--- title: "Ellen surprised this vet and even Robert Downey Jr. cried" date: "2020-04-29" modified: "2020-10-30" authors: - name: "Shannon Corbeil" job_title: "Contributor, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/scorbeil/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-trending/ellen-robert-downey-jr-marine/" categories: - "Entertainment" - "Movies and TV" - "Veterans" --- # Ellen surprised this vet and even Robert Downey Jr. cried ![]() Look. Surprising veterans *never gets old*. And the holidays just makes it even more impactful and meaningful, which is why celebrities and talk shows often reach out and give back to troops during this time of year. Ellen is no different — but this "Greatest Night of Giveaways" just got better and better. I watched the whole thing. With the sound on. I recommend you do the same: --- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIbE0TN8D6k Robert Downey Jr. and Ellen DeGeneres Give USMC's Roy Gill and His Mom a New Car and House! (Part 2) [www.youtube.com]() Marine reservist Lance Cpl. Roy Webster and his mother were guests on the show, which already started out strong. Since *Iron Man* is Webster's favorite movie, Ellen pretended like she was going to give him a DVD of *Avengers: Endgame* but instead, Robert Downey Jr. popped out of a box. *This would have been enough.* But that wasn't the surprise. No. RDJ was just there to be an elf who help dole out more surprises. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCt89wuGlj0 USMC Lance Corporal Roy Gill's Story: Third-Grade Teacher Helped Him Triumph Over Adversity (Part 1) [www.youtube.com]() ### USMC Lance Corporal Roy Gill's Story: Third-Grade Teacher Helped Him Triumph Over Adversity The nineteen year-old Marine didn't have an easy time growing up, but he credits his mother and his third-grade teacher for helping him learn about how to take care of others. So Ellen decided to bring out his teacher. *THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH.* But Ellen wasn't done. She gave the teacher and her husband an all-expenses paid trip to Hawaii. *THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH!!!* But Ellen *still* wasn't done. Grab some tissues and watch the first video above to see what she did next. Happy Holidays, everybody. Take care of each other out there. ## Author Shannon Corbeil has worked for We Are The Mighty as a digital video producer, writer, and host, as well as a staff writer covering military history, trivia, and valor. Shannon is a fierce veteran advocate, covering the achievements of members of the military community and volunteering in multiple veteran non-profit organizations, including Pin-Ups for Vets and Warriors for Peace Theatre. Her undergraduate degree is in Humanities and Philosophy and her Masters is in Strategic Intelligence. A screenwriter and actor recently seen on SEAL TEAM and THE ROOKIE, Shannon writes about exciting projects in the entertainment industry. She is an alum of the Writers Guild Foundation Veterans Writing Project, a Finalist in the Disney TV Writing Fellowship, an inaugural fellow for the STARZ/VME #TakeTheLead Program, and has performed at the Geffen Playhouse and Kennedy Center as a writer, dancer, singer, and actor. As a U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer, Shannon supported the 25th Fighter Squadron at Osan Air Base, South Korea, and conducted Cyber Threat Analysis at the National Security Agency. Her work has been seen in Business Insider, Task & Purpose, Military.com, and various other publications. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()