Real Americans

Chronicle reader John Wayne Parrish of Lexington

passed along this inspiring story about 3 war heroes.

Based on internet research, these stories appear to be

urban legends, but the morals of these stories hold true.

During World War II, many Hollywood stars served in the armed forces in rear echelon posts where they were protected and only trotted out to perform for the cameras in war bond promotions.

Actor Lee Marvin won the Navy Cross at Iwo Jima. Only 1 Naval award, the Medal of Honor, is higher.

Marvin credited his sergeant with an even greater show of bravery. On the Tonight Show, host Johnny Carson said to him, “Lee, I’ll bet a lot of people are unaware that you were a Marine in the initial landing at Iwo Jima and that you earned the Navy Cross and were severely wounded.”

Marvin said, “Yeah ... I got shot in the bottom. They gave me the Cross for securing a hot spot halfway up Suribachi.

“Bad thing about getting shot up on a mountain is guys getting shot hauling you down. But, Johnny, at Iwo Jima, 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.

“That dumb guy actually stood up on Red beach and directed his troops to move forward and get the hell off the beach.

“Bullets flying by, with mortar rounds landing every where and he stood there as the main target of gunfire 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... 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. His name is Bob Keeshan. You and the world know him as Captain Kangaroo.”

On another note, a wimpy little man on PBS, 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 Navy Seal, combat-proven in Vietnam with over 25 confirmed kills. He wore a long-sleeved sweater on TV to cover the tattoos on his arms. He was a master in small arms and hand-to-hand combat, able to disarm or kill.

After the war Mr. Rogers became an ordained Presbyterian minister and a pacifist. Vowing to never harm another human, he dedicated the rest of his life to leading children on the right path in life. He hid the tattoos and his past life and won our hearts with his quiet wit and charm.

OUR real heroes don’t flaunt what they did. They quietly go about their lives but they earned the freedoms we enjoy.

Look around and see if you can find one of those heroes. Often they are the ones you’d least suspect but would like to have on your side if anything happens.