History Channel

R. Lee Ermey Interview (Friday)

Aug 16th

Posted by Joshua Taj Bozeman in Celebrities

UPDATE 3: Totally bummed I wasn’t able to take part in this due to technical issues (on my end). This was an interesting read, and Ermey is, as always, a gentleman who is always backing our fighting men and women. Check out the full transcript at the bottom of this post, just click MORE to read it…

UPDATE 2: Unfortunately, I missed this call. I dialed in several times but couldn’t get through (think it was a problem with the voip system on my end). I finally got through nearly 50 mins into the call and was informed that it had concluded! So sad, as I wanted to ask Ermey what was his favorite weapon to have fired so far in the series. A basic question that might have been asked before I got to ask it, but that’s what I was most curious about.

Update: I originally listed the day as Tuesday. The call actually takes place this Friday. My apologies.

R. Lee Ermey

I’ll be chatting with R. Lee Ermey about his new History series, Lock N’ Load Friday afternoon. Should be fun. Let me know what you think I should ask Gunny!

I’ll post an update here with some information from the call after it takes place, so check back for updates!

Check out Lock N Load on History- new episodes Friday nights!

About R.LEE ERMEY

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.

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.

R Lee Ermey with a dillon minigun from Lock N Load

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Lock N Load with R. Lee Ermey (History Channel)

Aug 1st

Posted by Joshua Taj Bozeman in History

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I posted a promo video before for the new History series, LOCK N LOAD with R. Lee Ermey. I just finished the episode on the machine gun. It’s actually very interesting, and Ermey definitely holds your attention.

Lock N Load with R. Lee Ermey

He talked about the history of machines guns and how the gun evolved over the years. From the machine gun’s start with American inventor, Dr. Richard J Gatling in 1861, to the most advanced machine guns today, Ermey goes through all of it with his characteristic flare. This guy was a marine, and it shines through constantly.

It’s history geared toward those who love weaponry, so it’s very targeted, but it’s broad enough in its scope (at least from the episode I watched) to appeal to the general history-loving viewer like myself.

Some information I learned from this episode which I found pretty cool. The gatling gun was basically ten guns in one, in that it had ten barrels. What’s the point, I asked? Ermey, of course, answered that quickly- a gun barrel heats up quickly with the force of friction as the bullet travels its length. With ten barrels, not only can you shoot more projectiles in a shorter period of time, but it also allows each barrel to cool as you move to the next barrel and the next until you get back to the first barrel again. The first gatling guns weren’t technically machine guns, as they had to be manually cranked to turn to a new barrel, but they’re fascinating either way.

CHECK OUT Lock N Load on History. New episodes every Friday night at 8PM ET.