This was sent on the squad e-mail list by AKIron.. I thought it very apropriate for this forum:
Many people have always 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. I thought to myself, damn 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. Including award of the Navy Cross. There is only one higher award...the Medal Of Honor.
Dialog From a Tonight Show ... 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 bellybutton 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 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 life long 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 know him as Captain Kangaroo."
