Nice Story

With the death of Capt. Kangaroo, I thought this was rather timely.

Captain Kangaroo turned 76 last year, 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 the heck 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, 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 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 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 every where 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 U.S. 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.


Captain Kangaroo
キャプテン・カンガルー。　《米国CBSテレビの子供向け番組（1954-84）；
Bob Keeshan（1928-2004）が大きなポケットのついたジャケットを着た優しいおじいさんCaptain Kangarooを演じた》。


Lee　Marvin（1924-87）
米国の俳優；　すごみのある風貌で映画「The Big Heat（1953）」の悪役や、テレビドラマ「M Squad（1957-60）」の鬼刑事役を演じて頭角をあらわし、
「The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence（1962）」、「Point Bland（1967）」などで演技派アクションスターとして活躍。
また、「Donovan's Reef（1963）」、「Cat Ballou（1965）　アカデミー賞主演男優賞」などコメディー映画にも才能を発揮した。
☆Navy Cross---海軍殊勲章
☆Mdeal　of Honor---名誉勲章（戦闘員の犠牲的殊勲に対し、議会の名において大統領が親授する最高勲章）
☆Suribachi---擂鉢山（硫黄島にある死火山；　1945年第二次世界大戦末期に、上陸した米軍と日本軍の間での激戦の舞台となった）。


Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood
「ロジャースさんの隣近所」　《米国PBSの児童向けの長寿テレビ番組（1967-75、1979-）
ゲストがトピックを論じ、子どもたちが現実問題に対処できるように指導するもので、ホストはFred Rogers牧師（1928-2003）。
Fred Rogers---米国の教育家・牧師；　テレビに児童教育番組制作に従事、67年より「Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood」のホスト兼プロデューサー。


Johnny Carson（1925-）
《米国のコメディアン・テレビ司会者;
　ABCテレビのクイズ番組「Who Do You Trust?（1958-63）」、NBCの「Tonight Show（1962-92）など多数・多彩なショー番組の司会を担当。

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