RIP Gunny.

Today, you people are no longer maggots. Today, you are Marines. You're part of a brotherhood. From now on until the day you die, wherever you are, every Marine is your brother. Most of you will go to Vietnam. Some of you will not come back. But always remember this: Marines die. That's what we're here for. But the Marine Corps lives forever! And that means YOU live forever.
— Gunnery Sergeant Hartman, Full Metal Jacket

Words never truer from a man we all respect.
 
Wow, big loss. Great Patriot for sure, but a hoot to to hang with as well. We rode motorcycles together a few years ago...while eating steak at an outdoor venue he gave us the FMJ movie "You bunch of Maggots!!!" routine while standing on our table...
 
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I am beyond words. This makes me so sad. I am going to watch FMJ tonight in his honor. I do have an R. Lee story to share though.

I met him at the 2006 SHOT show. The line to meet him at the Glock booth was very long, and his handlers wanted him to leave the booth. He told them they could shut the line down, but he was gonna meet everyone who had been standing in line for an hour or more to shake his hand and get a picture or autograph. So, I had racked my brain to come up with the perfect question to ask him when I finally got up there....

So I asked what I thought was a brilliant question, I asked, " Gunny, what is it like to be one of the most quoted movie icons in history?" I expected a humble dismissive response. (Don't know why exactly, I just did).

R. Lee straightened up, looked me dead in the eye, and said, " I don't give a fuck, as long as the checks keep rolling in!" The whole line exploded in laughter.

God's Speed R. Lee,
Semper Fi