Movie making Marine shares story and insights to success

Four soldiers in World War II-era uniforms are gathered, with two wearing camouflage helmets and one in a soft cap. The central figure, wearing the soft cap, is gesturing with both hands as if giving instructions. The background is muddy terrain. — Dever (center) with Tom Minder (left) and Tom Williams (right) on the set of *Flags of Our Fathers*. Photo courtesy of Jim Dever.

Military adviser and retired Marine Sgt. Maj. James Dever offers a glimpse into his past life as an active duty Marine and how his experiences and core values led him down the path to becoming one of the most influential military advisers in the entertainment industry.

In this first iteration of a continuing series that will feature former and retired Marines and their contributions to entertainment, the Marine Corps Entertainment Office asked Dever to discuss how his past led to the present and what he plans for the future.

A group of men dressed in early 20th-century military uniforms are gathered around a blackboard outdoors. The blackboard displays a battle plan with the words "LINE OF BATTLE" and various arrows and sections drawn on it. Some men wear helmets and carry swords, while others wear caps. In the background, more soldiers stand in formation on a grassy field with white tents visible. — Dever (right) on set with Tom Cruise (left) on the set of The Last Samurai. Photo courtesy of Jim Dever.

Though Dever assisted with several major productions including; “Heartbreak Ridge,” “The Last Samurai,” “Flags of Our Fathers,” “American Sniper,” and many more, he credits the Marine Corps with imprinting its’ values on his spirit and gifting him with the experiences that allowed him to achieve more than he ever thought possible, especially considering his humble upbringing.

“My family was poor but I learned how to endure and use it as an advantage in life,” said Dever. “Though my parents separated by the time I was 13 and I was the oldest of three boys living on welfare, I believe that just made me resilient. I did have a great childhood and my youth was a very positive experience. I got to play lots of sports growing up and was active outside all the time.”

Two men wearing sunglasses are pictured outdoors. The man on the left is standing, dressed in a white t-shirt and blue jeans with a black belt. The man on the right is sitting on a vehicle, wearing a green military uniform with a cap and a watch on his left wrist. The background shows a tent and a few other people, one of whom is wearing a white hat. — Dever (left) and Patrick Swayze (right) on the set of *Green Dragon*. Photo courtesy of Jim Dever.

Dever’s answer to why he wanted to be a Marine held a bit of irony considering his current profession.

“I watched the ‘Sands of Iwo Jima,’ with John Wayne as a kid and wanted to be a Marine from then on,” said Dever. “I would tell everyone I was going to be a Marine. No one believed me initially, but they do now!”

A person wearing a military-style helmet and uniform is equipped with a parachute harness and pack. The helmet has a label with partially visible text, and the individual appears to be preparing for a parachute jump. The background is dark, highlighting the person and their gear. — Cpl. Dever in jump training. Photo courtesy of Jim Dever.

This is not surprising considering the power and influence of a well told and immersive story. Generations of service members have been inspired by movies such as “Heartbreak Ridge,” “Top Gun,” “Platoon,” and “Full Metal Jacket” among others.

Dever’s shipped off to fulfill his dream of becoming a United States Marine October 1973 and after more than three months of grueling training, his dream became a reality. In 1974, as an infantry Marine with the Walking Dead of 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, he supported two intense and highly public evacuations in both Vietnam and Cambodia. Images from these operations were widely circulated, showing service members pushing helicopters off ships and into the ocean to make room for the thousands of evacuees.

After his time with the Walking Dead, he served in 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, then as an instructor for both the Close Quarters Combat and High-Risk Personnel courses. Following his instructor time, he completed the highly selective Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Hostage Rescue Team course and then served at the prestigious Marine Barracks, Washington D.C. Dever’s is also a veteran of Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and Desert Saber. By the time of his retirement in 1998, he had achieved the rank of sergeant major and had served alongside Marines that he would never forget; many leaving lasting impressions on him.

A man in a U.S. Marines camouflage uniform with rolled-up sleeves stands in front of two flags, one being the American flag and the other a red flag with military insignia. The name tag on his uniform reads "DEVER," and he has a military badge pinned above the right chest pocket. The background is dark, highlighting the flags and the man. — SgtMaj. Dever poses for his official United States Marine Corps photograph. Photo courtesy of Jim Dever.

“Early on, my leaders were mostly Vietnam veterans and were highly decorated. Captain Biggers was my company commander when I was with Bravo Co., 1st Bn., 9th Marines and was highly decorated from the war,” said Dever. “My company commander in Charlie Co., 2nd Recon Bn., was Capt. Lovingood; he was battlefield commissioned in Vietnam from first sergeant to second lieutenant and eventually made full bird colonel and commander of The Basic School. While as a battalion sergeant major with 1st Bn., 1st Marines, I served alongside Lt. Col. Steve Hummer, who eventually became a three-star general. While at ‘8th and I,’ I had the honor of serving with Capt. John Paxton, who later became a four-star general and Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps.”

Dever’s service spanned more than 25 years. He was honored to have served shoulder-to-shoulder with such exceptional people. He credits one Marine in particular with opening the door to the entertainment world.

Red director's chair with wooden armrests and frame, featuring the text "HEARTBREAK RIDGE" and a Marine Corps emblem on the backrest. A green military-style cap rests on the seat. To the right, a book titled "RICHARD SCHICKEL" is partially visible. — A keepsake of Dever’s from the production of *Heartbreak Ridge*. Photo courtesy of Jim Dever.

“In 1986, Lt. Col. Digger O’Dell, the commander of 1st Recon Battalion, put me in charge of working with Clint Eastwood for “Heartbreak Ridge.” Mr. Eastwood hired me then to be a technical adviser,” said Dever. “I was a gunnery sergeant at the time and knew nothing about films or how they were made. I learned a lot and decided to make going into the film industry a post-Marine Corps goal. Of course, I caught some flak for it. My friends called me Hollywood Dever but I took it in stride and prepared accordingly for my new career.”

A man in a brown corduroy jacket, white shirt, and striped tie is standing next to a man in a military uniform with a mustache. The man in uniform has several medals and ribbons on his chest and red chevrons on his sleeve. The man in the jacket is looking down, while the man in uniform is looking directly at the camera. — Dever (right) and Clint Eastwood (left) pose for a photo while working on *Heartbreak Ridge*. Photo courtesy of Jim Dever.

Despite immense success as a technical adviser, Dever is still very much a Marine. When asked about how he became so successful in the entertainment industry, his response was all sergeant major.

“Honor, Courage, Commitment! I don’t change my values to fit a situation,” Dever said without hesitation. “The Marine Corps strengthened my ability to overcome hardships and dig deep within myself, which helped me transition from the Marines and continue on in the entertainment industry.”

Dever listed endurance, dependability, and integrity among other traits being vital to success in any job.

“I still act like a sergeant major when I am working on set; give 100 percent, show the right and wrong way to do things, keep my commitments and lead by example,” said Dever. “I make sure the actors have military style haircuts, follow regulations, and present a fit military appearance. I teach the history of the uniforms being used in the film to the actors wearing them because people have died in those uniforms and they must be respected. Respecting the history and sacrifice helps build a seriousness in the role.”

A group of people, including children and adults, stand outdoors in an urban area with industrial buildings and a parking structure in the background. A man in military uniform is speaking to the group near a green armored vehicle. Several adults and children are dressed in casual or military-style clothing, listening attentively. The scene appears to be a demonstration or briefing. — Dever on set for *Battle: Los Angeles*. Photo courtesy of Jim Dever.

Dever recognizes the immense sacrifice and value of service members and believes that veterans are essential to hire in any capacity, citing tireless work ethic as a desired quality within the industry.

“The veterans ‘get it’ and know how to operate on set,” said Dever. “I work with veterans from all branches of service. In fact, my core group is composed of veterans only.” He continued, “Do not change your values to please people. Do your job, keep your values and be yourself. You know the difference between right and wrong. Team building is critical so bring all the leadership principles and traits with you. By keeping your standards, you have an immediate edge and advantage.”

Four soldiers in camouflage uniforms are shown, with two of them in the foreground shaking hands. The soldier on the left has his sleeves rolled up and is facing the three soldiers on the right, who are standing in a line. The soldiers on the right have name tags visible, with one reading "WATSON" and two others labeled "MARINES." The background is dimly lit with a yellow and black pole and a partially visible blue sign. — 1stSgt Dever (left) 1st Force Recon Company shaking hands with Gen. Krulak (right) Commandant of the Marine Corps. Photo courtesy of Jim Dever.

Dever alluded to how to better tell the Marine Corps story in Hollywood.

“For us to have our story told in Hollywood, we need to have educated veterans that know how to write and bring real life experiences to scripts,” said Dever. “To compose a good script, veterans should study at a film school or a writing program. We have a lot of bad scripts here already. On the other hand, look at Clint Eastwood, he only does real stories; ‘Letters from Iwo Jima,’ ‘The Mule,’ ‘15:17 to Paris,’ ‘Flags of our Fathers.’ Hollywood seems to be looking to bring back WWII and Vietnam stories right now where they have failed to make a Korean War film for decades. One of the best Korean War films, in my opinion, is ‘Porkchop Hill,’ we need to see some new Korean War films come out in the next few years.”

Two men stand outdoors on a grassy hill with a coastline and ocean in the background. The man on the left wears a beige military-style cap, a black t-shirt, and camouflage pants. The man on the right wears a white baseball cap, a dark polo shirt, and olive green pants. Both men have their hands resting by their sides. The sky is partly cloudy. — Dever (left) and Eastwood (right) pose for a photo during the filming of *Letters from Iwo Jima*. Photo courtesy of Jim Dever.

Dever’s comments about the movie star that helped launch his career echo his view on leadership.

“Clint Eastwood is just such a professional and, in my opinion, the best leader in the industry,” said Dever. “I wish everybody in the movie business would follow his lead. He doesn’t waste time doing take after take; he sees the shot, knows what he wants and moves on. There is no yelling and no talking on his sets.”

“Mr. Eastwood gets it and is a wonderful gentleman,” said Dever. “He eats with the crew and stands in the lunch line with everyone else just like a Marine would. He sits at a different table every day during lunch to talk with members of the crew. On his sets, he treats everyone as a professional and expects them to do their job.”

Dever credits the Marine Corps with equipping him with the values needed to be successful at anything. He chose to make it his life’s work to help tell compelling and immersive stories that represent the military he is so proud to be a part of.

As for his future in the industry, Dever stated, “I want to be a producer and a director.”

A group of 27 men in military uniforms, arranged in four rows outdoors. Most are wearing olive green USMC uniforms and caps, with two men in the front holding red flags featuring Marine Corps insignia and text. One man on the far right in the front row wears a different uniform with a dark cap and sunglasses. Two rifles are crossed and placed in front of the group. — Cpl Dever (first row, 2nd from right) B Co 2nd Plt 1st Bn 9th Mar 1975. Photo courtesy of Jim Dever.

A group of ten soldiers in desert camouflage uniforms posing together on sandy terrain. Most are holding rifles, and some wear hats or helmets. The background shows more soldiers and a dark sky. — 1stSgt Dever (back row, 2nd from right) with SNCO’s & Company officers in Desert Storm war. Photo courtesy of Jim Dever.

A group of uniformed military personnel, likely Marines, standing in formation on a lawn in front of a large white building with multiple windows and rounded architectural features. The personnel are dressed in dark jackets with white pants and white hats, holding rifles. There is a small dog sitting in front of the central figure. The scene is framed by trees and bushes. — SSgt Dever (first row, right) at 8th & I, 1981 to 1983. Photo courtesy of Jim Dever.

A soldier wearing a camouflage uniform and helmet stands outdoors with arms crossed, holding a rifle. He has a watch on his left wrist and a mustache. In the background, other soldiers in similar attire are visible, standing on a grassy area with trees. — SSgt Dever Jump Master Oct 1984 Pamama Cco 1st Recon Bn. Photo courtesy of Jim Dever.

A group of soldiers in camouflage uniforms and wide-brimmed hats marching in formation. Two soldiers at the front are saluting. They are carrying rifles and wearing tactical gear, including belts and pouches. The background shows a large building with a purple wall and a crowd of people watching the march. — SSgt Dever marching in Parade with A Co 3rd Recon Bn. Photo courtesy of Jim Dever.

Two men stand in front of a military aircraft. The man on the left wears a dark jacket and black beanie, while the man on the right wears a desert camouflage U.S. Marines uniform with a matching boonie hat and a holstered sidearm. The aircraft behind them has nose art featuring a pin-up style woman in red with the text "DEUCES WILD." The aircraft's windows and metal exterior are visible. — SgtMaj. Dever in Kuwait. Photo courtesy of Jim Dever.

This article was originally published on DVIDs.

Summary

Retired Marine Sgt. Maj. James Dever offers a glimpse into his path to becoming one of the most influential military advisers in the entertainment industry.