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We get bizarre questions all the time, but your inquiry regarding the military exploits of Fred "Won't You Be My Neighbor" Rogers is one of the strangest. Here's the deal -- there's a popular email forward detailing a story the late Lee Marvin allegedly told Johnny Carson on "The Tonight Show." In the story, Marvin modestly talks of his war service and explains there was a man he served with who was much braver. That guy's name was Bob Keeshan, who went on to become TV's "Captain Kangaroo." The email also mentions another iconic TV figure -- Mr. Rogers. Apparently, Rogers was once a Navy SEAL with "25 confirmed kills" in the Vietnam War. Interesting stories, but completely false. We discovered
the truth at BreakTheChain.org, a site dedicated to debunking urban legends. While Marvin and Keeshan did serve in the Marines, they never fought together. Marvin fought at Iwo Jima, but Keeshan never saw action, having signed up too late. As for Fred Rogers, he never served in the military. So, there you have it -- another urban legend cleared up. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have to go research whether or not John Wayne was actually a Communist.
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