Did you know these famous people were famous for:?

Question

NEW PERSPECTIVE ON FAMILIAR FACES !
You Might Not Ever Guess

Captain Kangaroo passed away on January 23, 2004 as 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 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 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

Send this on will you please? Nothing will happen to you if you don't but it will tell what a HERO is made of.

ROCCO A

Semper Fi!

Answer 1

Our troops are all good people, it takes a lot of courage to put yourself in harms way. As for the Fred Rogers story I met him on Guam back in 1978, while my father was stationed at NAVCAMSWESTPAC. You can bet he wasn't wearing long on a tropical island and he has no tattoos on his arms and never served in the military.

Answer 2

Lee Marvin served as a sniper with the 4th Marine Division and was wounded at the Battle of Saipan, not Iwo Jima, was sent home and received a medical discharge. There is no mention in his biography of his ever receiving a navy Cross, or that he ever served with Bob Keeshan. Bob Keeshan, also a former marine, never mentioned even having seen combat as far as I can find.
Fred Rogers stated many times that he never served in the military, a fact confirmed by both the DOD and by his official biographer. He also had no military tattoos. Both of those have been widely debunked as urban myths.

Answer 3

Unfortunately, this is all urban legend stuff. Mr. Rogers never served in the military. Marvin and Keeshan were both Marines, but neither was on Iwo Jima. Marvin did get wounded at the Battle of Saipan and received a Purple Heart, but not a Navy Cross. Keeshan didn't join the Marines until WWII was over. They never served in a unit together.

It's all easily found at Snopes, UrbanLegend.com, or many other sites.

Answer 4

Lee Marvin was wounded in Saipan and did receive the Purple Heart but didn't receive the Navy Cross. Bob Keeshan did enlist in the Marine Corps but he did so quite a while after Lee Marvin and missed most of the combat in World War 2. That is not to imply any fault on his part since he enlisted before his 18th birthday and obviously wanted to serve.
Lee Marvin was interred in Arlington and did fight in the Pacific theater in the USMC in World War 2 but most of the rest of that e-mail is incorrect. Mr. Rogers never served.
I'll post a link for you.

Answer 5

This is awesome information. Mr. Rogers a Navy Seal? I would have never suspected that. He and Captain Kangaroo were great men in both careers.

Answer 6

Semper Fi

Answer 7

Sorry but most of this article is completely nonfactual. Mr Rogers was NEVER in the navy (or any other branch of service..... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Rogers)

BUT... i do like your message, next time verify urban legends before re posting

Answer 8

We were so lucky to have men of this caliber serving their nation during ww II . I salute them !! U.S Army 66 -72

Answer 9

Actually, yes I had already read this, but I join you in saluting all those who serve our country. God Bless Our Troops!

Answer 10

Great , question I was not aware of the total extent.