[KenP]

Those were great. Saw him in Texas Chainsaw the other day. Pretty intense guy.

Born in Emporia, Kansas, Ermey enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1961. Ermey was arrested several times as a teenager and the judge gave him a choice of the military or jail. He later joked that the Marine Corps "put a screeching halt to my unconventional manner". He spent two years as a drill instructor at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego in San Diego, California from 1965 to 1967. In 1968, Ermey arrived in Vietnam where he served for 14 months with the Marine Wing Support Group 17. He then served two tours of duty in Okinawa, Japan. During that time, Ermey rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant and was medically discharged in 1972 for several injuries received during his tours (yet has not been awarded The Purple Heart). Ermey has admitted that he still has nightmares about his combat experiences, a symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Ermey's Marine Corps awards and decorations are as follows:

Action Ribbon
Meritorious Unit Commendation
Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze service star
Drill Instructor Ribbon
Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar
Sharpshooter Badge with Pistol Bar