This is a rumor that has been going around…that Mr. Rogers of TV fame was a decorated Marine sniper in Vietnam. I do not believe its true…can anyone provide info on this?
email me at Keifer0999@aol.com
According to Snopes, this is false:
Bolding mine.
This is a good one. The Marine Corps would argue and say he was in the Marine Corps. Whether he was a sniper or not with a million tattoos, I am not sure about that. I have seen official recruiting items stating he is a former Marine. Despite what anybody says about recruiters, the Marine Corps tends to be honest in what it says.
I have also heard that Axl Rose is a former Marine as well as Busta Rhymes, both of which I doubt. But Shaggy is a former Marine and served in Desert Storm.
Check out the following for some info on Mr Rogers:
http://www.soldierstory.org/wasornot.htm
Enjoy.
Also from Snopes:
[quote]
Not only did Fred Rogers never serve in the military, there are no gaps in his career when he could conceivably have served in the military – he went straight into college after high school, he moved directly into TV work after graduating college, and his breaks from television work were devoted to attending the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (he was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1963) and the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Child Development. Moreover, Fred Rogers was born in 1928 and was therefore far too old for an active combat position in the Vietnam War.**
A far more bizarre celebrity than John Denver or Fred Rodgers actually was a military sniper: Dr Ruth Westheimer. She received sniper training while serving in the Israeli army although she never served in combat.
Axl Rose as a Marine? Now that’s funny!
She was also injured, which I believe cut her military service short. (Shrapnel I think?)
I can just picture that tiny little woman with one of today’s big 'ol .50 cal sniper rifles. 
I had heard Korea, which would come a little closer regarding his age during the respective conflicts than Vietnam.
As for the veracity of the claims, however, no idea.
How much are you paying?
Yes, Mr. Rogers was a sniper in Viet Nam. In a horrible friendly-fire accident, he killed Jerry Mathers.
That’s why it’s so hushed up.
Obviously, the rumors about Fred Rogers and John Denver (and Captain Kangaroo, for that matter) are silly and unfounded. And yet, it’s interesting how persistent the legends are. Apparently, people LOVE the idea that seemingly wimpy celebrities were actually heroic warriors once.
Thing is, while these particular legends are not true, if you were to seek out some of the most highly decorated U.S. soldiers from WW2, Korea and Viet Nam, you’d find that many of them were no more macho (not superficially, at least) than Fred Rogers. I’ve known numerous WW2 vets, including many who saw the worst of the fighting… and none was a Rambo type. Most were or are soft-spoken, unassuming types who’d rather do almost anything than talk about their wartime experiences.
So, while Fred Rogers was NOT a military sniper, I’d be willing to bet that, if you met a REAL WW2 sniper, he’d be more like Fred Rogers than like John Wayne.
Brings a whole new meaning to “Welcome to the Jungle,” don’t it?
Any cite for the Corps claiming Mr. Rogers? Particularly, anything from, say, usmc.mil?
I love being challenged. First, I did not state it as fact on my part even though looking back on it, it might seem I did. I actually always thought he was a former Marine. As far as www.usmc.mil yes that is our official site, but they do not list any former Marines on there, to include Ed McMahon and the countless others. But go to any recruiting office, ask to see their “Marine Corps Opportunities Book”, which you might call their sales manual. On the back, I believe it is listed. I did see it in a video entitled 'Famous Former Marines", but it was made in the last 80’s and I threw it away when I found it. There are probably more floating around out there at some recruiting offices.
First, I did not state it as fact on my part even though looking back on it, it might seem I did. I actually always thought he was a former Marine. As far as www.usmc.mil yes that is our official site, but they do not list any former Marines on there, to include Ed McMahon, Gene Hackman, and the countless others. But go to any recruiting office, ask to see their “Marine Corps Opportunities Book”, which you might call their sales manual. On the back, I believe it is listed. I did see it in a video entitled 'Famous Former Marines", but it was made in the last 80’s and I threw it away when I found it. There are probably more floating around out there at some recruiting offices.
How about Jimi Hendrix as a paratrooper? He served in the 101st Airborne.
Mister Rogers as a Marine? Well no wonder why he wore those nifty Keds-like sneakers: easier to sneak up behind Prince Tuesday and garrote the little puke.
Tripler
King Friday? He had it coming too.
That makes a world of sense:
“'Scuse me while I kiss the sky!”
“You’ve got to skveeeze the trigger… gently, with love…”
Ah, some background: I’m originally from Lafayette, Indiana. Bill/Axl never was in any branch of the US military, and his public antics were just an extension of how he acted through much of his life.