Lee Marvin, Captain Kangaroo, and Mr.Rogers
Quite a few of us grew up with Captain Kangaroo and Mr. Rogers, as you or your children probably did. I knew nothing of their backgrounds, only that their shows were both entertaining, educational, and as kids, we looked forward to them with great anticipation.
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. And so, he was a guest on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
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 [backside] 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 same day, but what he did for his Cross made mine look cheap in comparison. The dumb [guy] 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…. Sergeant Keeshan was the bravest man I ever knew…. Bob Keeshan …You and the world know him as Captain Kangaroo.”
On another note, there was this wimpy little man (who passed away in 2003) 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 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. He hid that away and won our hearts with his quiet wit and charm. He was also an ordained Presbyterian minister.
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.
If you’re wondering why this is in Inspirations, think of how inspiring the example of these men is. All went through the horrors of war. All made mistakes in their lives. But all three proved that it is possible to overcome horror, trauma, and mistakes and to recreate a life that is honest, pure, and edifying. All proved that the human spirit can triumph over the greatest of obstacles to become a role model worthy of respect and emulation. And I cannot think of anything more inspiring than that.