re: R. Lee Ermey, Golden Globe Nominee for 'Full Metal Jacket,' Dies at 74

A few people have mentioned what a great ad-lib job Ermey did in FMJ. It wasn't ad-lib. He was just reverting back to being a Drill Instructor.
I remember when FMJ came out and me and a buddy, who was ex-Navy, went to see it. I had no clue who R. Lee Ermey was. Never saw him before. Five minutes into the movie I broke out into a cold sweat, the hair was sticking up on the back of my neck. I was mesmerized. DAMN, I WAS BACK IN BOOT CAMP AGAIN! Anyway, I leaned over to my buddy and said that I don't know who this guy is, but I can tell you he is a real Drill Instructor, or was one at one time. NOBODY is that good of an actor! I had been through that 3 months of pure hell in 1971, so I had a damn good idea of what a Drill Instructor was. The first half of the movie is about as real as it gets, except for a few small technical details. For instance Pyle having live ammo. I then found out a few months later about Ermey's bio. Anyway, Semper FI Gunny. You will be welcomed to that big grinder in the sky.
—-
I can belief the boot camp comparison

my favorite scene from FMJ...gets me rolling everytime...