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.

[dwilli]

Think it did happen but it was after a local kiddie show
in Chicago. I remember hearing the actual clip on an outtake clip over the years.

[My Dog Likes Me]

I think Lee Marvin received the Purple Heart.
Nobody seemed to realize this until he starred in "The Big Red One."
As for Captain K.,- God Bless him! He joined the Marines and then the war ended.
Two great patriots, in my book.

[My Dog Likes Me]

Quick follow-up.
I just read a Lee Marvin bio that says he was wounded in his butt by the enemy on Saipan in 1944. Severed his sciatic nerve. He was sent home.

[Tall_Texan]

...and Pee Wee Herman was CIA.

[tutstar]

bttt for all our brave men military men, past and future

[tutstar]

I hate when these legends come around........you have 1 strike now for posting it LOL......Nonetheless Lee is a hero.

Lee Marvin

Private First Class, United States Marine Corps

Movie Actor

Lee Marvin was born on February 19, 1924, he served with the Marine Corps during World War II in the Pacific and was awarded a Purple Heart for a wound that he received there.

On his return, he became a movie actor and starred in a number of motion pictures until his death in Arizona on August 29, 1987.

He is buried in Section 7-A of Arlington National Cemetery, not far from the Memorial Amphitheater and the Tomb of the Unknowns.

We can't say for sure whether actor Lee Marvin ever related something like the story described above to Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show (Marvin was a guest on the show seven times during Carson's tenure as host), but the details of the anecdote are undeniably false.

Lee Marvin did enlist in the U.S. Marines, saw action as Private First Class in the Pacific during World War II, and was wounded (in the buttocks) by fire which severed his sciatic nerve. However, this injury occurred during the battle for Saipan in June 1944, not the battle for Iwo Jima, which took place several months later, in February 1945. (Marvin also did receive a Purple Heart, and he is indeed buried at Arlington National Cemetery.)

Bob Keeshan, later famous as television's "Captain Kangaroo," also enlisted in the U.S. Marines, but too late to see any action during World War II. Keeshan was born on 27 June 1927 and enlisted two weeks before his 18th birthday, months too late to have taken part in the fighting at Iwo Jima. A 1997 interview with Keeshan noted that he "later enlisted in the U.S. Marines but saw no combat" because, as Keeshan said, he signed up "just before we dropped the atom bomb."

[StACase]

The only thing I remember about Captain Kangaroo is when he forgot to turn off his microphone and made the statement, "Well I guess that takes care of the little bastards another day", at the end of one of his shows.

Wrong guy. The one who did that ran the Buster Brown show "I'm Buster Brown. I live in a shoe. That's my dog Tighe. Look for him in there, too." The same one who worked with Froggie, "Plunk your magic twanger, Froggie."

Wrong! and Wrong! That quote is from a series of records put out in the early '50s titled "Pardon My Blooper" I don't remember the name of the show, but it was radio, not television, it was from the '30s or '40s and it definitely was not Captain Kangaroo or Andy Devine.

[pabianice]

On the other had , it is TRUE that Hillary Clinton served with the Viet Cong from 1966 - 1970...

[Marylander]

The Buster Brown show was a radio show in the 40s.

[White Eagle]

Robert Duvall - "I call that bold talk for a one-eyed fat man!"

John Wayne - "Fill your hand, you S... O... B....!"

[TexasTransplant]

Hey Jaysun, see post 50.

Also I wish you would return "Everyday Guide for the Ignorant"

p.s. I was agreeing with you (jokingly I might add)in my first post, >note to self... English teachers are touchy.

[gitmo]

I've read Mr. Roger's autobiography, and don't recall anything about military service. Perhaps he downplayed it.

[U S Army EOD]

Yes blush blush blush.

[hosepipe]

a link to Lee Marvin, Keeshan and Mr. Rogers...?
excellent.. thanls...EZ...

[U S Army EOD]

YOU blew his cover!!!!!

[U S Army EOD]

You have her confuse with Jane Fonda, Hillary and Bill just supported them from the States and England. Jane did go to Vietnam, the other two didn't although one of them went to Moscow.

[U S Army EOD]

Well I am certainly sure both of them were thinking it.

[U S Army EOD]

And all three of the above deserve to be shot in the buttocks.

[StACase]

Well I am certainly sure both of them were thinking it.

I'm certainly sure you're not a mind reader of dead guys.

[U S Army EOD]

If I can see dead people why can't I talk to them.

And since I have been accused of being brain dead on many occasions, my chances are increased.