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R. Lee Ermey of ‘Full Metal Jacket’ fame fights back against rumors of his death

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R. Lee Ermey, the former-Marine-turned-actor who memorably played the vicious drill sergeant in director Stanley Kubrick’s 1987 movie ‘Full Metal Jacket,’ was in combat mode this week in response to Internet reports that that he had died.

‘It’s going to take a lot more than some Internet rumor to kill this old Marine,’ Ermey said in a statement. ‘I can state unequivocally that I am still alive.’

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On Monday, he was in Washington, D.C., participating in the National Memorial Day Parade and serving as national spokesman for a bill in Congress to change the name of the Department of the Navy to the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps.

Ermey said a major reason for his involvement with the campaign was to properly honor Marines who have fought and died in battle.

“When the family of a fallen Marine receives a condolence letter, the Marine Corps name should be proudly mentioned,” Ermey said. “I don’t think that’s too much to ask for.”

The bill has passed the House of Representatives and currently has 78 Senate co-sponsors, said Ron Slotin, press agent for the Marine Corps Identity Cause.

For more information on the Marine Corps Identity Cause – visit www.marinecause.com.

-- Dennis McLellan

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