By Sgt. 1st Class Doug Sample, USA
American Forces Press Service
Though he's earned fame and fortune portraying rough and tough military figures on television and in feature films, R. Lee Ermey has a soft spot when it comes to caring for troops. Ermey, popular host of the History Channel's "Mail Call," in which he answers questions about military technology, has put together the R. Lee Emery Celebrity Experience, a three-day event to raise money for servicemembers and their families. The event benefits the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and the Young Marines Association, for which Ermey is a spokesman.
The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society provides financial, educational, and other assistance to members of the Naval Services of the United States, eligible family members and survivors when in need. The Young Marines is a youth education and service program for boys and girls, ages 8 through completion of high school, which focuses on character building, leadership, and promotes a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. Ermey said the fundraiser begins at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., Sept. 10 with more than 20 of his Hollywood friends putting on a free six- hour show for troops there. "They're who I call the Hollywood 'good guys,'" he said. "They show up at all the charity events I do," he said in a Pentagon Channel interview last week. Ermey, who starred in "Full Metal Jacket" (1987), "The Boys of Company C" (1978) and "Apocalypse Now" (1979), said the show will feature music, entertainment and "a lot of comedy."
| My favorite; "The Siege of Firebase Gloria" (1989). |
"A lot of the guys that do comedy seem to give of themselves when it comes to charity," he said. "They're good guys." The show will be held the Little Hall Theater at Quantico. The event is free to all military personnel and family members with government ID. On Sept. 11, Ermey, along with several of his Hollywood friends, will take part in a Celebrity-Amateur Golf Tournament at the Renditions Golf Course in Davidsonville, Md. Tickets for the event are $5,000 each. |