sinton66
11-05-2003, 08:01 PM
Quite a few of us grew up with Captain Kangaroo, as
you or your children probably did. I knew nothing of
his background, only that his show was both
entertaining, educational, and as kids, we looked
forward to it with great anticipation. Captain
Kangaroo turned 76 in 2002 (DOB: 6/27/27), which is
odd, because he's never looked a day under 76. It
reminded me of the following story. Hope you enjoy it
as much as I did.
Some people have been a bit offended that Lee Marvin
is buried in a grave alongside 3 and 4-star generals
at Arlington National Cemetery. His marker gives his
name, rank 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 experience. 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 also credits his sergeant with an even
greater show of bravery. While a guest on The Tonight
Show with Johnny Carson, Johnny Carson 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 butt 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
guy actually stood up on Red Beach and directed his
troops to move forward and get the hell off the beach.
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...
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 quite. Mr.
Rogers is another one of those you would least suspect
of being anything but what he now portrays to our
youth. But Mr. Rogers was a US Navy Seal, combat
proven in Vietnam with over twenty-five confirmed
kills to his name. He wore a long sleeve sweater to
cover the many tattoos on his forearm and biceps. A
master in small arms and hand-to-hand combat, he was
able to disarm or kill in a heartbeat. He hid that
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
freedom's that we all enjoy.
Amazing what we do not know about people.
you or your children probably did. I knew nothing of
his background, only that his show was both
entertaining, educational, and as kids, we looked
forward to it with great anticipation. Captain
Kangaroo turned 76 in 2002 (DOB: 6/27/27), which is
odd, because he's never looked a day under 76. It
reminded me of the following story. Hope you enjoy it
as much as I did.
Some people have been a bit offended that Lee Marvin
is buried in a grave alongside 3 and 4-star generals
at Arlington National Cemetery. His marker gives his
name, rank 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 experience. 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 also credits his sergeant with an even
greater show of bravery. While a guest on The Tonight
Show with Johnny Carson, Johnny Carson 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 butt 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
guy actually stood up on Red Beach and directed his
troops to move forward and get the hell off the beach.
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...
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 quite. Mr.
Rogers is another one of those you would least suspect
of being anything but what he now portrays to our
youth. But Mr. Rogers was a US Navy Seal, combat
proven in Vietnam with over twenty-five confirmed
kills to his name. He wore a long sleeve sweater to
cover the many tattoos on his forearm and biceps. A
master in small arms and hand-to-hand combat, he was
able to disarm or kill in a heartbeat. He hid that
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
freedom's that we all enjoy.
Amazing what we do not know about people.