Daily Life of a Marine Mom

A Piece of My Heart is home from Iraq

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Monday, January 08, 2007

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Well life is getting back to normal a little bit. Still trying to pay off the Christmas bills but aren't we all?

Eric and Patty are leaving to go back to California on Sunday. They are having a fine vacation that I know they are going to be sad to leave. Patty fits right in with my crazy (well, crazy but lovable) family. I hope she will consider coming back home with Eric when he does get out of the Marine Corps and making their home here. She already asked me to adopt her LOL. I just said 'sure!' and I truly meant it :).

Here's a few pics. Patty is so cute. All I can say is that she is a keeper!



Happy New Year!!!!


So for now, things are going okay and I hope you all have great plans and wonderful times over the next year! I know I am going to try to!

Before I go I want to start the new year out right and share some history with you. I know you have probably read this before but I love this story so much I am passing it on again. Till next time, Semper Fi and God Bless you all in this new year!

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Subject: Real Heroes- I knew about Lee Marvin and Captain Kangaroo, but I didn't know about Mr. Rogers, the mild-mannered kiddie show host who could be a killer!

America's real heroes sometimes hide from us in plain view and in packages that we'd least suspect.

Quite a few of us grew up with Captain Kangaroo, as you or your children probably did. I knew nothing of his background, only that his show was both entertaining, educational, and as kids, we looked forward to it with great anticipation. Captain Kangaroo turned 76 recently, which is odd, because he's never looked a day under 76 . (DOB: 6/27/27) It reminded me of the following story. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Some people have been a bit offended that Lee Marvin is buried in a grave alongside 3 and 4 star generals at Arlington National Cemetery. 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 Naval 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."

"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 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 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..... Bob Keeshan... You and the world know him as Captain Kangaroo."

On another note, there was this wimpy little man (who just passed away) on PBS, gentle and quiet. Mr. Rogers is another on 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 sleeve sweater to cover the many tattoo's 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.

America's real hero's 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 freedom's that we all enjoy.

Look around and see if you can find one of those hero's in your midst.

Often, they are the one's you'd least suspect, but would most like to have on your side if anything ever happened.


Comments: |
Well said. Well written.

The enlisted are every bit as honorable as the officers. To this day my son is thanked everywhere he goes that they know he is a war veteran. He loves turning it around on the older veterans by thanking them and reminding them if it wasn't for him he wouldn't have been able to be here to do his job.

I've been an Army mom for years and an Air Force wife. Now I'm a Marine mom, too, because my younger son's dream of being a Marine for the last fourteen years has come true.

Semper Fi
 
http://www.breakthechain.org/exclusives/kangaroo.html
 
check snopes.com these stories of bob keeshan and mr. marvin are bull as are the ones of mr. rodgers.

gunny, usmc
 
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