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A friend of mine sent this to me. I thought I'd forward it to you.

Subject: Two true heros

I 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, 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 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 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!"

you never know...

Michael Haines, C.A.S.

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I was fortunate that I once met Lee Marvin at the NYC Premiere of "Cat Ballou" at the Trans-Lux 52nd Street Theatre. The opening of the movie was originally delayed by the death of Nat King Cole.

We didn't talk about WW II but we did talk about the USMC. I didn't know he was buried in Arlington but I do believe he has every right to be there.

Semper Fi

Tonight I shall drink my martini and toast Mr. Marvin.