same as the Gunny, the Major was friendly, humble, and even seemed grateful for the recognition. Not surprising, since he started out as an enlisted man. These are really great guys and we should be thankful to have them healthy and on our side.

R. Lee seems like he would be a great guy and as many have said he must be. I wouldn't harp on him for any inaccuracies in the show, as I'm sure he is just reading a script. I love Lock n Load and many other shows on the history channel and consider them very entertaining, but they are like Wikipedia in that they are not always 100% accurate.