 | Theodore Roosevelt Jr.: Encyclopedia II - Theodore Roosevelt Jr. - Military service
Theodore Roosevelt Jr. - Military service
Theodore Roosevelt Jr. - World War I Service
Teddy had a Reserve Commission in the Army like two of his brothers, Quentin and Archibald, and was called up shortly after World War I broke out. He was a major with the First Division, eventually rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He fought in several major battles. He was gassed and wounded at Soissons during the summer of 1918. In July of that year his brother, Quentin, was killed in combat. Teddy received the Distinguished Service Cross for his action during the war. Teddy resumed his Reserve service between the wars, attending the annual Summer Camps at Pine Camp, and completing both the Infantry Officer's Basic and Advanced Courses, and the Command & General Staff College, and so was eligible for senior commissioned service in World War II.
Theodore Roosevelt Jr. - World War II Service
In 1940, he attended a military refresher course offered to many business men as an advanced student, and was promoted to Colonel in the Army of the United States. He returned to active duty in April 1941 and was placed in command of the 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, the same group he fought with in World War I. Late in 1941, he was given the rank of brigadier general.
He was known as a general who often visited the front lines. He preferred the heat of the battle to the comfort of the command post. This culminated in his action on D-day.
Teddy led his regiment in an attack on Oran, Africa on November 8, 1942. During 1943, he was the second in command of the U.S. 1st Infantry Division that fought in the North African Campaign. He was cited for the Croix de Guerre by the military commander of French Africa, General Alphonse Juin:
As commander of a Franco-American detachment on the Ousseltia plain in the region of Pichon, in the face of a very aggressive enemy, he showed the finest qualities of decision and determination in the defense of his sector.
Showing complete contempt for personal danger, he never ceased during the period of Jan 28 – Feb 21, visiting troops in the front lines, making vital decisions on the spot, winning the esteem and admiration of the units under his command and developing throughout his detachment the finest fraternity of arms.
He saw action in Sicily, commanded Allied Forces in Sardinia, and fought on the Italian mainland. He was the chief liaison officer to the French Army in Italy for General Dwight D. Eisenhower. In February 1944, he was assigned to England to help lead the Normandy invasion.
After repeatedly petitioning and lobbying, he was granted permission to land with one of the first waves of troops at Utah Beach. On D-day, he led the US 4th Infantry Division's landing at Utah Beach.
The landing could have been a disaster. Although it was on time, it was 2000 yards off course. Teddy, as the senior officer on the scene, improvised a new plan. Based upon his own reconnaissance of enemy strongholds on the beach, he contacted the commanding officers on the scene and modified their orders. Thus, he was able to obtain the mission objective. He was later awarded the Medal of Honor for this service.
Throughout World War II, he suffered from health problems. He had arthritis and walked with a cane. He also had heart trouble. One month after the landing at Utah Beach, he died of a heart attack in France. He is buried at the American cemetery in Normandy, next to his brother, Quentin.
Roosevelt was portrayed by Henry Fonda in The Longest Day.
Theodore Roosevelt Jr. - Medal of Honor
His Medal of Honor citation reads:
For gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 6 June 1944, in France. After 2 verbal requests to accompany the leading assault elements in the Normandy invasion had been denied, Brig. Gen. Roosevelt's written request for this mission was approved and he landed with the first wave of the forces assaulting the enemy-held beaches. He repeatedly led groups from the beach, over the seawall and established them inland. His valor, courage, and presence in the very front of the attack and his complete unconcern at being under heavy fire inspired the troops to heights of enthusiasm and self-sacrifice. Although the enemy had the beach under constant direct fire, Brig. Gen. Roosevelt moved from one locality to another, rallying men around him, directed and personally led them against the enemy. Under his seasoned, precise, calm, and unfaltering leadership, assault troops reduced beach strong points and rapidly moved inland with minimum casualties. He thus contributed substantially to the successful establishment of the beachhead in France.
Other related archives1887, 1910, 1918, 1941, 1942, 1944, 6 June, Albany Academy, Alfred E. Smith, Allied Forces, Alphonse Juin, American Express, American cemetery in Normandy, Archibald, Army of the United States, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Brigadier General, Calvin Coolidge, Croix de Guerre, D-day, Distinguished Service Cross, Doubleday, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Eleanor Roosevelt, First Division, France, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Governor General of the Philippines, Governor of Puerto Rico, Groton School, Harvard University, Henry Fonda, Herbert Hoover, Italy, July 12, June 20, La Fortaleza, Medal of Honor, Normandy invasion, North African Campaign, November 8, Oran, Oyster Bay, New York, Pine Camp, Puerto Rican, Puerto Rico, Quentin, Sardinia, September 13, Sicily, Soissons, Teapot Dome, The Longest Day, Theodore Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt III, US 4th Infantry Division, United States Army, Utah Beach, Warren G. Harding, World War I, brigadier general, chairman of the board, first cousin, governor of New York, heart attack, leadership
 Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Military service", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki |
