I was stationed at a marine recruit depot in San Diego from 1965 to 1967.
There have been a lot of changes in recruit training in the past twenty years.
I disagree with a lot of those changes, however at the end of the day - I go down to recruit graduation at least once or twice a year.
Drill instructors worked seven days a week, fifteen to seventeen hours a day in many cases, with no time off in between platoons.
We had times in '66 and '67 when we would pick up a platoon of privates out of the receiving barracks the week before we even graduated the platoon that we were on!
I got space from Travis Air Force Base, went back to the Philippine Islands and made it a point to meet the only American casting director in the Philippines. I was off and running.
There's a lot of whiners in every crowd.
I go the VA Hospital when I have a problem and the doctor jumps on me.
When you try to find funding for a VVA function, it doesn't seem like it's any trouble at all. People come out of the woodwork with their money to help out because we went over and fought a war.
I don't have any respect at all for the scum-bags who went to Canada to avoid the draft or to avoid doing their fair share.
The biggest problem was the politicians knew nothing about fighting a war.
I honestly do feel that I am a role model for young people.
Every character I've ever played, I always try to take him right to the edge and not allow him to fall over, but directors have a tendency to pull me back a little bit.
I hate to hear 'Less is more.' It's a crock of crap.
In order to be a good actor, I'm a firm believer that you need to bring something to the table.
I spend a lot of time with my characters.
I try to get over to Iraq and Afghanistan as much as I can.
For me, it's an honor for the military to ask me to go to Iraq, Afghanistan, or GITMO. I'm happy to go.
I play well with everybody.
I always love to come to Austin.
