Gunny R. Lee Ermey Visits Fort Campbell

R. Lee Ermey, best known for his role as the drill instructor Gunnery Sgt. Hartman in “Full Metal Jacket” and as the host of “Mail Call,” came to Fort Campbell, Ky., Wednesday to film segments for his new show “Lock and Load.”

“For those folks who have already seen ‘Mail Call,’ which has been on for five years pretty much, and it was the highest rated show on the History Channel for a while, we’ve replaced that with ‘Lock and Load,’” said Ermey. “It is basically ‘Mail Call’ on steroids. It’s a one hour show and comes out in July.”

Ermey served 11 years in the Marine Corps before being medically discharged and taking up acting. He came to the 101st Airborne Division to film segments for “Lock and Load” on helicopters and artillery. He completed a tandem jump out of one of 6th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment’s CH-47F Chinook helicopters with members of the 101st Airborne Division Parachute Demonstration Team and took part in a range with 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment.