The Captain Was Courageous

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Zigzag2
V.I.P. Member
Posts: 12
(5/14/02 11:06:21 am)
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The Captain Was Courageous
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Never knew this story before....awesome....

I knew about Lee Marvin, he has always had my
respect....this is like a Paul Harvey "the rest of the
story".....

The Captain Was Courageous

Some have been a bit offended that Lee Marvin is
buried in a grove of 3 and 4 star generals at
Arlington. 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 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."

And you know how Lee was ... "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 sameday 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.
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 ...
'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
... Bob Keeshan ...
You and the world know him as Captain Kangaroo."


ruffitt
*VMBB Staff*
Posts: 77
(5/14/02 8:05:07 pm)
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Re: The Captain Was Courageous
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Now don't that just make the world seem like a smaller place. Who would have ever thought that the jolly ole Captain had was a died in the wool highly decorated combat veteran? Guess it takes all kinds to make this old world go 'round.
RuffItt