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.
Dialogue 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 be fore 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

LilJoe

Lee Marvin DID serve in WWII, but was wounded in the battle for Saipan, not Iwo Jima. He received the Purple Heart, not the Navy Cross. He IS buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Bob Keeshan joined the Marine Corps, just two weeks before the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and AFTER the battle for Iwo Jima. He and Marvin never served together, and Keeshan never saw any combat.

Fred Rogers never served in any branch of the armed services, had no tatoos, and was not trained in any martial art.

Now, somebody tell me please, where this CRAP comes from!

C'mon LilJoe, at least check Snopes before you post these "feel good" stories.


http://www.snopes.com/military/marvin.asp
http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/mrrogers.asp

Jim.

I just feel like I gotta give you jokers something to do on a Saturday afternoon.

LilJoe

LOL!!

I'll tell you a true story that recently warmed my heart. Friday morning I was sitting in a doctor's waiting room to be called for my appointment. Next to me was an old man in a wheel chair waiting for his. He looked to be well into his eighties, very frail. he was wearing a baseball type cap which must have had a military service insignia on it, that I could not see from my perspective. A young man about in his late twenties came into the waiting room from the medical area carrying a very large box with the symbol for hazardous medical waste printed on the sides heading for the exit. He spotted the old man and put down the box, and walked up to him and asked him if he was a veteran, and the fellow nodded that he was. The young man shook is hand and said "Thank you and God bless you", then he picked up his box and left.

Shelly

Since space is at a premium at Arlington National Cemetery (no one ever believed we would lose so many war dead), you now have to be a veteran of some distinction (military honors, high rank, public figures) to be buried there.
Medal of Honor recipients automatically qualify.
The strange thing is, members of Congress, even if they are not veterans, automatically qualify.

My will shows I am to be cremated and my ashes interred in the Columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery (open to any honorably discharged veteran.).

I don't recall the date or time the restrictions became official, but perhaps the knowledge of the new restrictions prompted the "why is he (Marvin) buried there"?
My dad died in 1966 and is buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. When he died, his grave was the last grave in the last row. Six years later (1972), his burial spot had disappeared in the forest of hundreds of new crosses, most of them Vietnam War dead.

Most National Cemeteries still have room for ordinary veterans like myself, but many are, like Arlington, running out of room. A few, like Arlington, have instituted restrictions.

Arlington eligibility:

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/funeral_information/guide.interment.html

Nightly Reader