Captain Kangaroo turned 76 recently, which is odd, because he's never looked a
day under 76. He passed away the other day.
Please read on.
Some people have been a bit offended that the actor, Lee Marvin, is buried in a
grave alongside 3 and 4 star generals atArlington National Cemetery. His marker
gives his name, rank (PVT.) and service (USMC). Nothing else.
Here's a guy who was only a famous movie star who served his time, why the heck
does he rate burial with these guys? Well, following is the amazing answer:
I always liked Lee Marvin, but did not know the extent of his Corps experiences.
In a time when many Hollywood stars served their country in the armed forces
often in rear-echelon posts where they were carefully protected, only to be
trotted out to perform for the cameras in war bond promotions, Lee Marvin was a
genuine hero. He won the Navy Cross at Iwo Jima. There is only one higher Naval
award ... the Medal Of Honor. If that is a surprising comment on the true
character of the man, he credits his sergeant with an even greater show of
bravery.
Dialog from The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson: His guest was Lee Marvin.
Johnny said, "Lee, I'll bet a lot of people are unaware that you were a Marine
in the initial landing at Iwo Jima... and that during the course of that action
you earned the Navy Cross and were severely wounded."
"Yeah, yeah... I got shot square in the ass and they gave me the Cross for
securing a hot spot about halfway up Suribachi...bad thing about getting shot up
on a mountain is guys gettin' shot hauling you down. But Johnny, at Iwo I served
under the bravest man I ever knew ... We both got the Cross the same day, but
what he did for his Cross made mine look cheap in comparison. The dumb bastard
actually stood up on Red Beach and directed his troops to move forward and get
the hell off the beach. Bullets flying by and mortar rounds landing every where
and he stood there as the main target of gun fire so that he could get his men
to safety. He did this on more than one occasion because his men's safety was
more important than his own life. That Sergeant and I have been lifelong
friends.
When they brought me off Suribachi we passed the Sergeant, and he lit a smoke
and passed it to me, lying on my belly on the litter and said, "Where'd they get
you Lee?"
"Well, Bob ... if you make it home before me, tell Mom to sell the outhouse!"
"Johnny, I'm not lying ... Sergeant Keeshan was the bravest man I ever knew ...
The Sergeant's name is Bob Keeshan... You and the world know him as Captain
Kangaroo."
On another note, there was this wimpy little man (who just passed away) on PBS,
gentle and quiet. Mr. Rogers is another of those you would least suspect of
being anything but what he now portrays to our youth. But Mr.
Rogers was a U.S. Navy Seal, combat proven in Vietnamwith over twenty-five
confirmed kills to his name. He wore a long sleeve sweater on his show to cover
the many tattoos on his forearm and biceps. A master in small arms and
hand-to-hand combat, able to disarm or kill in a heartbeat.
After the war Mr. Rogers became an ordained Presbyterian minister and therefore
a pacifist. Vowing to never harm another human and dedicating his life to
helping children on the right path in life. He hid the tattoos and his past life
away and won our hearts with his quiet wit and charm.
America's real heroes don't flaunt what they did, they quietly go about their
day to day lives, doing what they do best. They earned our respect and the
freedoms that we all enjoy.
