Teddy Roosevelt Jr - Badass

"f86sabre" (f86sabre) 03/02/2015 at 21:41 • Filed to: Roosevelt, jeep, d-Day, wwii

8

6

General Theodore Roosevelt Jr. Eldest son of Teddy and a badass in his own right. Served in WWI on the front lines and again in WWII. He volunteered and was the first general to hit the beach on D Day even though he was in his 50s, walked with a cane and had other health issues due to his WWI service. When General Omar Bradley was asked to name single bravest thing he saw in combat and his response was "Ted Roosevelt on Utah Beach." His calm on the beach,and in providing in the spot leadership during the landing, greatly aided those very first minutes, and early days, of the invasion.

I found the picture of the jeep and read its background. I hadn't heard the story of TR Jr, but is an interesting read. He came from a privileged background, but wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_…

ly2v8-Brian > f86sabre 03/02/2015 at 21:59

2

That whole family, American legends.

ttyymmnn > f86sabre 03/02/2015 at 22:11

5

Stephen Ambrose, in his remarkable book D-Day , writes of Roosevelt and his actions on June 6, 1944. It's an extraordinary account of what is arguably the most important day in the 20th century, and if you haven't read it, you must.

On USS Bayfield, an attack transport,...Brig. Gen. Theordore Roosevelt moved among the men, speaking softly and soothingly. Countless members of the 4th Division recall the words of reassurance that Roosevelt, the oldest man going ashore that day [Roosevelt was 56], said to them. They remember, too, that he began singing and urged them to join in. Lt. John Robert Lewis described the scene: "During the cruise across, we all assembled on the deck of the Bayfield and sang 'The Battle Hymn of the Republic' and 'Onward Christian Soldiers.' This was a very sobering time to sing the words, 'As God died to make men holy, let us die to make men free.'"

....

General Roosevelt was in the first boat to hit the shore. Maj. Gen. Barton had initially refused Roosevelt's request to go in with the 8th Infantry, but Roosevelt argued that having a general land in the first wave would boost morale for the troops. "They'll figure that if a general is going in, it can't be that rough." Roosevelt had also made a personal appeal, saying, "I would love to do this." Barton had reluctantly agreed.

....

Roosevelt joined them, walking calmly up to their position, using his cane (he had had a heart attack), wearing a wool-knit cap (he hated helmets), ignoring the fire....Roosevelt and [Capt.] Lees conferred, studied the maps, and realized they were at the wrong place....Roosevelt became a legend for reportedly saying at this point, "We'll start the war from right here."

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > f86sabre 03/02/2015 at 22:28

0

Thanks for the tip- amazing life story

MouseFitzgerald > f86sabre 03/02/2015 at 22:53

0

Patrick George > f86sabre 03/03/2015 at 00:16

3

Teddy Roosevelt is the president I would least want to fight. Then Grant, then Washington.

I've thought about this a lot.

BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion > ttyymmnn 03/08/2015 at 08:51

1

Hahaha, that's awesome. "Meh, we'll just go from here"