Born in Emporia, Kansas, on March 24, 1944. Ermey enlisted in
the United States Marine Corps in 1961. Ermey was a drill
instructor at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego,
California, and Parris Island, South Carolina from 1965 to 1967. In
1968, Ermey arrived in Vietnam where he served for 14 months with
the Marine Wing Support Group 17. He then served two tours of duty
in Okinawa, Japan, during which he rose to the rank of Staff
Sergeant (E-6) and was medically discharged in 1972 for several
injuries incurred during his tours.