Did you know that actor Lee Marvin is buried in Arington National Cemetery? His marker gives his name, rank (Pvt) and service (USMC) and nothing else. Why was this guy who was nothing more then a movie star be buried in a grove with 3 and 4 star generals?

In a time when many Hollywood stars served their country in rear-echelon posts where they were carefully protected, only to be trotted out to preform for the cameras in war bond promotions, Lee Marvin was a genuine hero. He was awarded the Navy Cross for heroism on Iwo Jima. The only award higher is the Medal of Honor.

If that is surprising, the comments he made show 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 inital 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, Lee interupted... I got shot square in the ass and they gave me the cross for securing a hot spot about half way up Suribachi... bad thing about getting shot up on the 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. "Where'd they get you Lee?" he asked. I said "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.

Sergeant Bob Keeshan was known to most of the world after the war as Captain Kangaroo.