Captain Kangaroo and Mr. Rogers? Has anyone ever heard of this before?

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[ezo4]

Quite a few of us grew up with Captain Kangaroo. We knew nothing of his background, only that his show was both entertaining and educational. As kids we looked forward to it with anticipation.

Captain Kangaroo turned 76 recently, which is odd because he's never looked a day under 76 (dob: 6/27/27). This brings to mind the following story.

Some people have been offended that the actor Lee Marvin is buried in a grave along side 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.

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 with Lee Marvin as guest: "Lee, I'll bet a lot of people are unaware that you were a Marine in the initial landing at Iwo Jima...and during the course of action you earned the Navy Cross and were severely wounded." "Yeah, yeah...I got shot square in the ass 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 bastard actually stood up on Red beach and directed his troops to move forward and get the hell off the beach. Bullets flying by and mortar rounds landing everywhere and he stood there as the main target of gun fire so he could get his men to safety. He did that 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 US Navy Seal, combat proven in Vietnam with over twenty-five confirmed kills to his name. He wore a long sleeve sweater on his show to cover the many tattoos on his forearm and biceps. 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 again 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 the tattoos and his past life 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. Look around and see if you can find one of those heroes in your midst.

[Marylander]

Or was it Fiorello LaGuardia?

[Marylander]

Or was it Fiorello LaGuardia?

[U S Army EOD]

Please don't tell me, Buster Brown was also a Marine.

[Jaysun]

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 US Navy Seal, combat proven in Vietnam with over twenty-five confirmed kills to his name. He wore a long sleeve sweater on his show to cover the many tattoos on his forearm and biceps. A master in small arms and hand-to-hand combat, able to disarm or kill in a heartbeat.


What I wouldn't give to have seen Mr. Rogers stomping someone's ass. I didn't know this about Mr. Rogers or Captain Kangaroo. Good post.

[DeFault User]

Andy Devine?

[Yaelle]

It is NOT true about Mr. Rogers. On one of his episodes (I have seen it twice) he appears nearly fully nude as he swims at the Y in a pair of bun-hugging trunks. There were no tattoos on the guy. He did have quite the package though. I don't know why he needed to show the kids himself both in the shower and full body shots of him under water, but it made this Mommy put down her cereal spoon and step into the living room to check it all out...

[jnarcus]

Except of course that Mr Rogers was not the aforementioned Navy SEAl...in fact he was a Canadian and a Presbyterian minister...so since that part was dead ass wrong I doubt seriously that the other part has any validity

[TexasTransplant]

Ignorant People diserve to get the snot beat out of them, Mr Rogers is Just and Relevent and could most likely kick your ass, everyone knows that whimp trumps stupid every time (and tickets to the event are cheap too!)

[Free Trapper]

Wasn't "To Hell and Back" the movie that Audy Murphy acted in,as himself?

[lewislynn]

Urban Legend, alas. Consult snopes.com.

You can call Lee Marvin a liar if you want (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.) but snopes better check the Johnny Carson archives...I saw The Tonight Show the night Lee Marvin made those comments.

[Not_Who_U_Think]

Favorite line from a western:

Chill Wills in "The Over the Hills Gang"

"Ah, Ah, I don't mean to be a stickler for rules, but wooo... five aces in one deck... that's a lot a aces."

[Free Trapper]

About the guys you never expect.

My stepdad(real dad died young)didn't know that his father had been awarded the Medal of Honor until after he died.

The Medal was awarded for his actions during the Boxer Rebellion and has now been placed in a Naval Museum.

[LiteKeeper]

SPOTREP - and pass it on.

[theirjustdue]

." The same one who worked with Froggie, "Plunk your magic twanger, Froggie."

Oh yeah! Been along time since I've thought about that.

And old' Froggie would appear with a big BOING! and a yuck, yuck' yuck', before tricking his partner into cracking an egg over his head, or some other such nonsense,

Oh, those good old' days...

Thanks for reminding me, Marylander.

[Paleo Conservative]

Captain Kangaroo turned 76 recently, which is odd because he's never looked a day under 76 (dob: 6/27/27). This brings to mind the following story.

...........

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.

Battle for Iwo Jima - World War II
February 19 to March 16,1945

That story sounds fishy. How many 17 year old seargeants have you ever heard about?

[Fledermaus]

Yes, Audey Murphy played himself in "To Hell and Back".

[Vigilanteman]

Fred Rogers was not Canadian. He was born and raised at Latrobe, Pennsylvania. He and another famous native, Arnold Palmer, both contributed generously to a local hospital. Fred's connection with Canada is a few years with CBC where he first developed Mister Roger's Neighborhood. Much of the background on that show can still be seen on a kiddie ride at Idlewild Amusement Park, not far from where he grew up.

[Jaysun]

Ignorant People diserve(we stupid people usually spell it "deserve") to get the snot beat out of them, Mr Rogers is Just and Relevent (morons like myself also like to spell it: "relevant") and could most likely kick your ass, everyone knows that whimp ("wimp" last time I checked my "EVERYDAY GUIDE FOR THE IGNORANT") trumps stupid every time (and tickets to the event are cheap too!)


If you don't mind, I'd like for you to help me understand a few things:

A) What is "Ignorant" or "stupid" about saying (jokingly I might add) that I'd like to see something that seems so hard to imagine? Things that defy preconceived notions and logic are interesting to MOST people.

B) What did I say to imply that Mr Rogers was NOT just and relevant?

C) How is it that wimp trumps stupid every time? It seems to me that being stupid has little to do with the ability to fight, while the word wimp describes someone who is weak and cowardly (bad things to bring to a fight).


Thanks in advance for your help. While I'll admit that being stupid is sometimes a blessing, in times like this it's a hindrance.

[My Dog Likes Me]

Why in the world did his parents name him after an airport??!!

[My Dog Likes Me]

I'll tell you something that's true. Clint Eastwood served in the Navy as an enlisted aircrew member (radio or guns? I don't know). I think this was in the 1950's.

Also, Dennis Franz of NYPD Blue served in the Army in Vietnam. Eleven Bravo, I think.