Wingman
---------------------------------
On the day of Bob Keeshan's death, I'm sending you
> > > this "old" article.
> > >
> > > Captain Kangaroo turned 76 recently, which is odd,
> > > because he's never looked a day under 76.
> > > DOB:6/27/27)
> > >
> > > It 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 does he rate burial with
> > > these guys? Well, following is the amazing answer:
> > >
> > > I always liked Lee Marvin, but did not 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, 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 interview 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 butt and they
> > > gave me the Cross for securing a hot spot about
> > > halfway up Suribachi ... a 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. That brave man 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 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 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 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. 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.
