---
title: "Clint Eastwood still loves his role as Gunny Highway in ‘Heartbreak Ridge’ — ‘I’m proud I got to play a Marine’"
description: "\"I see this and I'm proud I got to play a Marine, even if I'm not qualified to be a Marine, at this present time,\" Eastwood said during a Dec. 7 visit to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., where he filmed ​'Heartbreak​​ Ridge'​ decades before."
date: "2019-12-10"
modified: "2019-12-10"
authors:
  - name: "James Clark"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/james-clark/"
url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/clint-eastwood-proud-to-play-marine/"
categories:
  - "Culture"
  - "Entertainment"
---

# Clint Eastwood still loves his role as Gunny Highway in ‘Heartbreak Ridge’ — ‘I’m proud I got to play a Marine’

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/22149807-1.jpg>)

Ah, *Heartbreak Ridge*, the creme de la' creme of moto-movies that gave us such gems as: "[Recon platoon kicks butt!](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6Z00Nq7StQ>)" and the tried-and-tested method of firing a bunch of AK rounds at your Marines and calling it a teachable moment.

In addition to generations of Marines who've watched *Heartbreak Ridge* and drunkenly belted out "Oorahs" and "Yuts" till they were hoarse — or the duty NCO came by to tell them to shut the fuck up — the 1980s military classic has another fan: the movie's star, and director, Clint Eastwood.

"I see this and I'm proud I got to play a Marine, even if I'm not qualified to be a Marine, at this present time," Eastwood [said](<https://www.dvidshub.net/video/727129/interview-b-roll-clint-eastwood-visits-mcb-camp-pendleton>) during a Dec. 7 visit to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., where he filmed *Heartbreak* *Ridge* decades before.

And, while we're all quick to point out that we're one team, one fight, *yadda, yadda,* it's hard to suppress the joy Marines feel when they hear a former soldier say the Marine Corps is one of their favorite branches. We know what he *really* meant. (Kidding, please don't barrage this writer with hate mail.)

"It's always been a favorite," [said](<https://www.dvidshub.net/video/727129/interview-b-roll-clint-eastwood-visits-mcb-camp-pendleton>) Eastwood, [who was drafted into the Army during the Korean War](<https://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/career-advice/military-transition/famous-veteran-clint-eastwood.html>). "I remember — I was raised on World War II — and whenever they did movies that would come out based on the Marine Corps, I was always right there. Always excited."

Eastwood was [visiting the base to preview ](<https://fox5sandiego.com/2019/12/09/clint-eastwood-visits-marines-at-camp-pendleton/>)[a screening](<https://fox5sandiego.com/2019/12/09/clint-eastwood-visits-marines-at-camp-pendleton/>) of his upcoming film *Richard Jewell*, which tells the true story of an American security guard at the 1996 Summer Olympics who saved hundreds of lives from a bomb plot, but was ultimately accused by the authorities, and blasted by the press, over allegations that he planted the bombs himself. Jewell was eventually [cleared of all charges](<https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/12/clint-eastwood-richard-jewell-review/603247/>).

## Author
James Clark is the editor-in-chief of Task & Purpose. He is a former Marine and a veteran of the War in Afghanistan.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/JamesWClark>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/jclarkjournalism/>)