# Fred Rexer > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Fred_Rexer > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Fred_Rexer.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Rexer > Source revision: 1353402737 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Fred Ludwig Rexer Jr.** (November 30, 1946 - August 27, 2021)[1] was an American writer, technical advisor, and [US Army](/source/US_Army) veteran. He was best known as the military advisor on the film *[Apocalypse Now](/source/Apocalypse_Now)* (1979), and was cited by its screenwriter [John Milius](/source/John_Milius) as the basis for the protagonist Captain Willard.[2] He also advised on Milius' films [*Conan the Barbarian*](/source/Conan_the_Barbarian_(1982_film)) (1982) and *[Red Dawn](/source/Red_Dawn)* (1984), and co-wrote with him the story for the film [*Extreme Prejudice*](/source/Extreme_Prejudice_(film)) (1987).[1] ## Early life and military career Rexer was born in [Houston, Texas](/source/Houston,_Texas) on November 30, 1946.[1] In 1965, dropped out of college in order to enlist in the [United States Army](/source/United_States_Army) in [Vietnam](/source/Vietnam_War).[3] Serving a total of 38 months, he served two tours with the [5th Special Forces Group](/source/5th_Special_Forces_Group_(United_States)), and one tour with the 120th Assault Helicopter Company "Razorbacks" as a door gunner.[4] His military commendations included the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star with Valor and oak leaf cluster, 21 Air Medals, and six Purple Hearts.[5] ## Film career After his discharge, Rexer worked as a federally-licensed machine gun dealer.[6] He wrote several non-fiction books and manuals on firearms and self-defense.[3] He befriended screenwriter [John Milius](/source/John_Milius), assisting him on the screenplay for what became *[Apocalypse Now](/source/Apocalypse_Now)* (1979). Rexer served as the military advisor for the production, and was also named by Milius as the real-life prototype of Captain Willard, the [protagonist](/source/Protagonist) (played by [Martin Sheen](/source/Martin_Sheen)).[2] Rexer then worked with Milius as the "spiritual advisor" for *[Conan the Barbarian](/source/Conan_the_Barbarian_(1982_film))* (1982), with Milius naming the villain Rexor (played by [Ben Davidson](/source/Ben_Davidson)) as a tribute. He further advised on *[Red Dawn](/source/Red_Dawn)* (1984) in which he also makes two [cameo appearances](/source/Cameo_appearance) - first as a Soviet paratrooper in the opening scene, then as a knife-wielding tank commander gunned down at a service station. Rexer co-wrote the story for the 1987 film [*Extreme Prejudice*](/source/Extreme_Prejudice_(film)) with Milius. The original screenplay was written in the 1970s, though Milius left the project to work on *[Big Wednesday](/source/Big_Wednesday)*. The final film was directed by [Walter Hill](/source/Walter_Hill), with the script rewritten by [Deric Washburn](/source/Deric_Washburn) and [Harry Kleiner](/source/Harry_Kleiner). ## Personal life and death Rexer died in Houston, aged 74 on August 27, 2021. He was survived by his wife of 49 years, Linda.[1] ## Publications - Fred L. Rexer Jr., *Machine Guns: Silencers and Counterinsurgency Weapons*, Illustrated Catalogs & Reference Guides Nos. 1, 2, and 3, Houston, TX, 1974 - Fred L. Rexer Jr., *Submachine Guns, Calibre 9mm & .45 ACP, Ingram M10*, Houston, TX: Anubis Press, 1977 - Fred L. Rexer Jr., *Dead or Alive: A Textbook on Self-Defense with the .45 Automatic*, Houston, TX: IDHAC Publishing, 1977 - Fred L. Rexer Jr., *Brass Knuckle Bible: A Manual of Concealed Weapons*, Shreveport, LA: Delta Press, 1978 - Fred L. Rexer Jr., *Bridge City*, Shreveport, LA: Delta Press, 1978 - Fred L. Rexer Jr., *U.S.A. The Urban Survival Arsenal*, Shreveport, LA: Delta Press, 1980 - Richard Dobbins, Evan Slawson, Deric Washburn, and Harry Kleiner (screenplay); John Milius, Fred Rexer (story), *Extreme Prejudice*, Pocket Books, New York NY, 1987, (ISBN 0-671-64016-X) ## References 1. ["Fred Ludwig Rexer Jr. - View Obituary & Service Information"](https://www.davisgreenlawnfh.com/obituaries/Fred-Rexer/#!/TributeWall). *Fred Ludwig Rexer Jr. Obituary*. Retrieved 2025-01-03. 1. Cowie, Peter (April 20, 2001). *The Apocalypse Now Book*. United States: Da Capo Press. ISBN 978-0306810466. 1. ["Fred Ludwig Rexer Jr. - View Obituary & Service Information"](https://www.davisgreenlawnfh.com/obituaries/Fred-Rexer/#!/Obituary). *Fred Ludwig Rexer Jr. Obituary*. Retrieved 2025-01-03. 1. ["Narrative 4 | The Razorbacks Gunships"](https://razorbacksgunships.com/?page_id=883). Retrieved 2022-06-17. 1. ["Fred L. Rexer, Jr."](https://www.fbherald.com/obituaries/fred-l-rexer-jr/article_ad020134-a11d-552e-8797-85fd336801f1.html). *Fort Bend Herald*. August 30, 2021. Retrieved 2022-06-16. 1. Rexer, Fred (1975). *Machine Guns: Silencers and Counterinsurgency Weapons, Illustrated Catalogs & Reference Guides No. 3*. Anubis Press. ## External links - [Fred Rexer](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0721009/) at IMDb - [\[1\]](https://web.archive.org/web/20110606125857/http://larvatus.livejournal.com/69236.html) A personal tribute to Fred Rexer, explaining and quoting his tactical and cinematic contributions - [*Gunship Mission*](http://www.history.army.mil/books/Vietnam/7-ff/Ch7.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20100615171747/http://www.history.army.mil/books/Vietnam/7-ff/Ch7.htm) 2010-06-15 at the Wayback Machine by John A. Cash in **[Seven Firefights in Vietnam](http://www.history.army.mil/books/Vietnam/7-ff/FrontMatter.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20131105003724/http://www.history.army.mil/books/Vietnam/7-ff/FrontMatter.htm) 2013-11-05 at the Wayback Machine**, [Office of the Chief of Military History](/source/Office_of_the_Chief_of_Military_History) - an account that illustrates some of the methods used by the gunship fire teams, featuring Fred Rexer --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Fred Rexer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Rexer) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Rexer?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.