Why Mr. Rogers wore a sweater. **You
Would Ever Have Guessed **
**Captain Kangaroo** passed away on
January 23, 2004 at age 76 , which is odd, because he always looked to
be 76.** **(DOB: 6/27/27 ) His death reminded me of the following story.
Some people have been a bit offended
that the actor, Lee Marvin, is buried in a grave alongside 3 and 4-star
generals at Arlington 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, the following is the amazing answer:
I always liked Lee Marvin, but didn't
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 bottom 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 getting 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. That dumb
guy actually stood up on Red beach and directed his troops to move
forward and get the hell off the beach.. Bullets flying by, with mortar
rounds landing everywhere and he stood there as the main target of
gunfire 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 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 Vietnam with over twenty-five confirmed kills to his
name. He wore a long-sleeved sweater on TV, to cover the many tattoos on
his forearm and biceps. He was 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 also dedicating the rest of his life to trying to
help lead children on the right path in life... He hid away the tattoos
and his past life 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. Look around and see if you can find one of those heroes in your
midst. Often, they are the ones you'd least suspect, but would most like
to have on your side if anything ever happened.*
**Take the time to thank anyone that
has fought for our freedom. With encouragement they could be the next
Captain Kangaroo or Mr. Rogers..