Jolie Rouge

Some people have been a bit offended that 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?

And what does that have to do with Captain Kangaroo?

Well, here is the amazing answer.

Most people don't know or don't remember the extent of his Corps experience. 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 br@very. Here is an excerpt of dialog from The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, when 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 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 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. The dumb b@st@rd actually stood up on Red Beach and directed his troops to move forward and get the he11 off the beach. 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?"

I said "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. Sergeant Bob Keeshan. .. . you and the world know him as "Captain Kangaroo."




(YOU THINKING WHAT I AM ?

YEAH, KIND OF DIFFERENT FROM TODAY'S ACTORS AND ENTERTAINERS IN HOLLYWOOD HUH ...)

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Laissez les bon temps rouler! Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.** a 4 day work week & sex slaves ~ I say Tyt for PRESIDENT! Not to be taken internally, literally or seriously ....Suki ebaynni IS THAT BETTER ?

MistyWolf

Capt. Kangaroo was one of my favorite shows as a kid .. and from the sounds of it, Lee Marvin deserves to be buried right where he is at .. people have nothing better to do with their time that to wonder why someone is buried where they are!

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They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them. Distance and time may separate us but friendship and memories won't.
~When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure~
=^..^=

janelle

What happened to Captain Kangaroo?

kelblend

Ooooh I remember Cap'n Kangaroo!!!

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~the arrogance is amazing!~ Arrogance does NOT equal righteousness. Don't fall for it.

mlathroum

I believe the good Capt. Kangaroo passed away a couple of years ago.
If you have never been to Arlington Cemetary and ever make it to DC you have to go. They actually have a tour and explains who is buried where and how important they are. Seeing President Kennedy's grave and the tomb of the unknown soldier is incredible.
We go to DC a couple of times a year to see the exhibits and such at the Smithsonian. I live maybe 30 minutes from there. That a wonderful place.

belcherpi

Wow mlathroum, I live approximately 30 minutes away from there in VA. I guess that makes us about an hour away from one another. Small world. I have never been to the Arlington Cemetary but definately want to visit before we move next year.

unicorn9149

Anybody do the math? If 6/27/27 was Captain Kangroo's BD that would have made him barely 18. Pretty young to be a sargeant. But I realize that was near the end of the war and the soldiers were pretty young. My Dad had just joined and he was born a year earlier.

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unicorn9149

mlathroum

belcherpi Quantico, VA is what under your name says. That is supposed to be a big Naval station isn't it. I am an army brat so never been to that one. I live near Annapolis about 20 minutes away from the Naval Academy. It is a small world out there. Definitly have to see everything before you leave. Where are you moving too?

Jolie Rouge

If he was an Eagle Scout, that would have given him a leg up.

My dad lied about his age and went into the Navy at sixteen and a half. {{He *wasn't* a Boy Scout LOL **** They were rushed thru six weeks Basic Training and shipped out right away. He "graduated" from Boot Camp, and went straight to a ward caring for TB patients for the following 48 hours. They brought his bags to the hospital and loaded him on a ship headed for the Pacific. Things were moving VERY fast at that point.

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Laissez les bon temps rouler! Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.** a 4 day work week & sex slaves ~ I say Tyt for PRESIDENT! Not to be taken internally, literally or seriously ....Suki ebaynni IS THAT BETTER ?

unicorn9149

My FIL did the same thing and was in the Navy

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unicorn9149

jennls

I loved captain kangaroo, that was a great show!