[Vision2020] Father and Son: Citizen Warriors

[Tom Hansen]

>From this month's issue of Soldiers Magazine
(http://www4.army.mil/soldiers/) -

During times such as today, when the lists of active duty service members
lack the presence of citizens with strong familial political ties, it is
extremely refreshing to know that it wasn't always like that.

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Father and Son: Citizen Warriors
By Lt. Col. Randy Pullen

July 1, 2005
 
On July 1, 1898, LTC Theodore Roosevelt performed an act of heroism great
enough for him to receive the nation's highest decoration for valor, the
Medal of Honor.

It then took 103 years for one of his descendants to have the medal
presented to him. That presentation was more than 56 years after Roosevelt's
son posthumously received the same decoration 

The elder Roosevelt received the medal for his actions during the
Spanish-American War at San Juan Hill, Cuba, while in command of the 1st
U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, better known as the Rough Riders. Roosevelt
led the Rough Riders up San Juan Hill and into the pages of American
history. This charge also led to his becoming the president of the United
States. The 2001 presentation made him the first U.S. president to be a
Medal of Honor recipient.

His son, Theodore Roosevelt Jr., received the Medal of Honor for his actions
during World War II at Utah Beach, France, on June 6, 1944, while serving as
assistant division commander of the 4th Infantry Division. Then a brigadier
general, Roosevelt was in the first wave at Utah Beach. He was the first
general officer to land on a Normandy beach on D-Day.

The Roosevelts were the second set of father and son Medal of Honor
recipients in U.S. military history. The first pair was Arthur and Douglas
MacArthur for their respective acts of heroism at Missionary Ridge, Tenn.,
during the Civil War and in the Philippines during World War II. 


The Father

Theodore Roosevelt resigned his post as assistant secretary of the Navy at
the beginning of the Spanish-American War to accept a commission as a
lieutenant colonel in the Rough Riders, which he helped recruit, organize,
train and lead to Cuba. When the regimental commander, COL Leonard Wood,
himself a Medal of Honor recipient, was promoted to brigade command in Cuba,
Roosevelt moved up to command the Rough Riders.

Roosevelt led the Rough Riders up Kettle Hill and San Juan Hill, fighting
alongside the Regulars of the 1st, 9th and 10th U.S. Cav. regiments, the
latter two units being the famed "Buffalo Soldiers." His heroism that day
was inspiring, as he conspicuously put himself in front of his troops to
lead them up the slopes, both on horseback - the only man to be mounted and
thus a prime target for Spanish fire - and on foot. 

The charge up San Juan Hill became one of the most celebrated feats in
American history, and Roosevelt became one of the most famous men in
America. This helped him to become governor of New York in 1898 and
President William McKinley's running mate in 1900. 

Roosevelt succeeded McKinley after McKinley's assassination in 1901. The new
president was just 42 years old. He was elected in his own right in 1904 and
is recognized as one of the most dynamic presidents this country has ever
had. He was also the first American to win the Nobel Peace Prize, which he
did in 1906 for his role in ending the Russo-Japanese War of 1905.

Roosevelt left the White House in 1909 but ran for president again in 1912
as a third-party candidate. Woodrow Wilson won that year. Roosevelt
volunteered to raise and lead a volunteer division to France in 1917 but
Wilson turned him down. All four of Roosevelts sons fought in combat in
World War I and his daughter served as a Red Cross nurse in France. Quentin
Roosevelt, the youngest son and an Army fighter pilot, was killed in action
on July 14, 1918.

The old Rough Rider died on Jan. 6, 1919, at the age of 60.

Although recommended by his entire chain of command for the Medal of Honor
soon after the Battle of San Juan Hill, the recommendation was turned down
by the War Department. It is believed that Roosevelt's criticism of the
secretary of war resulted in him being denied the medal then. More than a
century later and after years of efforts to give Roosevelt the decoration
his actions deserved, President Bill Clinton presented a posthumous Medal of
Honor to Roosevelt's great grandson at the White House on Jan. 16, 2001.


The Son

Theodore Roosevelt's service as a citizen-soldier lasted for a few months in
1898. His namesake's service in the Organized Reserves, as the Army Reserve
was then called, lasted more than 25 years, from before World War I until
his death during World War II.

Theodore Roosevelt Jr. served in combat in both world wars, earning every
combat decoration available to a ground soldier. During World War I he
commanded a battalion of the 26th U.S. Inf. Regiment, 1st Inf. Div., and
then the regiment itself. He was gassed and severely wounded during combat
in France. He was decorated five times.

Recalled to active duty in April 1941, Roosevelt first commanded his old
World War I regiment until his promotion to brigadier general. He then
became the assistant division commander of the 1st Inf. Div.

He served with the Big Red One throughout the North African and Sicily
campaigns until both he and the division commander, MG Terry Allen, were
relieved by GEN Dwight D. Eisenhower. They were both recognized as
outstanding leaders and their reliefs were "without prejudice." Eisenhower
felt these two veteran and proven commanders were tired and needed a rest
from combat. Both soon returned to combat leadership positions, however,
with Allen as commander of the 104th Inf. Div. (Organized Reserve) and
Roosevelt as assistant division commander of the 4th Inf. Div.

When Roosevelt joined the 4th Div. it was preparing for a key role on D-Day,
an assault landing on Utah Beach. Roosevelt insisted on going in with the
first wave to "steady the boys." MG Raymond Barton, the division commander,
recognized that Roosevelt was considered one of the bravest men in the Army.
Barton believed Roosevelt's presence could be a steadying influence for the
assault troops, so he eventually granted the request, though he thought he
was sending the 56-year-old Roosevelt to his death.


Leading the Way

On the morning of June 6, 1944, Roosevelt landed with the first wave on Utah
Beach. He seemed to be everywhere, rallying hesitant soldiers and leading
groups of men inland, despite German small arms, mortar and artillery fire.
His lack of concern for his own safety inspired his troops.

He also made an important command decision. Realizing the first wave had
been landed at the wrong place, he directed the follow-up waves to land
behind the first wave, rather than adjusting to the correct landing spot.
The original spot was heavily defended and this decision prevented Utah
Beach from turning into the bloodbath that Omaha Beach had become.

For his courage and leadership on D-Day, Roosevelt received the Medal of
Honor. By the time it was awarded, on Sept. 28, 1944, he was dead.
Roosevelt, who had a bad heart and should not have been anywhere near a
combat zone, died of a heart attack in Normandy on July 12.

He never knew that he had been selected that same day to take command of the
90th Inf. Div. (Organized Reserve).

Neither father nor son ever wore the medal that a grateful nation presented
to them for answering the call to duty.

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At a time when President Bush speaks of our patriotic obligation, what then
of his offspring?

Take care, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the tranquil
and steady dedication of a lifetime." 
 
--Adlai E. Stevenson, Jr.