There were whispers on buses between children and in lines at supermarkets. Fred Rogers always wore long-sleeved shirts and sweaters on his show to conceal the tattoos on his arms he obtained while serving in the military. He wore a long sleeve sweater … With a passion for entertainment, Rogers’ fame began with his casting in I Love Lucy in 1951, where he found his calling to transform television into something that could be educational and worthwhile. “Urban legends sometimes distort the positive to create a sense of intrigue,” says Trevor J. Blank, assistant professor of communication at the State University of New York at Potsdam. The completely unfounded tale circulated that a condition of his supposed sentence was that he performs on an educational television show as a community service obligation. Getty Fred Rogers (Mister Rogers) Fred and Joanne Rogers had two sons: James “Jim” Byrd Rogers and John Rogers. Since he attended college immediately after graduating high school and then continued straight into television work, there was no gap in Mr. Rogers’ life where this claimed Navy involvement could have occurred. Summary of eRumor: Children’s television personality Fed Rogers was a Navy Seal and a sniper in Vietnam with 25 confirmed kills to his credit. Rogers also called the space between the viewer and the television set "holy ground" and said the central message of "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" -- that you are loved just the way you are -- … 7) Unlike on most children’s shows, Mr. Rogers played himself not just in name, but also in personality and mannerisms, changing nothing about how he acted off camera to how he acted on camera. The only connection that has been found between Mr. Rogers and the military is when he registered for the draft in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 13, 1948, when he was 20 years old. Fotos International/Getty Images Rumors have long persisted that Fred Rogers, the host of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, hid a secret military career. The legends of his Call of Duty-worthy military service have been circulating for over a decade, sometimes bringing Captain Kangaroo into the mix in sort of a children's television Expendables mash up. The Navy SEALs were founded in 1962, the same year Rogers started Misterogers, the Canadian predecessor to his American television show. It is believed that Mr. Rogers’ squeaky clean public appearance and morals allowed for these scandalous rumors to gain footing and flourish in the first place. Along the way, he attended seminary school part-time and became an ordained Presbyterian minister. First off, they stated that since Mr. Rogers was born in 1928, he would have been too old to enlist in the Navy during the period of the U.S. involvement in the conflicts with Vietnam. The Truth About Those Rumors Of Mr. Rogers’ Badass Military Career. Surprisingly, … “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” aired for 31 seasons before coming to an end in 2001. Mr. Rogers also opposed the Vietnam War and often said on his television show, “Isn’t peace wonderful?” through his many puppet storylines based around war resistance. Mister Rogers … military sniper? Sending a mother or father of a young child off to war would be traumatic for that child, destroying the “essential bond” with their parents that’s so important for their emotional development. Wikimedia CommonsHigh school yearbook photo of Fred Rogers. Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood stayed on the air for 31 seasons, and Rogers advocated for children and their well-being — both onscreen and in testimonies to Congress — until his death from stomach cancer in 2003. From the above mentioned reasons, it is clear that Mr. Rogers could never have served in the military. It is very common for someone with such a high standing public persona and track record to become the subject for such claims, and Fred Rogers is no exception. Mr. Rogers was a Sniper? A pinnacle of self-discipline, Mr. Rogers never smoked or drank. But Mr. Rogers was a U.S. Navy Seal, combat-proven in Vietnam with over twenty-five confirmed kills to his name. For many years, he was eligible for military service, since he was classified as a “1A.”. According to urban legend, before Mr. Rogers was a TV host, he was as a sniper (or perhaps a Navy SEAL) during the Vietnam War, with a large number of confirmed kills. Fred Rogers was such a good person that we’ve invented our own tales about him. Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood ran on public television for 31 seasons. Post-military career (2004–2007) After retiring from the Army, West and his family moved to Florida.He taught U.S. history and coached track and field at Deerfield Beach High School for a year. But why did these rumors begin in the first place and accumulate such a strong public backing? (McFeely was Rogers’ real middle name.). Maybe that's why rumors about Mister Rogers' skullduggerous, clandestine lifestyle have been so prevalent over the years. Rogers was known for his trademark cardigan sweater and the show’s theme song, ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor.’ The death of Mr. Rogers was a catalyst for new rumors, and a chain email that was sent in 2003 seemed to provide more proof of this supposedly “violent” Mr. Rogers alter ego that was kept concealed from the public. Paul Morse/George W. Bush Presidential Library/Wikimedia CommonsReceiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from George W. Bush in 2002. No one who knew Rogers in real life has confirmed any military involvement on his part, and Rogers was a pacifist through and through. The untrue rumors about Mr. Rogers’ tattoos, military service, and so on do not at all fit with the man’s gentle, fatherly personality (which is, of course, a big part of what makes the rumors so intriguing). Rumors have been circulating for years that Fred Rogers served in the military and that he got some ink to commemorate his war record. After partially dying down in the late ‘90s, rumors began to resurge following Mr. Rogers’ death in 2003, but this time, they suggested that he was an ex-military SEAL rather than a sniper. Despite the rumors, Rogers was never a sniper, Navy Seal, Green Beret, or Marine Corps drill instructor. It seems just crazy enough to be true. After learning about the truth behind the rumors of Mr. Rogers’ supposed career as a Navy SEAL and Vietnam sniper, read more about the real life and career of Mr. Rogers. In addition, military involvement for Fred Rogers doesn’t have a place where it fits into the timeline of his life. But is it? The rumors grew so much in popularity that Navy officials issued a statement as to why these rumors were false and just an urban legend after all. Today, his messages are just as powerful as people across the world protest racial injustice in the wake of George Floyd's death in Minneapolis police custody.. Two scenes in particular — one aired in 1969 and the other in 1993, according to NPR — … As per the policies of the Texas Military Department, West retained the same rank of which he earned in Federal military service, lieutenant colonel. At 91, Joanne Rogers tends to the legacy of her late husband, known to generations as Mister Rogers. “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” is slated to release in November 2019. (National Archives Identifier 7431400) A: The rumors that the late Fred Rogers served as a Navy SEAL or a U.S. Marine sniper are urban legends. Furthermore, you cannot be a Navy SEAL if you fail the color blindness test, and Rogers was red-green colorblind. These tumors swirled even before internet memes or conspiracy-theory YouTube channels. Expert marksman Mr. Rogers. The Truth: Fred Rogers, the founder and host of the popular U.S. children’s television program Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood never served in the military. He started at NBC in New York City, and then moved back to Pennsylvania, then to Canada, and finally to Pittsburgh with the rights to his very own children’s show that would become the famed Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. These tumors swirled even before internet memes or conspiracy-theory YouTube channels. To assume that Rogers could remain on public television for 33 years with an abhorrent criminal record such as that — without one outraged parent — is absurd. Then, learn about John Basilone, an actual badass marine of World War II. He was purposely choosing long-sleeve clothes to keep his formality as well as authority not only to children but to their parents as well. “Mr. However, the same evidence of military events in comparison to that of Mr. Rogers’ life events shuts down this claim as well, ruling out any connection between Mr. Rogers and the Marine Corps, and ultimately any military involvement, period. Thomas Fitzpatrick: The Amateur Pilot Who Drunkenly Landed A Plane On An NYC Street — Twice, Adolf Hitler's Childhood Home Is Being Turned Into A Police Station, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch, Rumors have long persisted that Fred Rogers, the host of. In his children’s television show Mister Rogers Neighborhood, Mr. Rogers was always pictured wearing sweaters that fully covered his arms, but he was not using his choice of apparel to conceal tattoos of any kind. Furthermore, there’s no gap in his television career that would account for a military stint overseas. But on Oct. 12, 1950, in his final year of college, Rogers reported to the Armed Forces for his physical and his status changed to “4F,” meaning he wasn’t qualified for military service. He wished for a world where no child would have to experience this abuse by war. But Mr. Rogers was a U.S. Navy Seal, combat proven in Vietnam with over twenty-five confirmed kills to his name. Receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from George W. Bush in 2002. “While there are rumors that Mr. Rogers, the host of internationally acclaimed TV show for children—Mister Roger’s Neighborhood, served as a Navy SEAL or a Marine Scout Sniper during the Vietnam era with a large number of confirmed kills, we have to state it is false. Those periods of isolation helped foster his young imagination; he created puppets for company. Here, Mr. Rogers realized his dream of educating children and caring for their mental health. These trademark sweaters, one for each of his 900 episodes, were handknitted by his mother and were a crucial part of the persona Rogers spent his life creating. 4. CLICK HERE for the eRumor about Mr. Rogers. Rogers died in 2003. It’s the knowing that we can be trusted, that we never have to fear the truth, that the bedrock of our lives, from which we make our choices, is very good stuff,” he told Dartmouth graduates in 2002. Let the record show that not one single solitary human person has ever accused Rogers of anything more serious than wearing somewhat unattractive shoes. James Rogers was born in 1959 and John Rogers was born in 1961. And what details about Mr. Rogers’ life have proven that he was not involved in the military in any shape or form? Mr. Rogers never served in the military and was a pacifist. “I don’t want to eat anything that has a mother,” he often said. Tallman.”, Or how about flashing the satanic devil-horns? But she doesn't want him put on … It seems eerily close to sign language for “I love you.”. Fred Rogers never served in the military, … In March, 2008, somebody combined the stories of Captain Kangaroo, Lee Marvin, and another about the popular children’s television personality Mr. Rogers into a single email—saying that all three of them were war heroes. With this hobby, as well as his degree in music composition from Florida’s Rollins College, Rogers was destined to entertain. “Isn’t peace wonderful?” he asks his young viewers. Fred Rogers, American television host, producer, and writer best known for Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood (1968–2001), an educational children’s show that aired on public television. Indeed, according to urban legend, Mr. Rogers — the man who wore colorful sweaters hand-knitted by his mother for more than 900 episodes of his children’s show on public-access television — was a Navy SEAL with many confirmed kills. Rogers, by all accounts, seems like a very mild-mannered, Puritan-esque character…. Mr. Rogers Was a Sniper In Vietnam-Fiction! He really, truly was as good of a human being there could be. This urban legend has been around since at least 2002, and while it contains some elements of truth, the gist of it—that Marvin and Keeshan … Archives.govThe front page of Fred Rogers’ draft card. And he couldn’t have been a sniper in Vietnam, since U.S. didn’t send ground troops there until 1965, when he was too old to enlist. Fred Rogers was born in 1928 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Stories like this reflect more on us as a society than they do the man at the center of them. Dear Mike: You know, my first clue about this was the memorable episode where the Captain made Mister Moose get a buzzsaw haircut. THE TRUSTED RESOURCE FOR MILITARY FAMILIES. The stories below were shared with us and because these figures are well loved and part of American TV history, as well as our treasured childhood memories, we are quick to believe them. The kids’ program didn’t shy … Finally, the Navy SEALs were founded in 1962, the same year that Rogers began his television program Misterogers, which was the preceding Canadian show to his later American television program Mister Rogers Neighborhood. For more than 30 years, Rogers was a daily presence in the homes of millions of Americans through his groundbreaking work on PBS. While these urban legends continue to be assumed as true, it only takes a simple lineup of events and analysis of Mr. Rogers’ personal beliefs and morals to see that these are just that — legends. Often, positive public figures are distorted in order to create more intrigue. High school yearbook photo of Fred Rogers. Contrary to internet lore, Mr. Rogers never actually served in the United States Armed Forces. Fred Rogers is known for the kindness he displayed on his kids' show, "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," which aired from 1968 to 2001. He ate a vegetarian diet for ethical reasons. Paul Morse/George W. Bush Presidential Library/Wikimedia Commons. The only connection that has been found between Mr. Rogers and the military is when he registered for the draft in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 13, 1948, when he was 20 years old. Why? Mr Rogers (Fred McFeeley Rogers) never served in the military. Although the iconic TV personality did receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002, he did not officially serve in the Marines, the Navy, or any other branch of the army. UrbanLegendsOnline comments about Lee Marvin and Mr. Rogers. Mr. Rogers never served in the military. He hid that away and won our hearts with his quiet wit and charm.”. For years, he was classified as “1A,” meaning he was available for military service. Television skyrocketed in popularity just as he was coming of age (I Love Lucy premiered in 1951, the same year he graduated from college), and he found his calling in transforming the medium into something educational and worthwhile. You know, this would answer so many questions as to why Fred Rogers, host of the legendary Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, was the quiet, personable man we saw on television every day; deep down inside he was a skilled Marine sniper and he needed the calm persona to hide his honed killing skills. As a child, he was sickly — “I had every imaginable childhood disease, even scarlet fever,” he said. Following the chain email, the U.S. Navy decided to issue a correction by clarifying information about Mr. Rogers’ life that serves as proof of the false validity of these claims. Rogers indeed registered for the draftin Greensburg, Pe… YouTubePictured with young girl in the 1960s. Erin Kelly is a freelance writer, artist, and video editor that splits her time between the humid Midwest and the dusty corners of her mind. As far as war is concerned, Mr. Rogers likened it to a form of child abuse. Before we get into the man’s mythology, here are the true, verified facts of Mr. Rogers’ life. Rogers indeed registered for the draft in Greensburg, Pennsylvania on Sept. 13, 1948, when he was 20 years old. The entirety of the claims within this chain email, in addition to all other supposed evidence of Mr. Rogers’ past in the military, has been proven false. Fred McFeely Rogers (March 20, 1928 – February 27, 2003), also known as Mister Rogers, was an American television host, producer, and Presbyterian minister. “As you can see so clearly the abused grow up to be the abusers — sometimes on a worldwide scale.”. Posted 3/26/08 Related eRumors: Mr. Rogers Was a Sniper In Vietnam – Fiction! Mr. Rogers is another of those you would least suspect of being anything but what he portrayed. And that’s exactly what’s happened. He was the son of Lamont Waltman Marvin, an advertising executive and the head of the New York and New England Apple Institute, and his wife Courtenay Washington (née Davidge), a fashion writer and beauty consultant. For many years, he was eligible for military service, since he was classified as a “1A.” However, during his final year of college, Rogers reported to the Armed Forces in order to complete his physical and his status was changed to “4F,” meaning that he was no longer qualified for military service. There have been various false rumors about him including … Going back to trademark sweaters, this assumption is usually based on the myth that Rogers is using his full coverage sweaters to conceal his tattooed sleeves, which were said to hold a tattoo for each of his supposed sniper kills. This attempts to give a reason for the lack of kids allowed on set, and adult characters with suggestive names, such as Mr. McFeely. The military itself has even rejected myth. Another rumor says that Mister Rogers always wore long-sleeved clothes only to conceal the tattoos on his arms he obtained while serving in the military. This is a man who really did dedicate his life to educating and helping children. Simply part of a song called “Where Is Thumbkin?” that goes through every finger on your hand — including the middle one, “Mr. Alas, Mr. Rogers never had a military career. As with his older brother, Robert, he was named in honor of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, who was his first cousin, four times removed. It is unknown why Rogers didn’t pass as these medical records have since been destroyed. The documentary, directed by Academy Award-winner Morgan Neville, offers an intimate look at the Emmy-winning star of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. We always want to be respectful of the military as we are proud to be Americans and to live in the US. He was the creator, showrunner, and host of the preschool television series Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, which ran from 1968 to 2001. Then, of course, there’s the more disturbing and damaging rumor of them all: that Mr. Rogers himself was a convicted child molester. One other commonly searched connection between Mr. Rogers and the military is that he was possibly a sniper in the Marine Corps. Marvin was born in New York City. In addition to urban legends regarding military involvement, Mr. Rogers has also been accused of being a convicted child molester, flashing satanic devil horns during his children’s television program, and flipping off his audience; however, all of these rumors are easily explained and continue to be nothing more than urban legends. Those medical records have long been destroyed, so we don’t know why he didn’t pass. We know he valued honesty and trust. Fred Rogers was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush on July 9, 2002, for his service to the nation and dedication to the education of children. Mr. Rogers was truly the best kind of person there could be, and these legends ultimately are a reflection of society rather than the man at the center of them. Rogers, born March 20, 1928 in Latrobe, Pa., eschewed an Ivy League education to graduate magna cum laude from Florida’s Rollins College with a degree in music. Also according to legend, he also has a tattoo for every confirmed kill— which is why he always wore long sleeves. Him having a very macho backstory or being a ruthless killer is kind of titillating; it runs counter to what you’re presented as true in your day-to-day experience.”. While the U.S. Army fought in Europe, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, Mr. Rogers was studying music and teaching children about kindness and understanding. He wore a long-sleeve sweater to cover the many tattoos on his forearm and biceps. The front page of Fred Rogers’ draft card. Mr. Rogers never served in the military,” the Navy SEALs wrote. Also according to legend, he also has a tattoo for every confirmed kill — which is why he always wore long sleeves. “It’s not the honors and the prizes and the fancy outsides of life which ultimately nourish our souls. Bettmann/Getty ImagesFred Rogers entertaining children. As far as Mr. Rogers’ opinion on war, he often stated that he equated it with child abuse and that sending a child’s parents away to war would break their “essential bond” and be traumatic for the child. Rogers' fictional tattoos almost always make an appearance. According to a story supposedly told by Lee Marvin on "The Tonight Show," the actor served in the military alongside fellow U.S. Marine Bob "Captain Kangaroo" Keeshan, whom he allegedly described as "the bravest man I ever knew." He didn’t serve in the military at all. Making the most of a beautiful day with Mrs. Rogers. However, this same military timeline and its correlation to Mr. Rogers’ life also proves that he wasn’t a military sniper either, as the U.S. did not send ground troops into Vietnam until 1995, making Rogers too old to enlist as a sniper. Growing up, he had a hobby of music, which eventually turned into a music composition degree from Florida’s Rollins College. When a public figure is as squeaky-clean as Mr. Rogers, it leaves a void in which scandalous rumors can flourish. Beginning in the 1990s, an urban legend started up that Mr. Rogers (formally known as Fred McFeely Rogers) was a tattooed military sharpshooter. He was an upstanding citizen and made the decision never to smoke or drink, and chose to follow a vegetarian diet due to ethical reasons. Did you hear the one about how he flipped the double bird to kids on the show? He opposed the Vietnam War, and the very first week Mister Roger’s Neighborhood went national in 1968, it included a puppet storyline about war resistance. Rogers, who was a Presbyterian minister, was known worldwide for his gentle and calm demeanor and his way with children. The email, suggesting Mr. Rogers had a background that his millions of adoring fans were unaware of, stated: “There was this wimpy little man (who just passed away) on PBS, gentle and quiet. We are all told at some point that if “something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” But Mr. Rogers may be the only case that belies that adage. However, at the end of the day, Fred Rogers was nothing more than a Puritan-esque character who followed his passion for education and creating a peaceful society where children are taught to be good-hearted, morally conscious people. “To raise a generation which is not abused (by war or any other means) should be our goal,” he wrote to a friend. The Facts: Firstly, Mr. Rogers was born in 1928 and thus at the time of the US involvement in the Vietnam conflict was too old to enlist in the US Navy. There were whispers on buses between children and in lines at supermarkets. Captain Kangaroo ( Bob Keeshan ) was in the United States Marine Corps Reserve during the Second World War, but never saw any combat... Bob Keeshan And Mr Rogers Military Service - Image Results But even without confirmation from the military, the facts of the Mr. Rogers myth don’t add up. And then there was the time he pounded those medals into Mr. Green Jeans’ chest, and made Magic Drawing Board police the Treasure House until it was so clean you could eat off the floor. (He was) a master in small arms and hand-to-hand combat, able to disarm or kill in a heartbeat. Contrary to urban legend and rumors spread around the internet, Mr. Rogers was never a Navy SEAL nor a sniper in the military, nor was the reason he wore sweaters because he had tattoos all over his arms and body, one for each person he killed. Mr. Rogers used his TV program as a platform for sharing with the world his countercultural beliefs about nonviolence. Fred Rogers was born in the small town of Latrobe, Pennsylvania on March 20, 1928. Prior to claims of his Navy involvement, it was also speculated that Rogers was an ex-sniper. 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