[pct-l] Who Are Our Heros?

[hiker97 at aol.com (hiker97@aol.com)]

Once again someone invented a story to fool old Switchback.  Well, anyway I like it and will spread it around a lot.  :-)
 
I wonder if the folks who check these things out are goofing on folks too????  You can not trust anyone anymore.  What is the world coming to?  Oh, well.  I might change it a little and make up a new story and start new rumors.  That would be fun.
 
Cheers, Switchback 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: cmkudija@earthlink.net
To: hiker97@aol.com; pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Cc: laura629@hotmail.com; carolbruno@cox.net; Rattlesnake5648@Yahoo.com
Sent: Wed, 8 Feb 2006 13:15:41 -0800
Subject: RE: [pct-l] Who Are Our Heros?


Switchback, Switchback, Switchback....sigh...hate to be a stickler for
authenticity, but as I believe you to be, check out what snopes.com has to
say about the story http://www.snopes.com/military/marvin.asp  ....some of
the story's true, but most of it is out of someone's imagination.  Sigh.

Christine "Ceanothus" Kudija (camp stickler and obsessive-compulsive
fact-checker...)
PCT partially '94

www.pcta.org
Join Now!

Never measure the height of a mountain until you have reached its top.  Then
you will know how low it was.
                                                                     Dag
Hammarskjold

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net
[mailto:pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net]On Behalf Of hiker97@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 12:54 PM
To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Cc: laura629@hotmail.com; carolbruno@cox.net; Rattlesnake5648@Yahoo.com
Subject: [pct-l] Who Are Our Heros?

I might be off base here to post this on the PCT-L, but this story made me
think very strongly about the great hikers on the PCT.  The people I look up
to.  People like you, may be.  Sorry for the long post.  Anyway here it is:
_______________________________________
"Some people have been a bit offended that the actor, 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 didn't 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 bottom 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 getting' 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.  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 everywhere 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 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 be fore me, tell Mom to sell the outhouse!"

"Johnny, I'm not lying, Sergeant Keeshan was the bravest man I ever knew.

The Sergeant's name is Bob Keeshan. You and the world knew him as
Captain Kangaroo."

On another  note, there was this wimpy little man (who has passed away too)
on PBS.  He was gentle and quiet.  Mr. Rogers is another of those you would
least suspect of being anything but what he portrayed 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-sleeved sweater on TV, to
cover the many tattoos on his forearm and biceps.  He was a master in small
arms and hand-to-hand combat, able to disarm or kill in a heartbeat.

After the war Mr. Rogers became an ordained Presbyterian minister and
therefore a pacifist.  Vowing  to never harm another human and also
dedicating the rest of his life to trying to help lead children on the right
path in
life.  He hid away the tattoos and his past life and won many hearts with
his
quiet wit and charm.

America's real heroes 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 freedoms that we all enjoy.

Look around and see if you can find one of those heroes in your midst.
Often, they are the ones you'd  least suspect, but would most like to have
on your side if anything ever happened.
____________________________________________

Yes, the greater the hike, the more humble and unassuming the hiker.
Strange isn't it?  Mother Nature will make you humble if you have any
illusions of your greatness.  You don't conquer the trail.  You ask to be
part of it for a little while and if you are fortunate, your request is
granted.

My Bronze Star is small potatoes compared to so many others, just like my
hiking accomplishments or non-accomplishments  :-).  There are people on
this list that are true role models and heroes.   Just my opinion.

Sorry again for the long post.

Your hiking buddy, Switchback
PCT Corridor Section Hiker

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