I was not only fortunate enough to meet Gunny but I got to have a couple scotches and a stogie with him back around 2003. He was in Hawaii filming the show "Mail Call" and decided to swing by AirSta Barbers Point's (Coast Guard) "Hideaway Club" one afternoon after a shoot at Schofield Barracks. He walked in alone and bellied up to the bar alongside me and ordered the "best Scotch for my Coastie brother (me) and a one for myself, please." My jaw hit the floor because that voice is unmistakable. I knew exactly who it was.
We chatted for about 2 hours. He told me that Coasties were his favorite behind the Corp, of course. We talked about the unsung impact the CG had made in both WW2 and Vietnam and how in general the CG is generally unappreciated. We discussed FMJ and how that almost all of his lines in the new recruit/barrack scene were what he remembered from his bootcamp.
One of the coolest guys you would ever meet. Interesting and very humble man. Very soft spoken. Loved his Marine Corp and his fellow service men.
Word got out on the base that he was in the club. All the duty pilots and brass made their way down to kiss ass. It ended up going from the 2 of us and the keep to 25 people.
He decided it was time to leave because of the ruckus. He left for about 10 min and walked back in with 2 headshots. He signed one to the Club and signed one to me. He thanked me for the conversation and for my service. I said "thank you Devildog!" and he replied with a fist pump and a hardy "Oorah!" and that was that.
Surreal experience.
RIP Gunny. You are awesome.
