'Full Metal Jacket' Star R. Lee Ermey Has Been Laid To Rest At Arlington With Full Military Honors

Jan 23, 2019 by apost team

The actor R. Lee Ermey has been laid to rest at the Arlington National Cemetery this past Friday. Ermey was best known for his role in the cult classic film “Full Metal Jacket”, released back in 1987. He was previously a U.S. Marine drill instructor before becoming an actor and received full military honours upon his burial.

Ermey had originally enlisted in the Marines back in 1961 and soon after became a drill instructor in San Diego, California. From there, he went on to serve in Asia, taking part in various tours of Vietnam and Okinawa. He continued on with his military service in the Marines until, due to injuries sustained, he was medically discharged in 1972. By the time of his medical discharge, he had climbed the rank of the Marines, all the way up to the rank of staff sergeant.

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Following his extensive service in the Marines, Ermey continued on to pursue a career in acting. Using his GI benefits, he funded his studies at the University of Manila in Vietnam in order to pursue a degree in drama. Before playing his well-known role as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in “Full Metal Jacket”, he played some lesser roles in Vietnam-style films including “The Boys in Company C” and “Apocalypse Now.”

Playing the role of Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in “Full Metal Jacket” resulted in his receiving critical acclaim, and made him a recognizable face as traction was gained amongst fans. He was originally tasked with only advising on the film but once his screen presence and skills were noticed he was put into the role. Ermey was known for his loud manners and unique insults that made him a perfect fit for the role. It made such an impression on the director, Stanley Kubrick, that he was quickly placed into the role.

Following “Full Metal Jacket”, he acted in various other films including “Prefontaine, “Mississippi Burning”, and “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” rehash. He also lent his voice to several characters in “SpongeBob SquarePants, and “Toy Story”. It was with great surprise that Ermey’s death was announced on April 15th. Ermey passed away due to complications from pneumonia at the age of 74. After 9 months, he was laid to rest this Friday in the Arlington National Cemetery. Have a look at the video right here:

Spread the word in order to preserve this man’s great legacy, and if his acting has affected your life in any way, let us know about it in the comments.