LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Lee Marvin: Iwo Jima
built 668 days ago
Lee Marvin (his birth name, contrary to some sources) attended St. Leo Preparatory College in St. Leo, Florida (now known as St. Leo University) after being thrown out of several schools for bad behavior. He left school to join the U.S. 4th Marine Division, serving as a sniper. Marvin was wounded in action during the WWII Battle of Saipan, eight months prior to the Battle of Iwo Jima. Most of his platoon were killed during the battle. This had a significant effect on Marvin for the rest of his life.[1] He was sent home with a Purple Heart medal, medical discharge and a rank of PFC. (An internet rumor circulated in recent years purports that Marvin appeared on "The Tonight Show" and told host Johnny Carson that he had served in the Marine Corps fighting alongside Bob Keeshan (alias Captain Kangaroo) at the Battle of Iwo Jima.
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Lee Marvin did enlist in the U.S. Marines, saw action as Private First Class in the Pacific during World War II, and was wounded (in the buttocks) by fire which severed his sciatic nerve. However, this injury occurred during the battle for Saipan in June 1944, not the battle for Iwo Jima, which took place several months later, in February 1945.
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Marvin attended St. Leo Preparatory College in St. Leo, Florida (now known as St. Leo University) after being expelled from several schools for bad behavior. He left school to join the U.S. 4th Marine Division, serving as a sniper. He was wounded in action during the WWII Battle of Saipan, eight months prior to the Battle of Iwo Jima. Most of his platoon were killed during the battle. This had a significant effect on Marvin for the rest of his life.[2] He was awarded the Purple Heart medal and was given a medical discharge with the rank of PFC.[3]
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Marvin was wounded at the battle of Saipan, two months prior to Iwo Jima. He received the Purple Heart, not the Navy Cross, for his injuries. There is no record of him serving at Iwo Jima.
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Born in New York City, Marvin attended St. Leo Preparatory College in Saint Leo, Florida (now known as Saint Leo University). He left school to join the U.S. 5th Marine Division, serving in combat, and was wounded during the WWII battle of Saipan, two months prior to the battle of Iwo Jima, and was sent home with a medical discharge and a rank of PFC.
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