Wasn't there a Roosevelt in WWII? Teddy's grandson, I believe. He got the same treatment.
Theodore Roosevelt Jr. or Theodore Roosevelt II (also known as Ted Roosevelt or Teddy Roosevelt) (September 13, 1887 – July 12, 1944) was an American political, business and military leader, and the eldest son of President Theodore Roosevelt. He served as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Governor of Puerto Rico (1929–32), Governor General of the Philippines (1932–33), chairman of the board of American Express Company, Vice-President at Doubleday Books, and as a Brigadier General in the United States Army.
Hell no, the brass tried to keep him out for that reason, but Teddy Roosevelt's son was on Utah Beach on June 6, 1944 and died there that day:
Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
[excerpt from Wikipedia]:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Roosevelt
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 U.S. 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 posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for this service on 28 September 1944.[3]
Throughout World War II, he suffered from health problems. He had arthritis, mostly from old World War I injuries, 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, Lt. Quentin Roosevelt. Quentin was shot down and killed in France during World War I and had been buried at Chamery until his exhumation and move to the Normandy Cemetery.
Roosevelt was portrayed by Henry Fonda in The Longest Day.
Theodore Roosevelt Jr.'s grave marker at the American WWII cemetery in Normandy
Enlarge
Theodore Roosevelt Jr.'s grave marker at the American WWII cemetery in Normandy
[edit]
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.
James Roosevelt, the oldest son of FDR, was born on December 23, 1907 in New York City.
He joined the Marine Corps at the outbreak of the Second World War, fighting in the Gilbert Islands, Guadalcanal, and the Battle of Midway, earning the Navy Cross and the Silver Star.
Actually, he was Teddy Roosevelt's eldest son, Teddy jr. He fought with distinction in WWI and WWII, earned the Medal of Honor, and died of a heart attack in France a month after D-Day.