WHY
MR. ROGERS
WORE A
SWEATER?
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,
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
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
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..
Send
this on, will
you please?
Nothing will
happen to you
if you don't,
but you will
be awakening
others to what
a HERO is made
of...
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