Friday, November 05, 2010

WHY MR. ROGERS WORE A SWEATER

 Never Would Have Guessed
 
WHY MR. ROGERS WORE
A SWEATER? 


Captain Kangaroo passed away on 
January 23, 2004 at 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 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.. 

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