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Mail Call
2002 - 2007 6.7 (2 votes) 8 Seasons
Official Website
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Documentary
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History

Mail Call

Overview

Mail Call was a television program that appeared on the History Channel and hosted by R. Lee Ermey, a retired United States Marine Corps Staff Sergeant,. The show debuted on August 4, 2002 as part of the 'Fighting Fridays' lineup. Most episodes were 30 minutes, but from 2007 through the show's end in 2009 some episodes were 60 minutes. During each episode, Ermey read and answered questions submitted by viewers regarding weapons and equipment used by all branches of the U.S. military now or in the past, as well as by other armed forces in history. Ermey often took his viewers on location to military training areas to film demonstrations. When not on location, Ermey broadcast from a set resembling a military outpost, including a tent, a Jeep, and various other pieces of military gear which changed throughout the series. At times, he would also have a bulldog - usually symbolic of Marines, especially drill instructors - on his show as well. Comic relief was provided as Ermey inflicted DI-style verbal abuse on his viewers or tests the effects of various weapons on watermelons and paint cans, as well as occasional appearances of "Mini-Lee", an action figure styled in Ermey's likeness, often seen berating a luckless G.I. Joe figurine. His demeanor as host was similar to the character "Gunnery Sergeant Hartman" portrayed by Ermey in the Stanley Kubrick film Full Metal Jacket, though this attitude was shown only towards his viewers and not the military special guests. Older viewers might compare him to Sergeant Vincent Carter, a character in the Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. television program.

Top Cast

R. Lee Ermey
R. Lee Ermey

Seasons

Season 1 poster
Season 1 (2002)

No overview available.

13 episodes

Episodes
Episode 1: Tank; Gatling Gun; Samurai Sword
2002-08-04

Steering a World War II tank; Gatling gun's speed; power of the samurai sword.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 2: Knight's Armor; WWI Backpack; Landmine
2002-08-11

Parts of 15th-century armor; World War I infantry backpack; ingredients of a land mine.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 3: Flak Vest; Medieval Crossbow; WWI Pilots
2002-08-18

Body armor; accuracy of a medieval crossbow; how World War I pilots shot through their propellers.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 4: Civil War Cannoneers; Night Vision; Clearing a Minefield
2002-08-25

Aiming Civil War artillery pieces; how night-vision technology works; how to clear a minefield.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 5: Landing Craft, Air Cushion Hovercraft (LCAC); U.S. Cavalry Saddles; Gas Masks
2002-09-01

Operating the LCAC; cavalry saddles used in the Old West; how gas masks work.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 6: Mortar; WWII GIs' Personal Items; Native-American Arrows
2002-09-08

Maneuverable artillery; musket; Navy airships; precision flying team; pirates; depth charges

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 7: Re-Fueling a Fighter Jet; Naval Signal Flags; GI Chow
2002-09-15

How to refuel a fighter jet in mid-air; how ships send messages using signal flags; what soldiers eat.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 8: Revolutionary WarMusket; Jousting; Foxholes
2002-09-22

How fast a Revolutionary War soldier could fire a musket; jousting; how to dig a foxhole.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 9: The Pilum; WWII Radios; First Rockets
2002-09-29

The ancient Roman pilum is designed to penetrate armor; World War II army radios; how rockets were first used on the battlefield.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 10: Ninja Weapons; Flamethrower; Military Dogs
2002-10-05

The weapons of the Japanese Ninja; how flamethrowers work; what military dogs do.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 11: Grenades; Dog Tags; Dinner in a Pouch
2002-10-07

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 12: The Jeep; HIMARS; Hurricanes
2002-10-21

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 13: Future Gear; Marine Camouflage; Army's New Armored Vehicle
2002-10-28

Possible gear for troops on tomorrow's battlefields; Marines design their new camouflage pattern; the Stryker.

Runtime: 30 min
Season 2 poster
Season 2 (2002)

No overview available.

13 episodes

Episodes
Episode 1: Grenade Launchers; Grape Shot; Shrapnel; D-Day Paratrooper Gear; Jet Packs
2002-12-15

Learn how grenade launchers work; how a .30 caliber machine gun compares to a .50 cal; watch Ermey behind the wheel of a Flyer 21; and discover the origin of the word shrapnel.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 2: Civil War Rifles; 1st Missile Sub; Navy Divers' Gear; Field Strip; Bowie Knife
2002-12-22

American Civil War rifles from both sides; the first missile fired from the deck of a sub; deep-sea and crush-proof suits; breaking down a weapon; the Bowie knife; the evolution of a hedgechopper.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 3: AVLB; Fulton Recovery System; Pilot Survival Kit; Trireme; Battleship Guns; Grapeshot
2002-12-29

The Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge; the Fulton Recovery System; a pilot's survival kit; the ancient Greek warship Trireme; battleship guns; grapeshot.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 4: Marine Weapons Training; Greek Phalanx; MiG-29; Hellcat Tank Destroyer
2003-01-19

Simulated marksmanship training; fastest front-line combat jet and World War II tank; Greeks of ancient times use the phalanx; Civil War cavalry gear; dazzle paint.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 5: Trebuchet; Troop Headcounts; BAR; Smart Bombs; Modern Parachutes; Boomerangs
2003-01-26

Medieval catapults; platoons, companies and divisions; the Browning automatic rifle; smart bombs; parachutes; the weapon version of the boomerang.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 6: LAV; Landing Craft; Doughboy; OPFOR; Chain Mail; Military Salute
2003-02-02

Light Armored Vehicle; landing craft; World War I Doughboys; training troops; medieval chain mail; the military salute.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 7: Deuce & a Half; Vietnam Gun Truck; World War II Household Fat; Missile Silos; C-17 Loadmaster; Scottish Kilts
2003-02-09

Vietnam gun truck; World War II household fat; missile silos; C-17 Loadmaster; Scottish kilts.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 8: Self-Propelled Artillery; Matchlock Musket; Airships; Blue Angels;Pirate Weapons
2003-03-02

full title: Self-Propelled Artillery; Matchlock Musket; Airships; Blue Angels; Pirate Weapons; Depth Charges --------- Maneuverable artillery; musket; Navy airships; precision flying team; pirates; depth charges

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 9: Anti-Tank Rocket; Bazooka; HQ Tour; Tactical Operations Center; Downed Pilots
2003-03-09

The bazooka's replacement; mobile command post; Air Force Pararescuemen; 21-gun salute.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 10: Medieval Weapons; Lewis Gun; Carrier Pigeons; Gliders in Combat; Anti-Tank
2003-03-15

Medieval weapons; World War I Lewis gun; carrier pigeons; gliders; anti-tank missile; ejection seats.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 11: Amphibious Assault Vehicle; Jeep; Medieval Battering Ram; Urban Warfare; Ball Tu
2003-03-23

Marines' 26-ton AAV stays afloat; jeeps; battering rams; urban warfare; World War II bombers; pictures on World War II airplanes.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 12: Unmanned Aircraft; Bogey; 1st Combat Helicopter; Forward Observers
2003-04-06

Experimental planes; unidentified aircraft; first combat helicopter; directing artillery fire; commando knife.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 13: Newest Coast Guard Ship; Carrier Battle Group; Tanks; Sherman Tank; XM-29 Rifle
2003-04-12

Motor lifeboat; carrier battle group; Sherman tanks; futuristic rifle; voice mail.

Runtime: 30 min
Season 3 poster
Season 3 (2003)

No overview available.

14 episodes

Episodes
Episode 1: Live from the Gulf
2003-07-06

This episode was live in Kuwait. Gunnery Sgt. Ermey talked to the troops and answered questions.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 2: Super Stallion Helicopter; Flying Banana; Navy Hazing; Seabees; GI Jargon; Tank Ammo
2003-07-13

Helicopters; hazing ritual; building runways in the Pacific; the G-2; battle tank

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 3: M-1 Garand Rifle; First Assault Rifle; JATO; Golden Knights Parachute Team; Barr
2003-07-20

Rifles; jet-assisted take-off; freefall parachute team; barrage balloons; military jargon.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 4: Rocket-Assisted Projectile; WWII German Gustav; Tent Tech; Pup Tent; Tomahawk;
2003-07-27

Rocket-propelled artillery; artillery gun that fires the largest caliber shell; tents; tomahawks; slings.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 5: M-16; Viet Cong Booby Traps; Super-Secret Ravens; Wild Weasels; Vietnam River Patrol Boats; Green Berets
2003-08-10

Military rifles in Vietnam; booby traps; the Ravens; the Wild Weasels; river-patrol boats; the Green Berets.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 6: Marine Sniper Rifle; BlowGun; Mulberry Harbor; French Resistance; Frontline Medi
2003-08-17

Rifle; blowgun; floating concrete caissons bridge the English Channel; weapons of the French resistance; improvements in front-line medical care; origins of the word "berserk."

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 7: Marine Sniper School; Hand Signals; Ho Chi Minh Trail; Motorcycles; Loading Palettes; C-119
2003-08-31

Snipers; hand signals; Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh Trail; motorcycles; tanks; the C-119 Flying Boxcar.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 8: Armored Scout Car; Water-Cooled Machine Gun; Fart Sack; Shuteye; Nazi U-Boats; Stealth Ship
2003-09-07

Armored scout cars; water-cooled machine guns; sleeping bag; sleeping on the battlefield; German U-boats; Navy ship invisible to radar.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 9: Claymore Mine; 1st U.S. Nuclear Sub; Resupply at Sea; Patriot Air Defense Missile; Jody Songs
2003-09-14

Anti-personnel mine; 16th-century Scottish sword; early nuclear-powered submarine; how naval vessels resupply at sea; the Patriot missile; cadence songs.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 10: WWII Half Track; Arctic Vehicles; Weird Weapons; Navy Hydrofoils; Combat Controllers; Gunnery Sergeant
2003-10-05

World War II M2A2 half-track; Snow Train; strange weapons used by the Allies in World War II; Navy hydrofoils; Air Force combat controllers; Marine Corps gunnery sergeants.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 11: Military Pilot Training; Flak; Doolittle Raid; One-Man Submarine; Military Radios
2003-10-12

Training of military pilots; flak; the Doolittle Raid; Sleeping Beauty submarine; radios; foxhole radio.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 12: F-15 Eagle; Flying Platform; Atomic Annie; Army Missiles; Tommy Gun v. Burp Gun; Measuring Bullets
2003-10-19

F-15 Eagle; single-man vertical flight machine; howitzer firing both conventional and nuclear warheads; Army-controlled missile programs; submachine guns; measuring bullets.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 13: Avenger; Stinger & Red-Eye Missiles; Military Firefighter & Smokejumper; Kiowa Helicopter; Kilroy
2003-10-26

Avenger Air Defense System; Stinger and Red Eye missiles; military firefighters; the Triple Nickels; Kiowa scout helicopter; "Kilroy Was Here."

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 14: Cobra Attack Helicopter; Sidewinder Missile; C-54 Skymaster; MPs; Flintlock Pistol
2003-11-02

Attack helicopter; AIM Sidewinders; transport plane; military police; flintlock pistols.

Runtime: 30 min
Season 4 poster
Season 4 (2004)

No overview available.

13 episodes

Episodes
Episode 1: Golden Knights; U.S. Air Force; Flying Tigers; Blood Chit; AC-130U Spooky Gunsh
2004-01-11

Lee jumps with the Golden Knights; history of the U.S. Air Force; Flying Tigers; blood chit; AC-130U Spooky gunship; P-61 Black Widow.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 2: Blimp; Miitary Shotguns; Navy Graveyard; Poop Deck
2004-01-18

Blimp; aerial reconnaissance during the U.S. Civil War; military shot guns; grapeshot revolver; Navy Graveyard; G.I. jargon: "poop."

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 3: Guided Missile Destroyer; WWI Aircraft & Aces; Marine Corps FAST Teams
2004-01-25

Guided Missile Destroyer; World War I aircraft and aces; Marine Corps FAST Teams.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 4: Grease Gun; Sten Gun; E-3 Sentry AWACS; J-Stars; Vietnam Fire Support Bases; Charlie
2004-02-08

Submachine guns; high-tech aerial command and control centers; fire support bases; slang term "Charlie."

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 5: Medieval Madness; National Technical Systems; Fabulous Flops; P-51 Mustang; A-2 Flight Jacket
2004-02-15

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 6: Heavy Support Vehicles
2004-02-22

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 7: Army Air Ambulance; 1st Special Service Force; Johnson Rifle; MiG-15 vs. F-86
2004-03-07

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 8: Fastest Army Vehicle; Uncle Sam; Tank Destroyers; Anti-Tank Rifle; Dive Bomber
2004-03-28

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 9: Navy SEALs; Frogmen; Kettering Bug; A-10 Warthog; Rommel's Afrika Korps Gear
2004-04-04

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 10: Jump Gear; Weapons; Communications and Medical Gear
2004-04-11

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 11: Nuclear-Attack Submarine: Diving, Steering and Sonar; Torpedoes and Tomahawk Missiles; Reactor; Chow
2004-04-25

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 12: Mark V Special Ops Craft; U.S. Gunboat; German Paratroopers; German Junkers; M113 APC; K-Rations
2004-05-02

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 13: Bren Gun & Carrier; Special Forces School Final Exam; Beasts of Burden; Predator; 1st RPV
2004-05-16

Runtime: 30 min
Season 8 poster
Season 8 (2007)

No overview available.

11 episodes

Episodes
Episode 1: Ermey's Biggest Bangs
2007-03-02

New intro/Best of: M203 Grenade Launcher, Trebuchet, 1895 Colt Machine Gun, MP5 9mm Submachine Gun, M1 Garand Rifle, A4 .30 Cal Machine Gun, Claymore Mines, Knob Creek Gun Range

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 2: Ermey's Hottest Rides
2007-03-09

New intro/Best of: Mid Air Refueling, Cobra Helicopter, Halftrack, The Jeep, Landing Craft Air Cushion Hovercraft (LCAC), Light Armored Vehicle, M5A1 Stuart Tank, 47ft motor life boat, promo - watermelon salesman

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 3: Pinnacle Armor; Apache Helicopter
2007-04-06

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 4: San Diego, California at the Strategic Operations Training Center
2007-04-13

R. Lee gets in a little trigger time training with a group of insurgents in an Iraqi Village at the most realistic training facility used by the U.S. Marine Corps w/Roger Cannon, Brian Plescia Capt Steve Coast. An in-depth tour of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, dedicated to finding and the remains of all missing and unidentified service men and women w/Lt. Lentfort Mitchell, Dennis Danielson Col Claude Davis. Witness the guns and gear used by the British Red Coats against the American rebels during our War of independence w/George Mack. The story of US troops on Panama w/Rob Lihani Sgt. Patrick Nugent Finally, take a trip to Fort MacArthur in Long Beach, California to re-enact the great L.A. Air Raid of 1942 w/Stephen Nelson

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 5: Hurlburt Field, Florida
2007-03-23

R. Lee Ermey answers viewer questions on location at with a focus on Air Force Special Operations and hardware. Lee tours the Air Force Base and gets a taste of what the officer candidates call "Hell Week"; then, Gunny goes to school and trains in car bomb and explosives detection and fires assault rifles used by terrorists. Finally, Lee takes off in the meanest gunship in the Air Force, the AC-130 and squeezes off a few rounds with its 105 mm cannon

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 6: M8 Armored Car; Mauser C96 Pistol; Dogs in War
2007-05-18

A WWII scout car nicknamed the greyhound. Gunny takes it for a test drive and fires off the M8's 37mm cannon with Bill Kirhkidis; then, Gunny features the Mauser C96 pistol (the pistol of choice for everyone from Winston Churchill to Star Wars' Han Solo) in a live fire demonstration. Gunny gives the gear geeks in the audience a field day with an overview of all the weapons, gear and gadgets used by the average German soldier during World War II with Anders Hudson. K98 Bolt action rifle, MP40, MG34, MG42, Stick Grenade, uniforms, boots, ammo pouch, bread bag, M3, 40, 42 helmet, camo, foodwagon. Gunny's Golf Tournament & Charities in Marriott DC - Young Marines with Shotgun Scramble won by Richard Grieco, Gunny's Ball with Bob Dole, ROTC - Maj Matt Donald, Ross Daly, Lt Col Todd Miller, Ohio State MSgt Dan Whitney, Terrorist Training - Robin Tullercash, War Dogs K( Corp - Sgt. Stubby of D-Dogs for Defense, War Dog Cemetery in Guan, Fort Benning training.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 7: National Museum of The United States Air Force
2007-03-16

Historic Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. First, Lee tours the museum and he reveals the fascinating story (and rare footage) of the highest bailout in history from an American aircraft. Then he tells the history of the Lockheed Starlifter, the Vietnam-era cargo plane made famous when one was designated The Hanoi. Lee also attends a reunion of the surviving POWs who flew on the Hanoi Taxi; then, he reveals the truth about UFOs and the Air Force's top secret Project Bluebook. Finally, Lee gets to take the controls for some real stick time in a vintage B-25 Mitchell Bomber.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 8: Fort Knox, KY
2007-03-30

Gunny visits the United States Armor Center and check out our armored arsenal. We go along on a Recon Officer training course with Special Ops Army scouts; and then, Gunny goes for a flight on an Apache Attack Helicopter. View a profile of George S. Patton, hear the story of George S. Patton's ivory-handled revolver and see other historic relics from the Patton museum. Gunny gets to drive and fire the cannon of the only working vintage Vietnam-era M40 Ontos Tank shredder known as the Road Runner. A trip to the assembly plant to see the M1 Abrams tank built from the ground up.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 9: Tennessee Museum of Aviation
2007-05-25

Tennessee Warbirds Museum of Aviation to see the P-51 Mustangs and P-47 Thunderbirds with R. Neal Melton, Franklin Luckman Jr, R. Nathan Davis.M6 double barrel survival rifle AR7, Scuttlebutt, A trip back in time to see just what kind of gear the WW2 Marines carried into battle - M1941 uniform, pack, boondockers, frog herringbone, 1903A1 rifle. Back to the skies for a one-of-a-kind ride in the Marine Corps' V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor with Maj David Lane, XB70 Valkyrie. Even the Gunny makes mistakes, so R. Lee shows off a few of his most famous SNAFUs. Finally the Gunny gives a fond farewell to the venerable Navy F-14 Tomcat with Capt Bill Seizmore, Cdr Jim Howe, Cdr Curt Seth.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 10: Polaris MV; Textron M1117
2007-05-04

Trigger time with an M4 Carbine and a Beretta M9. Camillus Knives - Woodsman's Pal, Tac Tool and Ermey updates to the latest gear: Spec Ops, Blackhawk, Oakley, CamelBak. Then he torture tests the rugged laptop from VT Miltope by running it over with his jeep and throwing water on it. Plus flashlights from Surefire - M6 combat, Aviator Hellfire.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 11: Iraq Episode
2007-05-09

Gunny talks via satellite one-on-one with troops in Iraq. At the Atlanta, Georgia headquarters of the Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System and gets the scoop on the fight against the insurgency. Run by the US Army, DVIDS receives via satellite the combat camera and public affairs videotape of all operations involving the US armed forces with Ltc William Beckman, Ssgt Amy Forsythe. Iraq - Lt Michael Schulz, Cwl Ty Powell, Sgt. Kurt Edusada, Sgt. Louis Sanchez, Col Joie Stovie, Ssgt Ajeem Pandey, Col Paul Sutherland, Cpl Andrew Ringbloom, 1Lt Douglas Connor, Col James Polo. He also meets civil affairs specialists and engineers installing a water purification system for a remote village. Finally, the Gunny pays tribute to Army Corporal Ozwarthy who was recently killed while serving in Iraq.

Runtime: 30 min

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