Service members compete in tournament with R. Lee Ermey

Photo By Cpl. Corey Blodgett | Retired Gunnery Sgt. R. Lee Ermey and his teammate, Petty Officer 3rd Class Matthew R. Kinard, compete during the "Golf with the Gunny" tournament Nov. 15 at Awase Meadows Golf Course.  

CAMP FOSTER, JAPAN

11.15.2006

Story by Lance Cpl. Corey Blodgett 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

by Lance Cpl. Corey A. Blodgett
III Marine Expeditionary Force PAO

CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan -- Two service members and one civilian joined retired Gunnery Sgt. R. Lee Ermey as team members in the Marine Corps Community Services' first "Golf with the Gunny" tournament Nov. 15 at Awase Meadows Golf Course in Okinawa City.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Matthew R. Kinard, Staff Sgt. Raymond R. King and Smokey Viger, were selected in a random drawing of more than 60 competitors who entered for a chance to play a round of golf with Ermey, an actor best known for his role as the sadistic Gunnery Sgt. Hartman in Full Metal Jacket.

"Even the worst day at the golf course is better than the best day at work," Ermey said, kicking off the tournament.

More than 15 three- and four-man teams competed in the scramble-style tournament alongside Ermey's team.

"We knew that Gunny was going to be on Okinawa as a guest speaker at a few Marine Corps Balls and that he was working with the Single Marine Program," said Rick L. Erland, the golf course superintendent for Awase Meadows.

Ermey, who promotes the SMP through television and radio commercials for the American Forces Network, spoke to Marines about the program before the tournament Nov. 14 at the Performing Arts Center on Camp Foster. This is his fourth year coming to Okinawa to speak at Marine Corps Balls and participate in MCCS programs, he said.

"Basically, MCCS and I get together every year, and today we wanted to just get out here and have some fun with the Marines," he said.

Ermey said he spends at least 200 days a year working with MCCS and the SMP. "We had a lot of fun," Kinard said. "I never thought I'd meet anyone famous and be able to do something like this with them. We all got along really well, and it was just great camaraderie. It was absolutely better than going to work today."

Playing alongside Ermey, his teammates said they saw that he is nothing like his Full Metal Jacket character.

"What a great experience - just playing with the gunny," King said. "It was the best game of golf I've ever had. Gunny's a down to earth person. He's just like anyone else. It was a great time, and I'll remember this day every time I play golf."

Ermey said he enjoyed the opportunity as well.

"I pretty much work seven days a week, so I don't get to golf as much as I'd like to," he explained. "This gave me an excuse to get on the golf course, and we had a great time. There's no doubt about it."

• Date Taken: 11.15.2006
• Date Posted: 11.27.2006 09:58
• Story ID: 8372
• Location: CAMP FOSTER, JP