Got to meet a Marine Drill Instructor

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Bones
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Got to meet a Marine Drill Instructor

Post by Bones »

Over the weekend had the chance to meet Marine Drill Gsgt Foley:
IMG_20211121_140333536.jpg
OK, maybe not a real DI but he has an Oscar for it! He was pretty cool. He asked me where I got the name "Bones" and I told him because I'm so skinny. He thought that was great. I asked him if he had to go to USMC DI school for his part in the movie. He said yes, he went to the school, and the DIs there made sure he stayed in it and learned it to the T. Then, when shooting started, the DIs from the school were on set to make sure he was staying authentic to the role. So, as he put it, "It was the DIs that got the Oscar, not me."

I also asked him how at the end of the movie each new ensign was handing him something before he saluted them. Before I could ask him what it was he said, "A silver dollar. It was the tradition that when an aviation officer candidate arrived at AOCS, they were given a silver dollar to help carry them (symbolically) through the training. Upon graduation, they would return it to the DI, and when the next class came in, the DI would pass it to the next candidates.

I asked why when Mayo gave him his silver dollar, he put it in his left pocket while everyone else was in his right. He said, "That was because Mayo was an exceptional and memorable candidate. That's also why he told Mayo to 'get the hell out of here' otherwise he was going to break down and lose it in front of Mayo because he was so moved by him in the training." It felt good to know that as I had noticed this but it was never explained or even alluded to in the movie. Lou said he was surprised I noticed this, that no one really did.

My wife wanted to meet him as she remembered watching him on a TV series in Poland but she wasn't there at the time. When we left, she had to run to the bathroom and I waited there with our son at the lobby of the hotel. Lo and behold but who gets wheeled in to the lobby but Lou Gosset, Jr. (he is currently disabled). I was like, oh man, my wife is gone AGAIN and he's right here! Lou noticed me and said, "Is that Bones over there?" I said yes and introduced him to my son. It was cute when my son said, "Hi, Mr. Gosset." So Lou started chatting with me about Atlanta where he lives and Thanksgiving and stuff and I kept trying to keep the convo going so that when my wife gets back she can meet him.

Luckily she did come back in time and so got to meet him. With that we bid him happy Thanksgiving and a safe flight home and took our leave.

It was a pleasant experience!

We also met Joe Pantaliano and C. Thomas Howell, and they were great too! But didn't have as long of a convo or a chance meeting like we did with Lou. I should have asked him if he was flying home in an F-16 hahaha.

v6,
boNes
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"Also, I would prefer a back seater over the extra gas any day. I would have 80 pounds of flesh to eat and a pair of glasses to start a fire." --F/A-18 Hornet pilot
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PanzerMeyer
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Re: Got to meet a Marine Drill Instructor

Post by PanzerMeyer »

Awesome story Bones. Thanks for sharing that! Lou Gossett Jr. was definitely in a lot of 80's films and that seemed to be the apex of his film career. He seems to be a really down to earth person from the conversation you had with him.

edit: I checked out his Wikipedia page and apparently he was hospitalized in 2020 for COVID. I'm glad to see he pulled out of that.
Last edited by PanzerMeyer on 26 Nov 2021, 04:00, edited 1 time in total.
I have learned from experience that a modicum of snuff can be most efficacious - Baron Munchausen
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PanzerMeyer
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Re: Got to meet a Marine Drill Instructor

Post by PanzerMeyer »

As for Joe Pantoliano, I'd imagine most people know him as "Cipher" from the Matrix. He did a great job in that movie. He was also very good in "The Fugitive" as a US Marshall on Gerard's team.
I have learned from experience that a modicum of snuff can be most efficacious - Baron Munchausen
Trichome
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Re: Got to meet a Marine Drill Instructor

Post by Trichome »

That's awesome Bones. The mans a living legend. Nice you guy's were able to chat a bit, more than once.
Bones
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Re: Got to meet a Marine Drill Instructor

Post by Bones »

YEah Joe P. was pretty cool too. My wife asked him what he thought of Rebecca de Mornay whom he worked with on "Risky Business" and he said he thought she was a good kisser, haha.

He signed my Matrix BluRay as "Cypher." Years ago I had Lea Thompson sign my Red Dawn DVD and she wrote on it "Wolverines!" So C. Thomas Howell added his signature and also added "WOLVERINES!" Pretty cool. I joked with him how he was ballsy enough to take on a HIND by himself. I also said, "You had one of the best lines in the movie when Tanner tells you all that hate is gonna burn you up inside." He replied to me by saying, "It keeps me warm at night." So cool!

v6,
boNes
"Also, I would prefer a back seater over the extra gas any day. I would have 80 pounds of flesh to eat and a pair of glasses to start a fire." --F/A-18 Hornet pilot
Bones
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Joined: 27 Jun 2019, 11:29

Re: Got to meet a Marine Drill Instructor

Post by Bones »

PanzerMeyer wrote:
26 Nov 2021, 03:51
Awesome story Bones. Thanks for sharing that! Lou Gossett Jr. was definitely in a lot of 80's films and that seemed to be the apex of his film career. He seems to be a really down to earth person from the conversation you had with him.

edit: I checked out his Wikipedia page and apparently he was hospitalized in 2020 for COVID. I'm glad to see he pulled out of that.
Thanks, wow didn't know he had COVID. Glad he pulled through. Kristy Swanson was there too but I didn't talk to her this time because she had been hospitalized for COVID a few weeks ago and isn't vaccinated and since I had my son with, I didn't want to take a chance of infecting him.

v6,
boNes
"Also, I would prefer a back seater over the extra gas any day. I would have 80 pounds of flesh to eat and a pair of glasses to start a fire." --F/A-18 Hornet pilot
Bones
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Joined: 27 Jun 2019, 11:29

Re: Got to meet a Marine Drill Instructor

Post by Bones »

PanzerMeyer wrote:
26 Nov 2021, 03:53
As for Joe Pantoliano, I'd imagine most people know him as "Cipher" from the Matrix. He did a great job in that movie. He was also very good in "The Fugitive" as a US Marshall on Gerard's team.
I will always remember him in "The Fugitive" for saying that us dying the Chicago River green each year for St Patrick's day is "hinky."

v6,
boNes
"Also, I would prefer a back seater over the extra gas any day. I would have 80 pounds of flesh to eat and a pair of glasses to start a fire." --F/A-18 Hornet pilot
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